Washington (CNN) – The secretary of state is usually right there in front of the president during the State of the Union address. Not so Wednesday evening, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will stay in London, amidst a busy schedule of international conferences on Yemen and Afghanistan and meetings with world leaders.
"He (President Barack Obama) made it clear given the importance of these issues that her place tonight was in London, rather than here in Washington, " State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told journalists at an afternoon briefing Wednesday.
"And her presence in London reflects that we have done a great deal over the past year to rebuild frayed alliances and recreate common cause in terms of fighting and solving crucial global issues."
There was no word from State Department historians on when a secretary of state last missed a State of the Union. "It's been a while," said Crowley.
Clinton attended a conference on Yemen Wednesday. She was scheduled to meet with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai and then participate in a conference on Afghanistan Thursday.
Full coverage: President Obama's State of the Union address
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
She will miss a bunch of lies, but she expected that anyway from the liar-in-chief. No big deal.
I am going to puke if i hear these guys talk about "rebuilding" Americas reputation around the world. Just like the guy from Italy that totally blasted the Obama Adm for their Haiti work. "We are doing the best we can" Hillary said. Wha Wha Wha.
This is not a fluke that she is not attending folks.
She is solving problems, he is talking. Do you ever think how would it be if there was a Clinton back in the WH?
I do know that one cabinet official has to be away from the Capitol in case of an emergency, so maybe Hillary is that person.
Secretary Clinton stated she will be a one term SOS.. VP Clinton 2012? President perhaps.. since Obama is hinting he may also be a one term President... anyways only time will tell..
Hillary is out actually working. And Obama is doing what HE does best – talking.
Obama is going down in flames and she doesn't want to be scorched. She's probably thinking about 2012.
This is big news? I think not.
Obama doesn't want anyone to overshadow him does he?
Why is it that the party of lies and hate and fear wanted the auto industry to fail, with the loss of over three million jobs, and now those same right wingnuts say they want job creation. Obama saved those jobs and the party of hypocrites is trying to make people believe they care about workers?
The only liars are the right wingnuts who try to defend the worst president in history, G. W. Bush.
Hey right wingnuts, how is that Fox anti government spying network news going going for you morons? You republicans are the worst.
lolol....poor Hillary....she hitched her wagon to the biggest loser ever to occupy The White House. That's karma, baby, it's a powerful thing.
One politician that will be WORKING.
Maybe she should go to Italy to free Amanda Knox. We may get criticized by some for Haiti (I won't), but we shouldn't care at all what that backwards country thinks.
Hillary for 2012 seems closer to reality. If anyone here thinks that, it was a coincidence they need to check out the monthly schedules of other cabinet secretaries. It is usually done in a month or two in advance.
No matter what our President do many will find fault. So why defend but his is still Presoident of the US
Is this her new plan to become President? I kid. I kid.
The president and Mrs Clinton do know best when it comes to engageing with the rest of the world. Glad to see they are on the job and that our standing have come up around the globe. She has done a fine job. Lots of hollering about Don't ask Donn't tell from the repos. I guess you can be a nude centerfold but not a gay service person. Im sure the speach will be bashed by all the repos. But would we expect any less from these hipocrates. I only hope no one jumps up to yell you lie and if so we arrest them for obstruction.
I agree with HRC, she is doing her job... it is not like the speech won't be available to listen to later, when she has time.
felicia, yes he is... some broken promises
Repeal DODT in 2009
No lobbyists in the WH
Televised Healthcare Reform debates
No more "No Bid Contracts"
US troops out of Iraq in 16 month
Close Gitmo by 1/2010
All non-emergency bills will posted on the Internet for 5 days (He broke this one with the very first bill he signed)
Bi-Partisanship (Then hands his agenda to Reid and Pelosi)
There's more, but you get the idea...
Love the hate Americans are so obsessed with. What a country. So what if she misses the speech.
That's cool Hillary you have always been a work horse.