Hillary a competent but controversial choice

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as she takes part in a discussion on "our nation's urban centers," and "challenges from housing and transportation to education and workforce accessibility" at the Center for American Progress (CAP) in Washington, March 23, 2015. [Photo/CFP]

Hillary Rodham Clinton announced her second bid for the US presidency on Sunday.

Given her political experience as First Lady, US Senator, and Secretary of State, as well as being a finalist of the Democrat presidential primary in 2008, Ms. Clinton is most effectively poised to run for the White House.

As a woman, Ms. Clinton’s political stature and performance is second to none. Ms. Clinton has nursed political ambitions since university, if not earlier. Her long time strategic partnership with Bill Clinton has also prepared her well for the public life. As the First Lady, she was in charge of the reform of the American healthcare system two decades ago. As the president’s envoy, she used to represent the US around the world, including at the United Nations World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. And as Secretary of State, she has set record mileage of travel to advance American interests.

Like any politician, Ms. Clinton has her opponents. Given her political agenda and personal temperament, she might even meet more challenges. While working on healthcare reform, the Clintons came under fierce fire, which led to her eventual failure. As America’s top diplomat, she has been blamed for the loss of the US ambassador in Libya when he was under siege in Benghazi in 2012. In addition, Ms. Clinton is now deeply embroiled in the “Emailgate” scandal for destroying many private emails at her disposal, failing to cooperate fully with a congressional investigation of the Benghazi incident.

It is hard to accept a former high official’s use of private email for government work, with the confidentiality issues it brings. It is more unbelievable that she would have destroyed voluminous emails, basing on her own judgment of privacy rather than submitting them all for congressional scrutiny. She could still claim the legality of her actions. However, as the loss of emails is irreversible, she would inevitably invite suspicion about her integrity as a future president.