STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR CORZINE ON NOMINATION OF CLINTON, GATES AND JONES TO OBAMA CABINET

TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today issued the following statement regarding President-elect Barak Obama’s announcement that he will nominate Senator Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, retired Marine General Jim Jones as National Security Advisor and will re-nominate Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense:

“President-elect Obama made excellent choices today in naming his national security team, to be headed by Senator Hillary Clinton, General Jim Jones and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. With Senator Clinton as the next Secretary of State, the Obama Administration has reached out to a dedicated public servant with a wealth of foreign affairs experience who will work diligently to return the United States as a global diplomatic leader.  

“As a former Marine, I am pleased with President-elect Obama’s nomination of retired Marine General Jim Jones as his National Security Advisor.  General Jones will bring a wealth of military and diplomatic experience to the position.

“And by retaining Secretary Gates at the Defense Department, the incoming administration can assure the American people of continuity as we work toward lessening the nation’s military involvement in Iraq.

“Indeed, these selections send a clear message that President-elect Obama is committed to restoring diplomacy and strengthening our relationships with nations across the globe. I commend him for setting political differences aside in a move that is in the best interest of all Americans.”

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