The Reaction: Hillary Clinton will not be at the Democratic National Convention

By Richard K. Barry

Not that I ever thought about it, but, according to an article appearing in the Observer of Charlotte, N.C., the site of the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton is prohibited by law from attending the event.

The Observer points out that "various federal statutes and the State Department's ethical guidelines will keep Secretary Clinton in Washington."

Philippe Reines, spokesman for the Secretary of State told the Observer in an email that “Given her current position, she will not be attending, consistent with her not engaging in any political activity whatsoever."

And Clinton isn’t the only Cabinet member expected to skip the Charlotte gathering. Federal statute also precludes the attorney general and the secretary of Defense from attending political gatherings, including national party conventions, Reines said.

“I can’t think of one (of those office-holders) from the modern era who has attended,” he said.

Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College in Salisbury, also doesn’t expect to see Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in town.

“The Big Four,” he calls these non-partisan appointees. “While they are political appointees, they are in a class by themselves,” he said. “They are representatives of institutions that are oftentimes seen as apolitical.”

It's just one of those little civics lessons you don't think about until someone mentions it. Now we know. If you were wondering, Bill will be there.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)

Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College in Salisbury, also doesn’t expect to see Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner in town.

“The Big Four,” he calls these non-partisan appointees. “While they are political appointees, they are in a class by themselves,” he said. “They are representatives of institutions that are oftentimes seen as apolitical.”

And among that quartet, Secretary of State Clinton is maybe in an even higher class.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/04/06/3156959/hillary-clinton-citing-her-above.html#storylink=cpy