Connie Mack: I Don't Blame Hillary Clinton for Wanting to Leave Obama Team

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, said he did not blame U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for wanting to step down from her post. Mack, who is considering running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, said that President Barack Obamas recent trip to Latin America was not fruitful, especially as free-trade agreements with Panama and Colombia remained stalled in Washington.

Given the seriously mismanaged foreign-policy message coming from this administration, its no wonder our adversaries like Hugo Chavez continue to think they can push the envelope of the regional security in our hemisphere, said Mack. The presidents domestic political calculations are dangerously hurting our presence in the region. While the stated focus of the presidents trip was strengthening the nation's economic relationship with its neighbors and improving regional security, it would appear the president failed on both fronts.

Why is anyone surprised that Secretary of State Clinton has said twice in the past week she wants out? asked Mack. I indeed share Secretary Clintons frustrations with the administrations ambiguous foreign policy, especially in the Western Hemisphere.