Psst. Trust me. If the three of us raise a stink, Voinovich will roll.
Posted on 04/22/2005 10:58:11 AM PDT by IleeneWright
Posted on Thu, Apr. 21, 2005
Voinovich raises conservative ire over Bolton vote
Group to run ads attacking senator for delaying vote on Bush nominee
By Lisa A. Abraham
Beacon Journal staff writer
Ohio Sen. George Voinovich is dealing with the firestorm created when he refused to vote to confirm the appointment of John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The conservative group Move America Forward dubbed the move ``obstructionist conduct'' and plans to launch a radio ad campaign against Voinovich today in Ohio.
Marcie Ridgway, a spokeswoman for Voinovich in Washington, D.C., said the senator had no response to the promised ad campaign.
The group is upset with Voinovich, who on Tuesday told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he wasn't comfortable voting on Bolton -- President Bush's pick for the job -- after concerns were raised about allegations of unbecoming conduct for a U.N. nominee.
The phones in the senator's Washington office rang constantly Wednesday and e-mail boxes were brimming with responses to his actions.
``Obviously, there's been a lot of interest in what the senator did yesterday, and we've been receiving a large number of calls and e-mails, quite frankly, from all over, not just Ohio,'' Ridgway said.
The responses, she said, have been both positive and negative.
The Ohio Republican Party in Columbus was dealing with similar reactions, but party spokesman Jason Mauk said the state party is standing by its man.
``Obviously, the senator is an independent thinker, and he is very deliberate when it comes to serious consideration such as this, as he and his staff have repeatedly made clear,'' Mauk said. ``This is not a no vote. This is simply the senator's effort to get up to speed and weigh the facts.''
Mauk said Voinovich is the most popular elected official in recent Ohio history, and he can take the heat and still have the overwhelming support of Ohio voters.
``He's not the kind of leader who cows to pressure from interest groups,'' he said.
The Move America Forward Web site says it is ``strongly backing the nomination of John Bolton to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations'' and expressed ``outrage today that a Republican United States Senator would refuse to vote to confirm the President's nominee in committee.''
``As a result, Ohio U.S. Senator George Voinovich will be the target of radio ads criticizing Senator Voinovich for his obstructionist conduct,'' the Web site says.
According to the site, the organization already has raised more than $24,000 to help pay for the ads. The group is encouraging calls and e-mails to the senator and provides his phone numbers.
Summit County Republican Party Chairman Alex Arshinkoff, a longtime supporter of Voinovich, said his office, too, was fielding calls from people who weren't happy about Voinovich's actions.
Arshinkoff, however, said he believes the senator hasn't made up his mind about Bolton.
``He said that he wanted time,'' said Arshinkoff, who believes that in the end, Voinovich will vote to confirm Bolton.
``Thinking people should support this president,'' he said.
Ridgway said Voinovich was not purposely trying to thwart President Bush's choice.
``He didn't really defy him. He's a very big supporter of the president. He was saying that as a committee, we need to look at these things a little bit further,'' she said. ``He wants to avoid, quite frankly, a bloodshed on the Senate floor.''
Also, here is a LIST of (R)Senators who are REFUSING to support the constitutional option rules change for a fair up-or-down vote on the President’s judicial nominations!! Unbelievable!
http://www.lifeissues.org/breakingnews.html
Bolton is not going to get confirmed. I just have this feeling. THEY ARE ALL SWINES!!
``He's not the kind of leader who cows to pressure from interest groups,'' he said.
No, he cows to pressure from the media.
Just wanted to get a little free T-V time, and a bit of recognition. He is just another Suit, and this will be his claim to fame. Watch, in the end he will fall in line and vote yes..
Looks like the good Senator is about to face the music. He is about to be snapped out of his beltway myopia. He may have pleased the Washington Post, NY Times, etc. but he will find that his own constituents are not impressed.
I'm just so warm & fuzzy all over, knowing how HARD I worked for a Republican re-election with a MAJORITY! I'm absolutely DISGUSTED!
Border control, Bolton, Judges, DeLay you name it, the republicans deserve the pounding they're getting from the people who elected them.
From another article:
Look at this:
Voinovich said he also was disturbed by the outrage on the faces of Democrats on the panel who complained that they weren't being given a chance to examine allegations about Bolton.
Psst. Trust me. If the three of us raise a stink, Voinovich will roll.
Great. The guy's too dense to enjoy one of the perks of being the majority party - pissing off the minority party.
Bolton is not going to get confirmed. I just have this feeling. THEY ARE ALL SWINES!!
Then recess appoint him. Problem solved (until next year).
Voinovivh will probably vote for Bolton.
However, the damage has been done and spineless Chafee will now vote against him. They needed that vote on 4/19. More time meant good-bye Chafee.
Pretty good ad. These politicians have to learn that the days when we support them just because they have an "R" after their names are OVER!
A creative freeper letter, fax or email should be sent to these nerds explaining why their money tree is going to be a few leaves short of a screw pine.
Leni
I forgot about that. Who would have thunk Powell would go away with a grudge! Jeeze I thought he was a gentleman I guess not!
Let's help him make up his mind!
See Post # 11 and make some noise, people!
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