Posted on 05/26/2005 7:04:08 AM PDT by veronica
(CNSNews.com) - The thought that John Bolton might be confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations brought one Republican senator to the brink of tears on Wednesday.
Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) choked up on the Senate floor, as he urged his colleagues to vote against Bolton's nomination on Thursday:
''I'm afraid that when we go to the [Senate] well, that too many of my colleagues -- (voice breaking) -- that too many of my colleagues are not going to understand that this appointment is very, very important to our country," Voinovich said.
"At a strategic time, when we need friends all over the world, we need somebody up there that's going to be able to get the job done.
"I know some of my friends say, 'Let it go, George, it's going to work out.' I don't want to take the risk," Voinovich said. "I came back here [to the Senate] and ran for a second term because I'm worried about my kids and my grandchildren. And I just hope my colleagues will take the time (pause) and before they get to this well, do some serious thinking about whether or not we should send John Bolton to the United Nations. I yield the floor."
Voinovich's emotional moment came one day after he sent a letter to his fellow senators, telling them, "In these dangerous times, we cannot afford to put at risk our nation's ability to successfully wage and win the war on terror with a controversial and ineffective ambassador to the United Nations."
Voinovich did not attend Bolton's confirmation hearings; and he surprised Republicans by raising last-minute objections to Bolton on April 19, just as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee was preparing to vote on Bolton's nomination.
Voinovich's objections prompted one group to run radio ads against him in Ohio, and it put him under intense pressure from Republicans in Congress and at the White House.
Because of Voinovich's objections, the committee postponed a vote on Bolton for several weeks. The nomination finally went to the full Senate on May 12 - but without a committee recommendation.
On May 12, before the committee vote, Voinovich said he would vote to send Bolton's nomination to the full Senate Voinovich because "we owe it to the president to give Mr. Bolton an up-or-down vote on the floor."
But Voinovich said he would vote against Bolton on the Senate floor. "I really don't believe he's the best man we can send to the United Nations," he said.
Voinovich said he'd met with Bolton and liked him. He called Bolton a "decent man" and described their conversations as "candid and cordial."
Most of Voinovich's Republican colleagues say Bolton, with his blunt, no-nonsense attitude, is the right man to represent U.S. interests at the United Nations, and he's expected to be confirmed.
I can't believe these Senators - First Boxer now Voinovich. If this is going to be a pattern we need to purge the Senate!
There is never any evidence that anything is wrong with any of the Bush nominees. They are just out of the mainstream radicals.
Did percentage of the gay vote did he get in Ohio? Voinovich surely didn't sound like a man today.
BINGO!! WE HAVE A WINNAH!
Hey Voinovich... Coach wants to see you in his office right away.
And bring your playbook.
We have spent the last 90 years sending, the majority of the time, individuals to the UN who did not rock the boat and where are we, Senator?
Respectfully, the more I hear about Bolton the more I am absolutley convinced he is the right man if we care anything at all about the UN.
What percentage
Why and what in the H**L is Voinovich afraid of?
Both DeWhine and Voinobitch need to be replaced in their next elections by real Republicans!
Laura Ingraham was talking about Senator V and his crying on the floor of the Senate. She took a phone call from a guy who said when Voinovich was Mayor he visited the firefighters union to tell them why he couldn't give them a pay raise.
When the firefighters objected and said they had families to raise and needed more money, Voinovich burst into tears!
He's a serial cryer.
Maybe somebody found out he was spending time with some honey in a love shack when he should have been going to committee hearings... That would certainly be good blackmail material, wouldn't it?
I would not be surprised at all if that story should surface in the week after Bolton is confirmed.
"Very few Senators are able to drink in the morning and remain coherent on the Senate floor *cough* Kit Bond * cough*"
What's this about Kit Bond?
John sKerry's got nothin' on this guy. Sheesh. Pick a lane and drive in it, pal!
Most of Voinovich's Republican colleagues say Bolton, with his blunt, no-nonsense attitude, is the right man to represent U.S. interests at the United Nations,
Ah... 'splains a lot. Libs -- and libs who prefer the phony term "moderate" -- dislike anything remotely resembling decisiveness, and deplore everything that represents U.S. interests.
What a wimp.
We have to replace our Republican governor too. My vote will go to our SOS, Ken Blackwell.
Somebody's got pictures or something on this guy. Oh you poor Ohioans!
I think we should vote him off the island.
Didn't someone around here say something about Larry Flint style dirt on Sonofa'Vich that was being held over him?
A friend who works in the Senate mentioned that he has a reputation for liking to hit the sauce.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.