Posted on 04/20/2005 9:23:11 AM PDT by Pikamax
W.House: Democrats Trumping Up Charges on Bolton Wed Apr 20, 2005 11:01 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House accused Senate Democrats on Wednesday of trumping up "unsubstantiated accusations" against John Bolton in a bid to derail his nomination to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. In a setback to President Bush, Republicans on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday were forced to delay a vote on the nomination to examine new allegations against Bolton of abusive conduct.
"I think what you have are Democratic members of the committee who continue to bring up unsubstantiated accusations. These allegations are unfounded," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
McClellan singled out Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, the committee's top Democrat, for bringing up the allegations, which he said Bolton had already answered in hours of congressional testimony.
McClellan and other White House officials said they were confident Bolton, the top U.S. diplomat for arms control, ultimately would be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
"Democrats continue to bring these accusations up and trump them up and make unfounded allegations, and we need to get John Bolton to the United Nations because this is an important position. We need to get him there sooner rather than later," McClellan said.
Biden said a woman who worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Kyrgyzstan contacted the committee to report that Bolton angrily chased her through the halls of a Russian hotel, threw things at her and shoved threatening letters under her door. He said she was prepared to sign an affidavit.
Democrats said accusations were building that indicated Bolton had displayed a pattern of abusive behavior toward subordinates and tried to force intelligence analysts into writing their analyzes to suit his views.
The committee agreed to postpone the vote until next month after Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich said he was not yet prepared to vote for Bolton.
McClellan said the White House was "more than happy to talk to him about those questions."
During last week's confirmation hearings, a former high-ranking State Department official described Bolton as "a serial abuser" who berated and tried to remove an intelligence analyst who held up his speech because it overstated information on Cuba's weapons.
Bolton denied trying to influence intelligence and told the committee he wanted the analyst reassigned because he believed he had gone behind his back.
Asked if the White House had fully vetted the accusations and determined they were not true, McClellan said: "I think these issues have been addressed by John Bolton himself."
He said Bolton "will make an outstanding ambassador to the United Nations, particularly during this time when they are working to move forward on reforms."
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada has said Democrats were considering filibustering the nomination, which would require a 60-vote majority nearly impossible to attain in the divided chamber.
Wait until they bring in Anita Hill to testify.
Seems to me that Bolton might even have a good case against some of the libs for defamation. I'm no lawyer, but all this appears to be hearsay and conjecture on Bolton's character. It's unseemly....but that's not unusual for lib/dems.....and RINOs.
Senate Democratic leader Harry "FILIBUSTER" Reid of Nevada has said Democrats were considering filibustering the nomination, which would require a 60-vote majority nearly impossible to attain in the divided chamber.
So...when will W take Voinovich on a trip to the woodshed ?
Bush has a gift for winning a battle, even if he seems to be losing it at first.
Bolton's accuser better work hard at rehearsing her tale.
Hopefully very soon!
What shocked me is that Voinovich claims he is concerned about some "new allegations" and needs more time to learn about them... yet he missed two committee hearings where at least some of them were discussed!
Amazing! I did not know that.
Her tale is right, She says while staying in a hotel in Moscow John Bolton shouted obcenities while chasing her through the hotel. He stood in the hall and beat on her door while yelling threats. And he did this for a period of "almost two weeks".
Yet no-one I repeat NO-ONE saw it happen, yeah right.
I hope W goes LBJ on Voinovich.
John Kerry saw it, but he can't say anything, because he was on a secret mission for the CIA. That was Christmas of 94, right? Seared in his memory, it is. Just like it was yesterday. All those fireworks going off; the celebrating; the river; wounded, crawling across the battlefield as the enemy fire roared overhead; a butt filled with rice that exploded; another purple heart within reach....
My question is how long is President Bush going to stand by and allow this. Slick Willy would never have stood for this. I understand that President Bush is trying to take the high road, but at some point, he has to become vocal. The democrats will continue until his presidency is finished. Time is running out.
Now if Bolton would have shredded national security documents, then Biden and the Rats would have overwhelmingly voted for him.
What's more, the bloviating about John Bolton and his supposed "abuses" of underlings is having some effect, at least with the less steadfast Republicans on the committee.
The Democrats are very angry men (and maybe viragos should be included in that number). They have but one item on their agenda, to shout down Bush at every opportunity, and obstruct every proposal put forth. Apparently this frightens some Republicans, who only want to "get along".
Those who do not wish to exert authority when in the majority, are soon in the minority.
The Gipper would've.
"If you think I'm going to let my name be dragged through the mud by the likes of Boxer and Biden because YOU can't handle the Senators of your own party....well, forget it, Mr. President".
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