Posted on 04/22/2005 8:59:56 AM PDT by Impeach98
Washington - Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich says he is surprised by the fuss he stirred with his unexpected announcement Tuesday that he wasn't prepared to vote to confirm John Bolton as ambassador to the United Nations.
But if Voinovich has any regrets for single-handedly forcing a delay in Bolton's confirmation, he's not showing it.
"I feel real good," he said Thursday. "My conscience told me this is what I think I should do."
Voinovich, answering questions briefly from reporters Thursday, said he planned to vote for Bolton before Tuesday's meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee because he felt reassured by an earlier private meeting with Bolton in which he asked many hard questions about foreign policy.
Voinovich said he changed his mind for various reasons, including "hearing some things that bothered me" at the committee meeting.
He cited complaints about Bolton's interpersonal relationships that made him question whether Bolton treats people "with dignity and respect."
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.
"This was very serious business," said Voinovich.
"These are guys who have been on this committee for a long time."
Voinovich said he feared that failing to give Democrats a chance to explore their concerns could undermine "a sense of decency" that often has prevailed on the foreign relations panel and "do real damage to the possibility of having a bipartisan foreign policy."
He felt that Bolton and the Bush administration would be better off if questions about the nomination were resolved by the committee.
The alternative, he said, was a "free-for-all" on the Senate floor.
Voinovich, who has periodically infuriated conservatives by straying from the party line, declined to say whether he is being pressured by the White House to support Bolton. And he laughed off a question about whether GOP colleagues are upset with him.
"My colleagues know I'm the same old George," he said.
A California-based conservative group, Move America Forward, has mounted a radio advertising campaign in Ohio criticizing Voinovich's action.
Voinovich spokeswoman Marcie Ridgway said the senator's office is getting a steady stream of e-mails and phone calls on the Bolton issue, with response split between people supporting and opposing Voinovich's action.
Most of the calls and e-mails are from outside Ohio, she said.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
eauster@plaind.com, 216-999-4212
Nope. I'm saying that anyone else who might be appointed would be a patsy for the status quo.
Personally, if he really did all the crap that the Dems say he did, that would be THE reason and sole qualification that I'd need to send him to the UN.
Good point!
This guy is an incredible idiot. Like the democrats give a crap about "decency"??
Thanks. I wasn't aware of this service.
The people in his office right now are just listening and "reporting the call to the Senator."
We have said we are ASHAMED that we ever supported him, and that it is inexcusable that he missed the hearings and then sided with the Democrats without having adequate information.
We will call again next week, and e-mail to make sure he knows he shouldn't be feeling "good" about his betrayal of the President, and his constituents.
LOL, thanks for the cartoon Howlin. Love it.
Good on you, ohioWfanActivist.
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