Posted on 04/22/2005 3:12:35 PM PDT by Pikamax
Voinovich surprised by reaction to decision Friday, April 22, 2005 Elizabeth Auster Plain Dealer Bureau 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.
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"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.
The group claimed to have raised nearly $50,000 by early Thursday afternoon for the campaign. Ads began running Thursday throughout Ohio, said executive director Siobhan Guiney.
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.
Well know that when he surpasses McCain in Sunday morning appearances.
"My conscience told me this is what I think I should do."
Not a very good conscience, in my opinion. My conscience tells me yes or no, not maybe yes maybe no, should or could, those are the kinds of words kids use when they aren't telling the truth, but are trying not to lie outright.
Well, considering that McCain is, unfortunately my senator, as a card player I'd be turning both him and Voinivich in for a new hand! Jokers are worthless in poker!
Good word.
I'm beginning to think some of the Senators on this committee don't deserve public servants as effective as Bolton. He makes them look like whining little kids in kindergarten.
Only strays from the party line ON THE IMPORTANT VOTES!!!!
The Republicans CANT SEE THE TREES FOR THE FOREST!!!
The same thing is happening to the Republican Party that has happened to the Democrats!
Zell Miller said, There are strangers living in my basement
The Democratic Party was taken over by the Socialists subversives years ago.
Now WE refer to them as RINO Republicans.
They arent RINOs they are SOCIALISTS DAMN IT!!
Voinovich is after some of McCain's glowing press, if you ask me. I am less disgusted with him than I am the entire state of the Republican Party. We tolerate a level of ideological diversity that is alien to the Democratic Party.
Quite simply, Republicans don't care enough about conservatism.
"...you have to admire their party discipline."
yeah, that's why i said what i did.
some of the pubbies are out of touch with reality.
Voinovich spokeswoman Marcie Ridgway is a liar.
Maybe an unexpected deposit in a numbered Swiss bank account helped him along.
He later remarked: "has anyone seen my spine?"
No.
IF ANYONE KNOWS THE WHEREABOUTS OF GEORGE VOINOVICH'S SPINE, PLEASE CONTACT HIM IMMEDIATELY. HE HAS LOST HIS.
RINO = SOCIALIST is fine by me BUMP!!
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