Posted on 05/25/2005 4:01:46 PM PDT by beaversmom
Every once in a while there is a profile in courage on Capitol Hill.
This phenomenon doesn't happen very often and, in fact, is rarer than ever these days because lawmakers fear -- as do many reporters -- that they will be called "unpatriotic" if they challenge the White House in wartime.
A politician who splits with his own party on a point of principle may suffer ostracism and retaliation for standing up against the president. That's why it is easier for lawmakers to go along to get along.
In my book, Republican Sen. George Voinovich, a former governor of Ohio, is a courageous legislator for opposing the nomination of John Bolton to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. He concluded that Bolton is not the man for the job and urged his fellow senators earlier this week to reject the nominee.
Bolton would be a "controversial and ineffective ambassador to the United Nations," Voinovich wrote his colleagues.
What a sham that appointment is. Bolton has shown his contempt for the U.N. and for any of the nations that disagree with his right-wing ideology. He once said there should be only one member of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States -- and that it would be all right with him if a few stories of the U.N. headquarters building were toppled.
It's difficult to imagine Bolton as a diplomat, trying to build consensus, working with opponents to solve problems by finding common grounds and earning their respect. He comes off as a thundering, pompous bully-boy, scornful of anyone who doesn't kiss his ring.
He has served in top positions in the Justice Department and State Department, and his detractors from those workplaces are legion, painting a portrait of a headstrong loudmouth, unsuited for a job that requires diplomacy and some finesse.
Troubled by what he has learned about Bolton's past, Voinovich has said that sending Bolton to the U.N. would subvert administration's stated goal of trying to win back friends and allies who have drifted beyond the U.S.' orbit because of the Bush administration's unilateralism and arrogance.
"John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be," Voinovich said. "His confirmation will tell the world we are not dedicated to repairing our relationships ... but that we believe only someone with sharp elbows can deal properly with the international community," he added.
Voinovich faced tremendous pressure from the White House, including personal calls from Bush and his top aides, to change his mind and support Bolton. But he stood his ground.
It could cost him politically with his own Republican party or by losing federal funds for a pet project in Ohio. That's how it works.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has acknowledged that Bolton has some problems. He would be "closely supervised," Rice said, in an effort to reassure senators that she intended to keep a tight rein on her U.N. ambassador.
This is hardly a vote of confidence in John Bolton.
A vote on Bolton on the Senate floor is expected soon, possibly by the end of the week.
The White House is standing by the Bolton nomination. Senate Republicans are expected to rally around the nomination and, because they are in the majority, Bolton is likely to win confirmation.
But one GOP senator will stand out in the chamber -- Sen. George Voinovich who had the courage to go against his crowd.
Would that the president had the courage to admit a mistake and withdraw the Bolton nomination.
That will be the day.
(Helen Thomas can be reached at the e-mail address hthomas@hearstdc.com).
Yep. George was Mayor of Cleveland for 8 years. And you don't get to be anything in Cuyahoga county without the Dems help.
There is nothing courageous about a man crying like a child. That is a sign of temerity. It is just how left-wingers like their men--prone to extravagant displays of feeling rather than taking the time to order their thoughts and feelings through reasoned argument, both with themselves and others.
As Arnold would say, he's a girlie man.
The only Profile in Courage I see here is the photographer who took that picture of helen. It takes a lot of guts to stand behind the camera and give the "say cheese" request, knowing that mouth is about to open and those teeth are gonna be bared.
I am in no position to judge his medical condition...but his comments do seem to be based on a lot of assumptions.
Voinovich on TV appeared to be mentally disturbed, not in control of himself. He certainly did not make a rational case against Bolton, who would make a great UN Ambassador.
Someone ought to contact his doctor and his family to see if an intervention is in order after his strange behavior of late. Perhaps taking him to a sanitarium for an extended rest might be in order...before the Bolton vote, of course.
When he popped up that day in committee after being absent to screw up the vote on Bolton, I started to wonder what he was up to. Then the day they did vote, he didn't just vote, but trashed Bolton and said he would vote against him on the floor. That was the day I asked my husband why Voinovich would not want Bolton at the UN just like most of the Democrats who can't afford for someone like him to see what is really going on there. After that whining and nearly blubbering speech today, I'm convinced that Bolton, if confirmed, is going to be in a position to expose Voinovich or someone he is beholden to. That pathetic display he put on today was not because he thought Bolton was the wrong man to be our UN ambassador. There is something more personal involved here. Was he somehow involved in the O f F scandal?
He wasn't a particularly good Governor either.
Ohio has problems lately producing viable Republican candidates.
reelect him if you choose, but never call him principled in my company.
That bothered me too. Voinovich is chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee and on the Foreign Relations Committee. So who knows what his motivations were. But a Republican in Ohio needs the Dems to get elected, especially Cuyohoga county.
He did that once while he was governor. As I recall, he cried when he met with a group of people at the State House protesting welfare cuts.
There could be something going on. The dems probably have something on him. You know how dems work with FBI files.
Probably have something on McCain's houseboy, Graham as well.
Yep. She probably had a file on Lindsey Graham, his drinking, and his secret lover too.
Voinovich is a micro manager and not a big picture individual. He missed his calling; he should have been a green eye-shade bookkeeper.
I think Voinovich is on the edge of a nervous break down. He was crying on the Senate floor today.
" Voinovich on TV appeared to be mentally disturbed, not in control of himself."
Fortunately, I did not see this maroon blubbering on tv-listening to him on the radio was revolting enough.
Weeping George sounded like a Desperate Senator with PMS.
40 more years in the wilderness.
RINO's SUCK.
40 more years in the wilderness.
RINO's SUCK.
40 more years in the wilderness.
RINO's SUCK.
40 more years in the wilderness.
RINO's SUCK.
40 more years in the wilderness.
RINO's SUCK.
40 more years in the wilderness.
RINO's SUCK.
40 more years in the wilderness.
RINO's SUCK.
40 more years in the wilderness.
My sentiments,exactly.To paraphrase the Bard himself: "Methinks the a**hole doth protest too much". I think he may be afraid that he and many others were on the take from Mr Hussein. Bonior, McDermott and Crazy Maddy the Bag Lady leap to mind.
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