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.
What a wuss.
...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."...
The only thing we should send to the UN is a MOAB.
Voinovich, boy you need to gird yourself up by the loins and act like a man. You sound like a feminized DU wuss. We don't need friends, we need allies. This isn't some popularity contest. Act like a wimp, and you'll be treated as a wimp. Now, suck it up, or shut up.
After Ken Blackwell is elected governor perhaps the president should be urged to appoint Sen Voinovich to some cushy, out of the way job like an ambassadorship. Then let Gov Blackwell appoint a real conservative and not a crybaby to that Senate seat.
George V. What a wuss. If I were an Ohioan I would be ashamed.
Yep, he's gone. Outta there. A few sandwiches short of a picnic. He should listen to his friends who keep telling him to let it go. They are trying to nicely tell him that he is acting like an obsessed nut case
May it stick as a nick, ‘Weepy’ Voinovich.
Lindsey Graham wimps out filibusters.
Santorum turns candyass on the minimum wage.
McCain continues to pimp himself for the press.
Chafee, Snowe and Specter continue to be themselves.
What is the point of having a Senate majority if half the Republicans in Congress are limp-wristed nancies?
This man needs to get a grip! Is this the new thing for Senators? Put on the water works? I am getting real tired of watching Senators crying in front of the TV cameras.
His crybaby performance will make some great commercials for his opposition. He's French toast.
What do you guys think of Voinovich?
I've used this before, but it when I saw him crying like a sissy, I wanted Vito Corleone to appear and smack the heck out of him...
YOU CAN ACT LIKE A MAN!!!!!!!!
A hormonal imbalance, too much estrogen.
Men crying, in general, is something the Age of Oprah has made not only acceptable, but "in."
Or Cher in Moonstruck...
SNAP OUT OF IT!
I'm.........speechless!
How embarrassing this guy calls himself a republican!!!!!!!
"George V. What a wuss. If I were an Ohioan I would be ashamed."
Yeah!.... Although I cannot say much I live in Az and we have John McCain.
Voinovich's ways have become unsound. His Rodney King approach to the war on terrorism puts our country at risk. If he doesn't retire from the Senate at the expiration of his term, we must take him out in the primary.
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