Posted on 01/29/2013 2:05:27 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Senate confirms Kerry for State in 94-3 vote By Julian Pecquet and Ramsey Cox - 01/29/13 04:32 PM ET
The Senate approved one of its own to become President Obama's second secretary of State in a near-unanimous vote on Tuesday.
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) sailed through the chamber in a 94-to-3 vote, with Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Texas Sens. Ted Cruz (R) and John Cornyn (R) casting the only “no” votes.
Kerry's approval to replace Hillary Clinton was a foregone conclusion after Republicans urged Obama to nominate him in lieu of his ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice.
“I don’t know too many people who have oriented their whole life to be better suited for secretary of State,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), the top Republican on Kerry's Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on the floor ahead of the vote.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), who is replacing Kerry atop the committee, echoed those sentiments.
“I can think of no one better to take on the challenges of this position,” he said. “John has already built strong relationships across the world. ... He will need no introduction to the world’s political leaders.”
The Senate vote capped a whirlwind day for Kerry, whose nomination was approved by his committee in a unanimous voice vote a few hours earlier. His colleagues on the committee he's chaired since Joe Biden became vice-president four years ago gave him a standing ovation and a committee resolution honoring his service as chairman.
The resolution “commends the long and distinguished service of John F. Kerry, whose exceptional skill as a lawmaker is matched only by his commitment to an America that is, in President John F. Kennedy’s phrase, not 'first but, first when, first if, but first period'; and extends its best wishes for his continuing service to the Nation.”
Kerry is the first cabinet selection confirmed in Obama's second term, but the rare showing of bipartisan support will not extend to the rest of the president's national security picks, however.
Six Republicans — including the three who voted against Kerry — have vowed to oppose former Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) for secretary of Defense, and members of both parties have raised questions with the choice of John Brennan for CIA director because of concerns over his record on drone strikes as Obama top counterterrorism adviser.
Kerry could be sworn in as early as Friday, Clinton's last day at State.
Kerry has had major work done to his ugly effn face. He should keep botox manufacturers very busy for the next four years.
What the HELL did Coburn do?
John “Commie Traitor Bitch” Effin Kerry is a perfect representative of the 0dinga regime.
Pathetic that a traitor is now SOS.
The one party system strikes again.
Go Cruz!
It wasn’t the Viet Nam that bothers me - it was meeting with the communists in Paris, while we were still at war, and he was still in the reserves.
Someone please explain to me how the GOP is worth anything.
IMO the GOP is just the right wing of the political ruling class. The GOP has no principles. The GOP just guards the flank of the overt communists as they take the USA.
Never again.
My feeling about Cornyn - he knew Carey would be elected and his no vote provides cover for him. He’s up for election in 2014.
Yes it is, jaz. It is sad to see so few senators voting against his confirmation, as well.
Kerry was not only a traitor, he committed a felony by meeting with the NVA negotiators as a private citizen in Paris during the war in 1971 (collaboration).He lied about his length of service and his pretend wound. This man is just in a club of elites. But he can’t be any worse at secretary of state than that bumbling hillary. She utterly failed.
PAST time for TERM LIMITS.....way past time. Not that it would have helped here...but, I think it may have.
You can start referring to me now as Rumplestiltskin because I almost put my foot through the floor.
Despicable, treasonous, sumbitch gigolo with his ‘gentlemanly’ affectations and his botoxed ugly face makes me sick.
Couldn't have said it better myself.
John Kerry - Because Jane Fonda was not available.
Exactly, the 97 to 3 vote is as pathetic as the traitor they confirmed.
A pathetic choice for a pathetic regime. Go (to Hell) GOP!
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