Lawmakers Spar Over Latin America Post (Christopher Dodd smears White House nominee)

dailynews.yahoo.com ^ | Monday December 3 1:18 PM EST | KEN GUGGENHEIM, Associated Press Writer

[Cincinatus' Wife]

WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House and the Senate are deadlocked over the State Department's top Latin American position, nine months after President Bush first proposed Otto Reich for the post.

Senate Democrats, led by Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, refuse to hold a confirmation hearing for Reich, whom they consider unqualified. The White House won't withdraw his name, saying he is the victim of a smear campaign.

Any attempt to pull back Reich's nomination probably would upset Cuban-American leaders in Florida - an important base of support to both President Bush and his brother, Jeb Bush, who will seek re-election as Florida governor next year.

Reich's supporters have urged Bush to bypass the Senate and give Reich a one-year appointment during Congress' recess. But Bush advisers say that is not being considered seriously.

A recess appointment would be seen as an affront to Senate Democrats at a time the administration is stressing bipartisanship against terrorism.

Moreover, a recess appointment may not be an option. Lawmakers are considering skipping the recess planned for this month because of the war on terrorism. Some Republicans say Democrats may be trying to prevent the possibility of recess appointments - including Reich's.

Without a recess appointment, Reich's nomination as assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs is stuck. It's up to Dodd, chairman of Foreign Relations' Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, to schedule a hearing.

``That nomination's not going anywhere. That's the end of it,'' Dodd told The Hartford Courant in November.

But Secretary of State Colin Powell has continued to push for a hearing. He has called Reich the most important among State's unconfirmed nominees.

``He has done nothing - nothing at all - in his career in government that should be seen as disqualifying for this job,'' Powell said recently. ``He has been looked at, he has been investigated, we've been over all of those investigations, and Otto Reich is an honorable man.''

Dodd and other opponents of Reich have criticized his work in the 1980s as a State Department official heading an office accused of putting out illegal domestic propaganda against Nicaragua's Sandinista government.

They also suggest that Reich, as ambassador to Venezuela in the Reagan administration, tried to help a Cuban exile suspected of bombing a Cuban plane enter the United States. And they question whether his work as a lobbyist for companies involved in Latin America presents conflicts of interest.

The Bush administration and Reich's other supporters strongly reject accusations of wrongdoing and say he should be given a hearing to defend himself. They say Reich, a Cuban-American, is being punished for his political views, particularly his strong criticism of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

Dennis Hays, executive vice president of the anti-Castro Cuban-American National Foundation, said he doesn't expect White House support to waver.

``We've never heard anything other than a firm commitment to Ambassador Reich,'' he said.

Dan Fisk of the conservative Heritage Foundation said the White House ``should be willing to support him to the extent that he wants to hang in there.''

Reich has declined interviews since the White House announced plans to nominate him in March. He has left his lobbying firm and is working without salary at the State Department.

Bernard Aronson, the State Department's top Latin American affairs official in the first Bush administration, said U.S. relations with the region are hurt by the lack of an assistant secretary backed by both the president and the Senate, someone who can keep Latin America high on the political agenda.

``Historically, the United States has failed to pay important sustained attention to the region on a regular basis and that is usually when we've gotten in trouble in the region,'' he said.

On the Net:

Cuban-American National Foundation

Stop Reich.Org

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Otto Reich must REALLY have their number!

Stop Reich.Org-- Who We Are: The Coalition for a Sensible Latin America Policy (CSLAP) is an informal coalition of church groups, think tanks and advocacy organizations committed to promoting a democratic foreign policy, the peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperative approaches to international issues. These groups include: the Center for International Policy, the Cuba Committee for Democracy, the Foreign Policy In Focus project at the Institute for Policy Studies/Interhemispheric Resource Center, and the Washington Office on Latin America.

"A key resource in fighting hemispheric terrorism held back by Dems."FREE OTTO-- While the eyes of the world focus on the Middle East, the war on terror has its targets in this hemisphere, too. Unfortunately, President Bush's designated envoy to the Americas must fight this country's shadowy enemies with both hands tied behind his back. Otto Reich, Bush's nominee for assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, is being held hostage by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.) who refuses to hold a confirmation hearing on Reich's candidacy. Dodd apparently would rather brood over Reich's performance in the Reagan administration than permit him to address these clear-and-present dangers today:

The Hugo Chavez Threat

From Christopher Dodd's web site: "As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Narcotics Affairs, Dodd has worked to bring peace to Latin America, end human rights abuses against the Latin American people, and reduce drug trafficking in the region." Christopher Dodd--- --""As a world leader, the United States must work to facilitate international peace and prosperity and ensure the inherent human rights of all people." - Senator Chris Dodd

Democrats afraid of President Bush recess appointments: Congress has worked year around before

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Dodd is an aplogist for the Sandinistas.
I can understand why Fidel Castro was a big fan of Danny Ortega, by why is a member of the US Senate ?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Why indeed! His sympathies must lie with the Marxists.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

NO JUSTICES -- NO PEACE! -- STOP DemocRAT OBSTRUCTIONISTS!!!

[Recovering_Democrat]

Christopher Dodd, is he the one who wears false eyelashes?

[LarryLied]

Can't recall but it seems some of those groups opposing Reich are the same ones which aided and abetted the return of Elian to Cuba.

[breakem]

I think Dodd is afraid this guy might call Castro a bad name. We can't have that when so many dems like, Maxine Falters is down there begging Castro not to extradite cop killers.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes it does!

Newsweek: Is Hugo Chavez Insane?

[chainsaw]

I think it's time for Bush to tell the democrats that if they want pork they will have to pass it over his veto.

[Howlin]

The Democrats are the party of peace.

[LarryLied]

Yeah, they take a piece out of everyone and are known for getting a piece on the side too.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

They're the dumb, dependant, depressed and democrat party--as Rush has pointed out, Senator "Depends" Leahy is part of their "leadership."
Dodd must think he's running the show. The senate is filled with people I wouldn't allow in my home.
President Bush needs to turn the screws on these terrorist sympathizers.