[Mb-civic] Blow for Bush over Bolton's UN post nomination

[Michael Butler]

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Blow for Bush over Bolton's UN post nomination
>By Demetri Sevastopulo, Guy Dinmore and Holly Yeager in Washington
>Published: April 19 2005 21:20 | Last updated: April 20 2005 01:20
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The White House on Tuesday appeared in jeopardy of losing a high-profile
battle over the nomination of John Bolton as US ambassador to the United
Nations after a Senate committee decided to postpone a vote to allow more
time to investigate allegations that he slanted intelligence and abused
analysts.

George Voinovich, an Ohio senator, stunned his Republican colleagues on the
Senate foreign relations committee by siding with Democrats who argued that
more time was needed to vet the nomination of Mr Bolton. ³I've heard enough
today that I don't feel comfortable about voting for Mr Bolton,² said Mr
Voinovich.

The committee had been expected to vote to send his nomination to the full
Senate after Lincoln Chafee, a Rhode Island Republican, signalled he would
approve the nomination in committee.

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>Democrats question Bolton's fitness to serve
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Character assassination was the Democrats' chief weapon as they succeeded in
delaying and perhaps ultimately derailing the president's choice of John
Bolton as the next US ambassador to the United Nations.
Go there
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The Bush administration has twice before pulled Cabinet nominees after
information emerged before the nominations were considered in the Senate.
But if Mr Bolton fails to be approved by the Senate, or withdraws before a
vote, it would be the first time that a high-level Bush administration
nominee had been blocked by congressional opposition.

The postponement was a blow to President George W. Bush who has staunchly
defended Mr Bolton in spite of his past vocal criticisms of the UN. Before
the committee meeting on Tuesday, Scott McClellan, White House press
secretary, said Mr Bush had no ³second doubts² about Mr Bolton.

Richard Lugar, the committee chairman, is expected to reconvene the
committee for a vote in early May. But signs of opposition from key
Republican senators, including Chuck Hagel and Mr Chafee, could force the
White House to reconsider.
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