politics

Dems Again Block Bolton Nomination

By John Jessup
Washington Correspondent

CBN.com – WASHINGTON - The Democrats have succeeded once again in their campaign to block the nomination of John Bolton to the United Nations.

And with increasing calls for reform at the UN, the President may have to make some tough decisions about his nominee.

After the vote, Democrats had a blunt message for President Bush. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) said, “Give us another nominee - someone whom the administration can support, someone whom we can support. There's a lot of work to do at the United Nations.”

Republicans fell six votes short of ending the debate on the nomination of Bolton as the country's top diplomat to the UN.

For the second time, Democrats upheld their filibuster of the controversial nominee, described as blunt and overly aggressive, claiming the White House would not release some information they requested.

But some said the Democrat's blockade of Bolton is only shielding the UN from vital reforms.

“I think it is highly irresponsible for the United States Senate to keep obstructing reform of the United Nations,” Sen. George Allen (R-VA) said.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), in a statement, said, “These votes against John Bolton were votes against cleaning up the UN."

And calls for reform at the world body have been mounting, with scandals like sex abuse committed by UN peacekeepers, allegations of sexual harassment at the UN headquarters, inaction to mass killings in Darfur and fresh allegations of corruption in Iraq’s Oil-for-Food program under Saddam Hussein.

Last week, the House voted 221-184 to withhold half of the United States' contribution to the UN if it does not reform.

Without a companion bill in the Senate and the backing of the President, the future of the House bill is unclear. And so, too, are the options for Bush.

“American people know why I nominated him, because the UN needs reform and I thought it would be important to send a reformer to the United Nations,” Bush remarked.

With no confirmation vote in sight, the President appears to have few choices. He could take the nomination of Bolton off the table or give Democrats the information they want. Or, he could give Bolton a recess appointment to the UN when Congress goes on its July 4 break.

Some supporters worry that route would make Bolton appear to be a weakened ambassador at the UN.

They said that the President should continue pressing the Senate to confirm the tough-talking diplomat, in order to bring much needed change to the UN.

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