Republicans Reject Democrat’s Compromise on Bolton

A Democratic compromise that would have paved the way for a vote on U.N. ambassador nominee John Bolton was rejected yesterday by Republicans, who believe they will have enough votes to confirm him, the Los Angeles Times reported (see GSN, June 7).

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrat Chris Dodd (Conn.) said he was told by Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte that the Bush Administration would not accept the proposal to confirm names in intelligence reports requested by Bolton.

“I got a response saying, ‘No, they’re done with it,’” said Dodd. “They’ve said no to everything we’ve asked for.”

The White House dismissed the compromise.

“It is just more politics; it’s not about documents,” said Scott McClellan, White House spokesman. “The Democratic leader of the Senate Intelligence Committee has already seen the information and said there was nothing improper.”

Republicans on Capitol Hill point out that since Bolton was nominated, hundreds of documents have been turned over and two dozen witnesses have testified before the Foreign Relations Committee. Bolton has also answered written questions and met privately with individual lawmakers.

However, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said these efforts were not enough.

“This is not a standoff yet,” Reid said. “It’s up to the president.  We’re not the obstructionists. He is” (Mary Curtius, Los Angeles Times, June 8). 

Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said lawmakers should have the same access to intelligence that Defense Department officials have, the New York Times reported today.

"I just think it’s important to remember here that Mr. Bolton himself was able to look at this classified information," said Obama.

Senator Jon Kyl (R-Az.) said he is confident Bolton would be voted on by the end of the week.

“All of us are very desirous of ensuring that we have a representative to send to the United Nations by the end of this week,” Kyl said. “And I’m very, very hopeful that the vote will occur and he will be confirmed by that time” (Sharyl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, June 8).

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