Bush says Democrats stalling on Bolton; Yale classmates call U.N. ambassador nominee unfit
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By ANNE GEARAN | Associated Press
May 31, 2005
WASHINGTON - President George W. Bush said John R. Bolton has enough votes to win confirmation as ambassador to the United Nations and should get a quick up-or-down vote on the Senate floor, but Yale classmates of Bolton's said Tuesday he is unfit for the job.
"Clearly he's got the votes to get confirmed," Bush said during a White House press conference Tuesday.
Democrats held up Bolton's nomination last week in a dispute over documents they claim the White House has refused to provide. Congress is not in session this week, meaning any new vote on the long-delayed nomination is at least a week off.
"I view that as just another stall tactic, another way to delay, another way to not allow Bolton to get an up-or-down vote," Bush said.
"I would hope that when they get back that they stop stalling and give the man a vote. Just give him a simple up-or-down vote."
Meanwhile, Yale classmates of Bolton's wrote to senators to oppose the nomination.
The 76 signers include cartoonist Garry Trudeau, who lampooned Bolton in his "Doonesbury" strip in May. Others were fellow members of the Class of 1970 who participated in a 35th reunion over the Memorial Day weekend.
"We are embarrassed and ashamed that the Bush administration has nominated someone so manifestly unsuited to represent our country at the United Nations," the Yale classmates wrote.
"As his classmates, we do not believe that Mr. Bolton has exhibited the values of civility, light and truth which our shared institution represents."
Bush also attended Yale and graduated in 1968.
Most Senate Democrats and at least one Republican, Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, oppose Bolton on grounds that he may have mishandled government intelligence, mistreated subordinates or misled the Senate committee reviewing his nomination. He has long been a critic of the United Nations. |
