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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (60479)	12/7/2002 7:34:34 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 281500

Families of 9 / 11 Victims Want Rudman on Panel By The Associated Press Friday, 6 December, 2002 CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Families of Sept. 11 victims fear that the White House will block their effort to get former Sen. Warren Rudman of New Hampshire on the new commission investigating the attacks. They consider Rudman the only well-qualified Republican sufficiently independent of his party and the White House to do a thorough job on the commission, Stephen Push, a spokesman for the families, said Friday. ``At issue is whether this commission is going to have any teeth,'' he said. ``Having one independent Republican will make all the difference.'' Push said the families believe Rudman is being blocked because of opposition from the White House. ``For some reason the administration has been fighting this (the commission) ... from day one. I assume they're worried about criticism they didn't heed those earlier warnings'' of an attack, he said. Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said the administration, having chosen former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as commission chairman, would have no voice in the remaining selections. Democrats chose former Maine Sen. George Mitchell as vice chairman. The other four Democrats and four Republicans are to be chosen by leaders of the two parties by the end of next week. Push said one independent GOP member could make the difference on a vote to issue a subpoena. Rudman, a former New Hampshire attorney general, served two terms in the Senate before retiring in 1993 to private law practice. He has served on various high level governmental study and advisory groups, including one that warned of U.S. vulnerability to terrorist attacks before Sept. 11, 2001. The victims' families have a voice through two Republican senators who have their trust, John McCain of Arizona and Richard Shelby of Alabama. Push said the families, through McCain, recommended Rudman to incoming Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi. He said Lott is balking. Lott's office did not immediately return a call Thursday. Lott's chief of staff, Ron Bonjean, told The New York Times that Rudman is on Lott's list of candidates. ``If he's acceptable to Shelby and McCain and Lott, why isn't he appointed?'' Push asked. Push said he had not talked to Rudman, who was staying out of the debate. ``I have no comment on this entire matter. I don't think it's appropriate,'' Rudman said. truthout.org