Foreign Relations Committee Votes
After their second day of speaking with Condoleezza Rice, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee met and voted to send the nomination to the full Senate in a 16 to 2 vote. Only Barbara Boxer and John Kerry voted no.
While no transcript is yet available online, watching the session, I was once again struck by the contentiousness of Boxer and Kerry, who maintain that Rice is well qualified for the position, but they are unable to vote for her confirmation. Both spoke in terms of their disagreement with the war on terror, and Rice’s role in advising the President prior to and during the war, and the idea that Rice has failed to address their concerns. The simple reality is that no one will ever address their concerns.
I’m no politician, but it seems to me that after expressing their concerns, and with the knowledge that Rice is perhaps as well qualified for the role as can be expected, that both should have given their support to the nomination. Yet for them, that would be supporting the President. Thankfully, there were others, who despite their differences with the President, recognized the qualifications of Rice, and voted appropriately.
It is also worth noting that several members mentioned Supreme Court nominations, in particular with regard to their aversion to voting for nominees who the President selects, as opposed to this case where they felt the President rightfully should be permitted those he selects, if qualified, to serve with him. It’ll be very interesting when the time comes.
And as the press will consistently point out, Rice admitted there were some mistakes made in Iraq. The real story would have been had she not, for only a fool would make such an assertion. Just as only a fool would say that the administrations "rigidness" caused the death or wounding of Americans in Iraq. Senator Boxer is such a fool. Senator Biden, who did vote for the confirmation, was also exhibiting a lack of understanding in his statement that Rice "stuck to the party line" by refusing to give a timeline for American withdrawal. Is there anyone out there who believes that sharing a timeframe, in advance of the election, or prior to the new governments taking control of Iraq is a wise move.
