Washington – A key Democratic senator warned Tuesday that the Bush administration may be losing ground in its bid to confirm John Bolton as U.N. ambassador as the White House continued to rebuff Democrats’ request for documents related to the nominee.
Senate GOP leaders, acknowledging no apparent progress on Bolton, said they will call for another vote to end debate in a renewed effort to portray Democrats as obstructionists.
But one of the three Democrats who sided with them on an unsuccessful “cloture” vote May 26, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, said he may abandon the Republicans, leaving them farther from their goal than they were three weeks ago.
If Democrats “continue being reasonable (in their requests) and the White House won’t provide the information, I want to reserve the right to change my vote,” Pryor told reporters.
Some Republican lawmakers expressed dismay that the effort to confirm Bolton, an outspoken conservative who has sharply criticized the United Nations, remains so difficult.
The most recent sticking point has involved Democratic requests for documents concerning Bolton’s work activities.
The administration says senators have no need or right to review information regarding Bolton’s role in shaping 2003 congressional testimony on Syria or his efforts to learn the names of U.S. officials mentioned in conversations intercepted by the National Security Agency. The impasse has lasted two months.
With Democrats appearing to stand firm, Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said Tuesday that he would try to increase the pressure by scheduling another vote to end debate, possibly Thursday.
