by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright April 23, 2005
All Rights Reserved.

isintegrating by the minute, President George W. Bush's silvery mustachioed nominee for U.N. Ambassador John R. Bolton appears heading for defeat. Bolton, known as a no nonsense take-no-prisoners sort of guy, faced relentless grilling at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Government Affairs Committee. Several witnesses testified that Bolton abused subordinates, sucking up to superiors but punishing underlings, either firing or getting them reassigned. Known for his brusqueness, Bolton denied mistreating subordinates, though several former employees stepped up to complain. Democratic opposition was expected. But it's bad news when key GOP colleagues like Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and Sen. George Voinovich (R-Oh.) have signaled that they have trouble voting for Bush's embattled U.N designee.

      Postponing the committee vote signals that Bolton faces an uphill battle getting confirmed. GOP committee members have been lobbied hard by the White House, hoping to twist enough arms to push Bolton through. Unlike in Bush's last term, there are real-life consequences of rubber-stamping ill-advised requests. With midyear elections approaching, elected officials simply can afford too many mistakes. No one doubts Bolton's professional credentials but there are serious concerns about his fitness to serve as U.N. ambassador. It's one thing to be an outspoken critic but it's another to act like a bull in a china shop. Multiple reports about Bolton suggest that he lacks the temperament and diplomatic skills to get along with the world's most dysfunctional institution. Suggesting that Bolton was simply victim of a Democratic witch-hunt doesn't wash with corroborating reports.

      Republicans had the votes [10-8] in the Foreign Relations Committee until Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee signaled wouldn't confirm Bush's pick. That changed the vote to [9-9], sending the matter to the Senate floor with “no recommendation,” inviting other GOP senators to defect. With Hagel and Voinovich asking for more time to probe allegations, the message to the White House is unmistakable: Withdraw the nomination. Without tipping his hand, Chafee telegraphed that Bolton's chances have dwindled. “We have to discuss that among ourselves,” said Chafee to CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, referring to the growing likelihood that Senate Republicans will tell the White House to pick another U.N. nominee. Calling the Democrats' charges “trumped-up” and part of an “ugly” attack against Bolton's character, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan hasn't conceded the inevitable.

      Allegations against Bolton have gone from bad to worse. Beginning first with charges that he tampered with the employment of intelligence analysts and then with charges from a Dallas woman that Bolton, in 1994, chased her through a Moscow hotel, throwing things at her and threatening to spread ugly rumors about her to U.S. officials involved with a project in Kyrgyztan. Intemperate episodes raise red flags for most ambassadors but especially for the U.S. representative to the U.N. Together with the president and secretary of state, the U.N. ambassador presents the U.S. to the international community. Apart from Bolton's alleged personality problems, his long hair and bushy mustache creates its own impressions. Despite White House attempts at rehabilitation, there's an avalanche of bad news and overlapping reports to torpedo Bolton's nomination.

      Weighing in on the nomination, former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell had little good to say about the embattled undersecretary of state for arms control and international security with whom he worked since 2001. “This nomination is not doomed, but it's on life support and the plug may well be pulled any day,” said American University political history professor Allan Lichman, politely predicting Bolton's demise. It's not Bolton's outspoken criticism of the U.N. that places his nomination in peril but it's his wake of erratic behavior. You can't alienate and antagonize former employees and acquaintances without repercussions. “If being occasionally tough and aggressive and abrasive were a problem,” Vice President Dick Cheney told Republican campaign lawyers, “a lot of members of the United States Senate wouldn't qualify,” discounting Bolton's character flaws.

      Chugging uphill, the Bolton freight train has run out of steam. With so many objections, the White House must spend its capital wisely not waste precious resources on losing propositions. Too many corroborating stories raise serious doubts about Bolton's character. His toughness and critical views of the U.N. have nothing to do with his track record of personnel problems, especially his alleged mistreatment of subordinates. Faced with midyear elections, the GOP can't waste too much more time on Bolton. They must pick the right battles, especially an ambitious legislative agenda, including Social Security Reform. “My sense is that he's going down,” said the Brookings Institution congressional and White House expert Thomas Mann, seeing Bolton stepping aside. Instead of helping the White House, Bolton has become an unwanted distraction.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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