The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on John Bolton’s nomination as ambassador to the United Nations on May 12. I know from firsthand experience that Bolton is indeed “a quintessential kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy.”
Bolton was president of the National Policy Forum, an offshoot of the Republican National Committee. I served on NPF’s education and telecommunications committees. The NPF held a few hearings, issued some policy papers, and then folded its tent when reports surfaced that Bolton had solicited foreign contributions in violation of campaign finance laws.
It would be poetic justice if Bolton’s nomination is tossed out (and here) before the votes are counted. In shot after shot, he is seen "hovering over the shoulders of [Judge Charles] Burton and other canvassing board members as they examined punch-card ballots to try to determine voter intent." Judge Burton, chairman of the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board during the Florida recount, told me:
I think it became obvious to us early on that number one, the Republican Party did not even want a recount….They were making the process very difficult. I think it became clear that their strategy throughout was to object to as many ballots as possible; to delay the process as long as possible. I think clearly their goal in Palm Beach was to see that a recount never took place.
When the Florida Supreme Court ordered a recount of the undervotes, Bolton flew to Tallahassee, where he stormed into the Leon County Library and announced, “I’m with the Bush-Cheney team, and I’m here to stop the count.”
Bolton’s role in the 2000 election debacle should disqualify him from serving as an ambassador to the UN whose mission is:
(i) to assist Member States in their efforts to hold credible and legitimate democratic elections in accordance with internationally recognized criteria established in universal and regional human rights instruments; and
(ii) to contribute to building the recipient country's institutional capacity to organize democratic elections that are genuine and periodic and have the full confidence of the contending parties and the electorate.
On the Senate floor, Sen. John McCain said: “I believe John Bolton could provide the medicine the United Nations needs.” Appointing a “kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy” who has utter contempt for democratic elections would be a cure worse than the disease.
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