The Bush administration will stand by the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. envoy to the United Nations, White House officials said Sunday, despite firm opposition to the choice from the Democrats who now control Congress. I think if (Bolton) actually was able to get a vote in the full Senate, he would succeed ... I m still hopeful that we can get him through, White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten said on ABC s This Week with George Stephanopoulos. He s been a good ambassador. He deserves confirmation, so we are following the rules, Bolten added. Bolton has been a controversial pick for the position, with President George W. Bush resorting to appointing him during a congressional recess, after facing strong opposition from Democrats. Bolten said Sunday that the White House will now try to build bipartisan support for the nomination, instead of trying to sidestep Congress again, Bush wants to see his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations confirmed before Democrats take control of Congress in January, but Democrats and even some Republicans say Bolton s adversarial approach makes him a bad choice for the job. Mr. President, if you really mean it, that you really want to cooperate and have a bipartisan (support) play by the rules, Mr. President. ... Send somebody else, said Sen. Joseph Biden (Democrat from Delaware), who is expected to head the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January. While Democratic opposition to Bolton has long stymied his nomination, a Republican senator who lost his seat in the midterm elections may provide the decisive vote against the president s candidate. Senator Lincoln Chafee (Rhode Island) has said he will not vote to confirm Bolton. Senator Carl Levin (Democrat from Michigan) told ABC that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has not decided that he is the appropriate person for that job. White House Chief of Staff Bolten declined to confirm what course the White House would take if Bolton s nomination failed once more. Instead he pointed out that at least one lawmaker, Republican Senator George Voinovich (Ohio), has reconsidered earlier opposition to Bolton. We hope other members will see that, Bolten said.
