During hours of testimony yesterday, not even the most skeptical Democrat senators came close to questioning Mike Pompeo’s credentials, and that’s because they can’t. As a West Point graduate, Harvard trained lawyer, husband, father, Congressman and Director of the CIA, his qualifications are impeccable.
Confirming secretaries of state used to be a non-partisan affair. Democrats should do the right thing and put party politics aside, especially those senators who voted for him last year — including Joe Donnelly.
Confirm Mike Pompeo
Washington Post
Editorial Board
April 12, 2018 – 7:31 PM
“MIKE POMPEO’S confirmation hearing to become secretary of state arrived at a moment when the Trump administration is grappling with a chaotic confluence of actual and looming foreign crises... President Trump is contemplating military strikes against Syria while also pushing for a U.S. pullout; he has committed to attempting to negotiate a nuclear deal with North Korea while threatening to repudiate the nuclear pact with Iran. He is waging a trade war against China and Japan while counting on their strategic cooperation against the regime of Kim Jong Un...
“…[Mr. Pompeo] stressed that he favored diplomatic solutions with Iran and North Korea; he played down the likely consequences of a decision by Mr. Trump to scrap the Iran deal next month. Importantly, he promised to defend the State Department’s budget and to quickly seek to fill its many vacant positions...
“…Mr. Pompeo was tough on Russia, saying conflicts with it were caused by “Russia’s bad behavior”; Mr. Trump tweeted Wednesday that “much of the bad blood with Russia is caused by the Fake & Corrupt Russia Investigation.” Mr. Pompeo acknowledged that sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s regime had been inadequate and promised to “reset . . . deterrence.”…
“In this, Mr. Pompeo sounded much like his predecessor Mr. Tillerson, who often pushed Mr. Trump to be tougher on Mr. Putin and to resist reflexive impulses to pull U.S. forces out of Afghanistan and Syria. On human rights, as in support for the State Department, Mr. Pompeo sounded like an improvement, saying “we should defend American values every place we go,” including to allies such as Egypt…Though he reiterated his opposition to gay marriage, Mr. Pompeo said he would defend the rights of LGBT people both in the State Department and abroad.
“…But rejecting or delaying his nomination, as Mr. Trump juggles multiple crises without adequate counsel, probably would make an already parlous situation worse. Mr. Pompeo should be deployed to Foggy Bottom in the hope that he will fulfill his promise to revive and reassert U.S. diplomacy.”
Background:
John Kerry Was Confirmed Secretary Of State By The Senate By A Vote Of 94-3. (Kerry Nomination, Roll Call Vote PN 113: Approved 94-3-1: R-42-3; D-52-0-1, 01/29/13)
Hillary Clinton Was Confirmed Secretary Of State By The Senate By A Vote Of 94-2. (Clinton Nomination, Roll Call Vote PN 111: Approved 94-2-2: R-39-2; D-57-0-2, 01/21/09)
- Senator John McCain (R-AZ) Even Tried To Cut Off Debate And Move Faster Towards Senator Clinton’s Confirmation Citing The Multitude Of Problems Needed To Be Addressed By The U.S. Including The “Deteriorating Situation With North Korea.” “Just before a recess a few minutes ago so that senators could attend their policy luncheons, Senator John McCain, whose failed presidential bid resulted in his return to the Senate, tried to cut off the hours of debate and move quickly toward Senator Clinton’s confirmation. He argued that she must begin work on the world’s problems — the United States is fighting two wars, the fragile ceasefire over Gaza, a deteriorating situation with North Korea.” (Kate Phillips, “Senate Confirms Clinton As Secretary Of State, The New York Times, 01/21/09)
Condoleezza Rice Was Confirmed Secretary Of State By The Senate By A Vote Of 85-13. (Rice Nomination, Roll Call Vote PN 8: Approved 85-13-2: R-53-0-2; D-44-31; I-0-1, 01/26/05)
Colin Powell Was Confirmed Secretary Of State By Unanimous Voice Vote. (Powell Nomination, Voice Vote: Approved By Voice Vote, 01/20/01
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