FOCUS | Senator Harry Reid: Bush Runs Roughshod over the Constitution

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FOCUS | Reid: Bush Runs " Roughshod over the Constitution "

Thu, 16 Jun 2005 11:31:56 -0700

 

 

FOCUS | Reid: Bush Runs " Roughshod over the Constitution "

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/061605X.shtml

 

 

Senator Harry Reid's Floor Statement on Bolton Nomination

t r u t h o u t | Statement

 

Thursday 16 June 2005

 

Remarks as prepared:

 

Yesterday morning I came to the floor to provide an update on the

status of the Bolton nomination. As I said then and I repeat now,

Senate Democrats have had a clear and consistent position on this

matter: If the Administration works in good faith to give the Senate

the information it requires, Senate Democrats are ready to immediately

give this nomination an up or down vote.

 

We are not going on a fishing expedition here. Democrats are

seeking clearly defined and specific information about two very

important issues that bear directly on John Bolton's fitness to

represent this great country at the United Nations:

 

Did Mr. Bolton attempt to exaggerate what Congress and the

American people would be told about Syria's alleged WMD capabilities?

 

Did Mr. Bolton use, and perhaps misuse, highly classified

intelligence intercepts to spy on bureaucratic rivals who disagreed

with his views or for other inappropriate purposes?

 

At the time I made those remarks, sadly, the Administration and

Senate Republicans had taken the position for the past month or more

that nothing needed to be provided to the Senate on either of these

issues.

 

Last evening the Chairman of the Intelligence came to the floor to

announce that he had attempted, " one last good faith effort to

alleviate [senate Democratic] concerns. " These questions were not

directed to a member of the Intelligence Committee or a member of the

Armed Services Committee. They were directed at the White House.

 

Mr. President, let's take a look at the Chairman's efforts. They

completely ignored one of the two issues on which we are seeking

further clarification, namely whether Bolton attempted to exaggerate

what Congress and the American people would be told about Syria's

alleged WMD capabilities.

 

Let me remind my colleagues that this is no small matter. Concerns

about this Administration hyping intelligence cannot be dismissed

lightly. U.S. troops are fighting in Iraq today largely because this

Administration told the Congress and the American people that Iraq not

only possessed stockpiles of WMD but was also capable of using them

against us and our allies.

 

Subsequently, we have learned that the Administration's own

investigator concluded Iraq did not possess either the stockpiles or

the means of delivery. And just as importantly, there are a series of

unanswered questions about whether senior officials in this

Administration dramatically and intentionally hyped this threat to

justify their desire to invade Iraq.

 

So Mr. President you can see why we believe it is no small matter

for us to learn whether Mr. Bolton was a party to other efforts to

hype intelligence.

 

Let's be clear about what is happening in Washington and the

Senate today. We have a White House that continues to drive a radical

agenda, determined to consolidate its power and abuse it when

necessary to push its unpopular policies. This disagreement over the

Bolton nomination is not about partisan politics, ideology, or even

reform at the United Nations. It is about whether we permit this

Administration yet again to walk roughshod over the Constitution and

our duty as Senators to ensure that our country is represented by

qualified and ethical individuals.

 

Instead of joining the Senate to protect and respect the

Constitution - this administration has decided to pick a fight with

harsh rhetoric and negative attacks as it concentrates its power and

continues its secretive approach to governing.

 

Instead of joining us in a bipartisan conversation to reform

Social Security - this Administration has pursued a risky

privatization scheme that will slash benefits and threaten our economy

with massive new debt. This Administration has also acquiesced to its

radical right wing base and supported the intrusion of the federal

government into the private lives of families.

 

And just as troubling as all of this, when the Administration

fails to get what they want they rev up the negative attack machine

and set it to slash and burn. The pattern could not be clearer and the

American people are joining us to say enough is enough.

 

For months now, Democrats have been talking about reforming

Washington and focusing on the issues that affect the lives of

American families. Our work on the energy bill this week is a fine

example of this. We have a bipartisan bill that we hope to continue to

improve on the floor over the next days and weeks. Americans are sick

and tired of getting caught in the crossfire of partisan sniping so

let's continue to join together in the commonsense center and do the

work that the American people sent us here to do.

 

So I end as I began, if this Administration - like previous

Administrations - respects the requests of the Senate, we will

immediately move to grant Bolton an up or down vote. I stand by that

pledge today.

 

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