May 12, 2005

“The United States can do Better than John Bolton”
Citizens for Global Solutions Calls on Mr. Bolton to Withdraw his Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. – After vigorous debate, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee decided to send John Bolton’s nomination for U.S. Ambassador to the UN to the Senate floor without the Committee’s support or recommendations. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) summed up the general feeling of the Committee when he declared: “the United States can do better than John Bolton.” Citizens for Global Solutions views today’s vote as a vote of no confidence against Mr. Bolton’s nomination.

Senator Voinovich’s opposition and the concerns of others ensured that the Committee could not confer a positive recommendation. All 10 Republican Senators agreed to send the nomination to the floor of the Senate without recommendation. The Committee reaffirmed Citizens for Global Solutions’ objections, that Mr. Bolton lacks the credibility and support to be our nation’s UN Ambassador. Citizens for Global Solutions now calls on Mr. Bolton to withdraw his name from consideration for the position.

Charles J. Brown, President and CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions, noted: “The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s action today confirms that John Bolton lacks the credibility, the patience, and the diplomatic experience to represent the United States at the UN. Following the Committee’s failure to support the nomination, Mr. Bolton should recognize that he would best serve his President by withdrawing his name from consideration.”

In Congressional history, only six nominees have been sent to the Senate floor without committee approval, of those six only three have ultimately been approved by the Senate.

Don Kraus, Executive Vice President at Citizens for Global Solutions stated that: “If Mr. Bolton is confirmed by the whole Senate without the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s endorsement he is ‘damaged goods’ and will face an uphill struggle moving forward U.S. policy goals at the United Nations.”

Senator Voinovich spoke harshly against John Bolton, referring to the nominee as “the poster child for what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be.” In addition, a number of Senators echoed the objections Citizens for Global Solutions has long expressed about Mr. Bolton: that he lacks the credibility and diplomatic skills to represent American interests, that his presence at the UN would exacerbate already strained relations; and that his disdain of international law and institutions would undermine the possibility of much needed UN reform. As Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) stated: “some have tried to frame up that if you're against John Bolton, you're against reform of the United Nations. That's patently ridiculous. That makes no sense. That is not the issue.”

Citizens for Global Solutions will continue to argue that John Bolton is the wrong man for the job – that he lacks the credibility to bring countries together at the UN – when the nomination is brought before the entire Senate.

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Notes to Editors:
Citizens for Global Solutions launched www.stopbolton.org on March 15, 2005, to illustrate the critical nature of the U.S.-UN relationship, show the need for effective UN reform, and make the case that John Bolton is the wrong man for the job.

Updated May 12, 2005
 

Contact:

Sam Stein
Communications Associate
202 546 3950 ext 123

Don Kraus
Executive Vice President
202 546 3950 ext 103