Barbara Boxer: “I want to begin today by again thanking Chairman Lugar and Senator Biden, our ranking member, for a very fair debate on…”

“I want to begin today by again thanking Chairman Lugar and Senator Biden, our ranking member, for a very fair debate on the nomination of Dr. Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State. I know these votes usually go overwhelmingly for the nominee. The last time there was any vote against a nominee, I think the most votes were Kissinger at 7 votes. So I know that what I am doing is not about winning a vote; it is simply about telling the truth as I see it and other Members telling it as they see it. At the end of the day, when Senators vote, some will be very enthusiastic about the nominee and feel very good about their vote. Others will be a little anxious. I sense with Senator Biden, he certainly has anxieties over it, but he is very hopeful. And knowing Joe Biden as I do, that definitely fits his character because I think he gave Condoleezza Rice opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to set the record straight, to level with the committee.”