Connie Mack: “the Constitution gives the Senate of the United States the responsibility and power to advise and consent upon the…”

“the Constitution gives the Senate of the United States the responsibility and power to advise and consent upon the nomination of high Cabinet and subcabinet administration officials. Each Senator must decide how to exercise his or her advise or consent role. Generally, I believe that Senators should let the President choose his key advisors. I have voted to confirm almost every administration appointee, including many with whom I have important disagreements. There comes a point, however, when the conscience and judgment of a Senator demands that he or she oppose a President's choice. As a Senator, I cannot vote in a way that I believe would jeopardize fundamental American national interests. A number of my colleagues have spoken about Mr. Talbott's record of misguided foreign policy judgment over many years, and the Russia-focused policy that resulted in the denial of NATO membership to new democracies in central Europe. I share their concerns, but wish to focus on what in my judgment is the most serious threat to our fundamental interest--the willingness to jeopardize the security of the only free and democratic American ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel.”