Tina Smith: “I rise today to speak in behalf of John Bolton to be the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. I know…”

“I rise today to speak in behalf of John Bolton to be the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations. I know this nomination is gaining controversy. Yet the more I listen to it, I realize there may be an attempt to kill his nomination from a thousand cuts. It is not unusual in this town to see someone with a strong personality being subject to all kinds of innuendo and charges and hearsay. Certainly all of these things warrant investigation so that the Senate can perform its advise and consent duty. However, I think it is also very important we remember the President's right to nominate the individuals he believes are important in order to pursue his policies after his election, an election he earned at the ballot box, and the right conferred upon him by the Constitution. I rise here not as an opponent of the United Nations, but as one deeply disappointed in the United Nations in the 9 years in which I have served as a Senator. The U.N. is going through a challenging period, one that is raising questions about its effectiveness and ability to fulfill its mission on a global scale. New and unprecedented challenges face the United States and our allies. We cannot solve all the world's problems on our own.…”