WASHINGTON - Fighting to get a vote on John Bolton's nomination for U.N. ambassador, the White House accused Democrats on Thursday of refusing to negotiate in good faith. Democrats said it was the White House that was refusing to cooperate.
Bolton's nomination is in limbo after two failed attempts to bring it to a Senate vote over Democrats' objections. Barring an unexpected compromise, Bolton's hopes for the U.N. job appear to hinge on whether President Bush will circumvent lawmakers and appoint him to the post temporarily.
The White House said Andy Card, the president's chief of staff, reached out to Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record) on Wednesday night with a compromise on Democrats' demands for more information.
Democrats have held up the nomination by demanding that the administration check a list of 36 U.S. officials against names in secret national security intercepts that Bolton requested and received. They also want documents related to the preparation of testimony about Syria's weapons capability that Bolton planned to deliver — but ultimately never gave — in the House in July 2003.
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