Lugar's Office Says He's Not Proposing To Call Bill Clinton At Hillary Confirmation Hearings

[babylonsister]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/12/lugars_office_says_hes_not_pro.php


Lugar's Office Says He's Not Proposing To Call Bill Clinton At Hillary Confirmation Hearings
By Greg Sargent - December 11, 2008, 5:42PM


Looks like the notion that Republicans might try to get Bill Clinton to testify at Hillary's Secretary of State confirmation hearings, as had been reported today in various places, is shaping up as a complete non-starter.

A spokesperson for Senator Richard Lugar, the head Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which will hold the hearing, tells us that he isn't proposing to call Bill as a witness -- making it all but certain not to happen.

"He is not proposing it," Lugar spokesperson Andy Fisher emails us. "The agenda for the hearing will be determined by Senator Kerry."

The notion that Bill might be called to testify started making the rounds today after Politico reported that some conservative Senate Republicans were privately pushing the idea. Cable news has since been babbling about the possibility intermittently today.

But Lugar's office threw cold water on the possibility. "We know nothing about it other than what was reported in The Politico," Lugar's spokesperson emailed.

The quotes from Lugar's office pretty much ice the idea. While it's still possible that conservative Republicans on the committee could try to call Bill as a witness, the procedure holds that a majority of the committee would have to support the idea, Senate staffers point out.

When the hearings commence next year, Dems will outnumber Republicans on the committee (as they do now). The notion that Dems would back the calling of Bill as a witness, and the attendant media circus that would result, is daft, to put it charitably.

So don't expect Bill to be called to testify. Not gonna happen.

[firedupdem]

1. Politico and their unnamed sources?......they are starting to

become a total rag.

[Grateful for Hope]

2. Yes they are

Seems like they like to stir up a little controversy.

[ProSense]

3. Isn't it bizarre that the media is still going along as if the Repubs are in control? n/t

[babylonsister]

4. That's politico for you; their agenda hasn't changed. nt

[FrenchieCat]

5. Yep. Guess they don't understand that pretty soon,

Like the Republican party, they will have made themselves irrelevant.

I'm already ignoring their bloviating come-to-our-site-cause-that's-how-we-butter-our-bread Asses. :eyes:

[Arkana]

6. Lugar's buddies with Obama--he's not going to make the transition difficult.

[Jennicut]

7. Lugar is very close to Biden as well. He is one of the few Repubs with any ounce of integrity left