Standoff continues between Kerry, Fox over ambassador post

[Mass]

Can AP do any more loaded than that? It basically puts the liar (Fox) and the victim (Kerry) at the same level. The article certainly does not give us any clue on how the Democrats will vote, but it certainly is very nice with Fox.

Standoff continues between Kerry, Fox over ambassador post
SAM HANANEL
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The standoff between Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and GOP mega-donor Sam Fox, of St. Louis, remains unresolved as a Senate panel prepares to vote this week on Fox's nomination to be ambassador to Belgium.
...

In a series of written responses to questions posed by Kerry after the Feb. 27 hearing, Fox has continued to deny knowing how the Swift Boat group would use his money. That hasn't satisfied Kerry and could pose problems for Fox if he convinces other Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to scuttle the nomination.

"Sen. Kerry and other members of the committee still have questions for Mr. Fox, and it's fair to say the concerns raised during the February 27 hearing haven't vanished," Kerry spokeswoman Amy Brundage said Monday.

...


Among the written follow-up questions Kerry posed to Fox earlier this month: "At the time of your donation, what was your understanding as to what your money would be used for? What did you understand SBVT's purpose at that time to be?"

Fox's answer: "I assumed that my contribution would be used for SBVT's general purposes including administrative expenses, fund raising, advertising, but did not have any understanding whatever as to how my contribution would be spent."

When Kerry asked if Fox received any acknowledgment for his contribution, Fox initially replied that he hadn't. Fox later resubmitted his answer, stating, "After my assistant checked my records, we found the attached acknowledgment of my contribution."

A letter from the Swift Boat treasurer thanking Fox for his $50,000 contribution said, "The only way we can get the truth out about John Kerry is with the help of Americans such as you."
...
Representatives for Obama, Dodd and Biden did not return calls seeking comment on Monday.

It can be risky to seek political payback against a diplomatic nominee, said Ross Baker, a political scientist at Rutgers University.

"There is the tit-for-tat problem that you let that genie out of the bottle and it's likely to come back and bedevil a Democratic president," Baker said.
...

[beachmom]

1. I have a BAD feeling about this.

Somebody talk me out of those bad feelings.

[karynnj]

2. I agree, Mass

This is written like a scabble - and reduced by the Rutgers political scientist to "political payback" - and it could come back to bedevil a Democratic Prsident. These people have NO sense of morality. It bothers me that even after the media killed Kerry's 2004 run, they still are never never fair to him - ever. If there were one Republican with a conscience, that person should publicly put the hold on him - and say why. These people work with Kerry and they know him well enough to know the truth. Where is Mr Straight talk?

[wisteria]

3. I have one to add. It seems they are going to criticize Kerry one way or another .

If Fox is denied the post, it will be sour grapes on Kerry's part and the Dem's and if the other Dem's vote Fox in then they can portray Kerry as a loser with no support among Democrats.

IMO, Fox should be voted down and a couple repubs should consider voting the "right" way and with the Dem's.





http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/Global/story.asp?S=6282456&nav=F2DO

Edited to comment that the Republicans have done this in the past and for less of a reason than being unqualified. I believe it was Jesse Helms and in that case it was pure politics-plain and simple.

[blm]

4. Can you make that same point in GD - this is a good discussion to have.

It's about the media - you framed it right - they put the truth from Kerry and the lies from Fox on equal footing.

[Mass]

5. Good news - Dodd to give Swift Boater the boot

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2007/03/dodd_to_give_sw.html#more

About The Swamp | Contact The Swamp | RSS Feed More Politics



Guest posted by David Lightman at 11:46 am CDT

Sen. Christopher J. Dodd said today he will "strongly oppose" the nomination of Sam Fox, a big Republican contributor--and backer of the 2004 Swift Boat Veterans campaign against John Kerry--as ambassador to Belgium.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the Fox matter, a month after Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee, grilled the St. Louis businessman on why he supported the Swift Boat group.
...

Dodd, D-Conn., did not mention Lieberman today, but made it clear he does not want Fox in the job. "U.S. ambassadors need to be both responsible and credible," Dodd said, "and Mr. Fox's support for an organization known to have spread falsehoods illustrates neither."

And, Dodd said, "the fact that Mr. Fox refused to apologize for his behavior during his nomination hearing reinforces my belief that he would not be an acceptable respresentative for the position of U.S. ambassador." The Swift Boat group, which merged with another organization in September 2004 and became Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, was funded largely by wealthy GOP donors, many from Texas.

[karynnj]

6. Yay Dodd!

I already liked him - but makes me like him more! We need more Democrats to say the same thing.

[MonteLukast]

7. Aren't Dodd and Kerry pretty good friends?

They do have an awful lot in common.

[karynnj]

8. I thought Dodd and Kennedy were suppose to be good friends

All 3 kind of vote similarly.

[whometense]

11. I've heard that in their single days

Dodd and Kennedy were pretty good hellraising buddies.

[whometense]

10. I just made my first contribution to Dodd,

and stated as my reason that it was a thank you for his opposition to the Fox nomination, and his support of Kerry on this.

Made me feel pretty good. :-)

[Mass]

9. More on the subject - posted on GD

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x521383