White House: Vote against Bolton is vote against reform

WASHINGTON - In a rhetorical shift, the White House charged Wednesday that a vote against its nominee to be US ambassador to the United Nations was a vote against reforming the scandal-plagued world body.
"That's what this issue boils down to: A vote for John Bolton is a vote for reform at the United Nations. A vote against him is a vote for the status quo at the United Nations," spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters.
Opposition Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress have indicated they oppose Bolton's nomination in light of charges that he was abusive towards subordinates and sought to exaggerate intelligence about alleged weapons programs in Syria, China, Iran and Cuba.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which historically approves nominations for a vote by the whole Senate, has put off its vote until May 12.
McClellan, who in the past had dismissed such allegations and "trumped up" and "unsubstantiated," did not repeat that defense of Bolton but stressed: "These are side issues that distract from the real issue."
"The real issue here is: Are we going to move forward on reform at the United Nations or are we going to except the status quo?," the spokesman said.
McClellan seemed to suggest that some of the personality traits Bolton's detractors frequently point to -- a quick temper, a sometimes abrasive style -- were actually assets to the effort to reform the world body.
"John Bolton is someone who brings a lot of experience and a lot of passion and sometimes a blunt style to this position. But those are exactly the kind of qualities that are needed in an agent of change to get things done, particularly at a place like the United Nations," said McClellan.
Asked to give examples of needed reforms, McClellan pointed to" a number of areas -- the oil-for-food program -- where we've seen some of the corruption" and said Bolton would strive to "end any abuses within the United Nations."
"I think that's what the American people want. The American people want to see reform at the United Nations. That's why we need John Bolton there, because he is an agent of reform," said the spokesman.

04/27/2005 19:11 GMT