Originally published in The Frontrunner on January 19, 2005
Copyright 2005 Bulletin News Network, Inc.
All
three networks last night led their newscasts with Secretary of
State-designate Condoleezza Rice's confirmation hearing. While there
was a consensus in the reporting that Rice faced no serious obstacles
to her eventual confirmation, the stories noted the senators' pointed
questions, especially on Iraq. Despite the tough "grilling," Rice was
portrayed as holding her ground.
All three
networks all noted the clash between Rice and Sen. Boxer, who asked
Boxer to "refrain from impugning my integrity." Additionally, Sen. John
Kerry indicated he may vote against Rice on the basis of his questions
about the Iraq war. Other senators quoted by the networks included
Republicans Chuck Hagel and George Voinovich, and Democrats Barbara
Boxer, John Kerry, Barak Obama, Joseph Biden, and Christopher Dodd.
CBS
Evening News (1/18, lead story, 3:10, Roberts) reported, "Her
confirmation is not in doubt, but today, Senators raised plenty of
doubts about White House policy, grilling Condoleezza Rice on the Iraq
war and what it's done to America's image."
NBC
Nightly News (1/18, lead story, 2:45, B. Williams) reported Rice faced
a "sometimes ferocious cross-examination," making a "long day in the
hot seat for the woman known for her famously cool demeanor under
fire."
ABC World News Tonight (1/18,
lead story, 3:10, Douglass) reported, "Rice held her ground as a
Senators' frustration about the war in Iraq boiled over," and Sen.
Chuck Hagel "asked skeptically if there really is a plan for the US to
get out." Sen. Barbara Boxer "accused Rice of concocting new
explanations" for the Iraq mission, while Kerry "heaped scorn on Rice's
defense of the war."
Print media this
morning covers the story along the same lines, while noting her vow to
launch an era of "transformational diplomacy." Another key aspect many
reports note is Rice's strong defense of Administration policies in
Iraq and elsewhere. As USA Today (1/19, Slavin) reports in an analysis
piece, "Rice followed Bush's example in refusing to admit any specific
mistakes made in the previous four years."
The
Los Angeles Times (1/19, Richter), however, reports that Tice told the
Committee that "some past decisions on Iraq 'might not have been
good.'" The Washington Post (1/19, A1, Kessler) offers the entire
quote. Rice said, "I'm sure that we have multiple, many decisions --
some of which were good, some of which might not have been good. But
the strategic decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein was the right one."
USA
Today (1/19, Slavin) notes Rice "promised Tuesday to help President
Bush foster a safer and freer world with 'transformational diplomacy.'"
However, adds the Wall Street Journal (1/19, King Jr.) says Rice
"offered few new ideas for grappling with trouble spots such as Iran
and North Korea." Rice "is sure to sail through Senate confirmation,
most likely tomorrow."
The New York Times
(1/19, Weisman, Brinkley) reports Rice "said the administration would
step up its efforts in the Middle East, hold Russia accountable for its
backsliding on democracy and work with allies on Iran and North Korea."
Knight
Ridder (1/19, Strobel) says "the uneven reception she received from the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee illustrated the deep domestic
divisions over US foreign policy that she will inherit." Rice "shied
away from announcing specific policies in many world hotspots,"
although "hinted at additional US sanctions against Syria."
The
Financial Times (1/19, Dinmore) says Rice "held her ground under
intense questioning," and "presented what amounted to a neoconservative
agenda, but emphasised the importance she would attach to diplomacy,
allies and multilateral institutions."
The
Baltimore Sun (1/19, Timberg) describes her as "largely unflappable --
if occasionally uncomfortable -- as members of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee peppered her with questions." The issue "of how to
disengage from Iraq remained the center of gravity for the nearly
nine-hour interrogation session. In what seemed her most nuanced
response to the question, she said, 'I can't give a timeline, but I
think we will know when the Iraqis are able to have in place
institutions, no matter how fragile and no matter how young, where
they're actually beginning to try to solve their own problems within
those institutions.'"
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (1/19, McFeatters) notes Rice will be "the nation's first African-American female secretary."
Rice Lists Four "Outposts Of Oppression," Criticizes Venezuela's Chavez.
The
Los Angeles Times (1/19, Richter) reports that, in the hearing, Rice
"offered a list of countries that she described as 'outposts of
oppression,' including Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea, Iran, Zimbabwe and
Belarus." The Washington Times (1/19, Kralev) notes "the only 'axis of
evil' member missing from the new group is Iraq."
Meanwhile,
Reuters (1/19) reports Rice "criticized Venezuelan populist leader Hugo
Chavez on Tuesday for autocratic moves to stifle opposition in the
major US oil supplier. ... 'We are very concerned about a
democratically elected leader who governs in an illiberal way, and some
of the steps he's taken against the media, against the opposition, I
think are really very deeply troubling,' Rice said."
Local TV Notes "Sharp Exchanges," Clash With Boxer.
Rice's
confirmation hearing received widespread local TV coverage, with many
stories noting the "sharp exchanges" during the hearing. Of particular
note in most reports was an exchange between Rice and Boxer. Nearly all
of the coverage also reported, however, that there is little doubt that
Rice will be confirmed. Some examples: WZVN-TV Fort Myers (1/18)
reported, "There were some sharp exchanges today at the Senate
confirmation hearing for Condoleezza Rice to become Secretary of State.
Dr. Rice and California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer clashed after
Boxer challenged some of Rice's earlier statements about why the US
needed to go to war with Iraq."
CN8-CABLE
TV Philadelphia (1/18) reported that Rice faced "tough questions about
the war in Iraq." Rice defended "the Bush Administration's decision to
go to war in Iraq and despite all of the tough questions today insiders
say there is very little doubt that Rice will be confirmed on Thursday."
Prefacing
its report on the Boxer-Rice exchange, KSDK-TV St. Louis (1/18) said,
"As President Bush's private advisor, Rice warned that Saddam had
chemical and biological weapons and could soon have a nuke."
Kerry Undecided, Reprises Campaign Criticism On Iraq.
The
New York Times (1/19, Stolberg) reports Kerry "reported for duty on
Tuesday, making his 2005 Capitol debut with a reprise of his 2004
presidential campaign: pointed criticism of the way his former
opponent, President Bush, is handling the war in Iraq and the
proliferation of nuclear weapons." While Kerry "told Ms. Rice that 'you
are going to be confirmed, and everybody knows that,' he said his own
vote was not assured."
Biden Tells Europeans To "Get Over It" And Accept Bush Will Remain President.
UPI
(1/19) reports Biden "urged Europe to 'get over' the fact President
Bush was re-elected and work with the United States on common problems.
'I spent a little time in Europe recently, and I have one simple
message: Get over it. Get over it.'" Bush, added Biden during the
hearing, "is our president for the next four years, so get over it and
start to act in your interest, Europe."
Biden Says He Will Vote To Confirm Rice's Nomination.
Sen.
Joe Biden was asked on MSNBC's Hardball (1/18) if he will vote to
confirm Rice. Biden said that "the answer is, yes, I will vote for her,
because my standard is, look, the president should get to choose his
Cabinet, assuming that the person is relatively competent and in fact
has not committed any crime or moral turpitude, is a decent person.
She's decent. She's bright. I'm just worried she's not going to be
independent."
NYTimes Says Senators Didn't Press Rice Enough.
The
New York Times (1/19) describes the hearing as a "delicate rinse cycle
applied to Condoleezza Rice by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
yesterday, despite a jab here and there." Those watching "could be
forgiven for thinking that the future secretary of state was a newcomer
to the Bush administration. With a few exceptions, the hearing was
political theater." Rice "acted as if things were going according to
plan in Iraq and everywhere else, and the senators acted as if she were
not part of the serial disasters of the administration's foreign
policy." Senators "recited the flaws in Mr. Bush's foreign
policies...and then did little more than politely urge Ms. Rice to
check into those things once she's confirmed."
WPost Praises Rice.
The
Washington Post (1/19) editorializes that Rice "was polished, well
prepared, and good at making the president's case and answering the
sometimes passionate critiques of his record in Iraq and elsewhere. ...
Better presentation and a more professional style could certainly help
U.S. foreign relations, which have been damaged not only by the war in
Iraq and other substantive acts but by the arrogant highhandedness,
incoherence or simple neglect that much of the world has experienced
from Washington." Moreover, she "appears to be assembling a highly
experienced and respected team, passing over agenda-driven
appointees...in favor of more pragmatic professionals such as Robert B.
Zoellick."