Washington (CNN) – Sen. John McCain is seeking a slot on the Foreign Relations Committee next year and could be in place to grill United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice at her confirmation hearing if President Obama nominates her to be secretary of state.
The Arizona Republican is one of Rice's harshest critics. He has suggested the U.N. ambassador tried to cover up the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya - which killed four Americans including Ambassador Christopher Stevens - as a means to help the president win re-election.
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McCain's spokesman Brian Rogers said the veteran senator is seeking a slot on the international affairs panel, which has oversight of the State Department. Many Republicans have suggested her confirmation process would serve as a high profile de facto examination of the administration's handling of the Benghazi tragedy and its aftermath.
If Rice doesn't get the nod, the current chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, is another likely choice. McCain and other GOP critics of Rice have said Kerry would be a better pick and could sail through confirmation.
McCain's six-year stint as the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee is term-limited and coming to an end. He could have pushed to become the top Republican on Foreign Relations but has decided not to challenge Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee for that slot, Rogers said.
Committee assignments are not formalized until January.
From CNN Politics
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McCain is a mean, nasty old man who would do the country a huge favor if he would resign quiety.
So, he has a problem with Rice, but he thought Palin would make a dandy VP? What's wrong with that picture?
This dude needs to retire. Stay in his sun-room.
Pretty pathetic attempts to force in Kerry so they can try to stick Brown in his seat. I'm willing to bet MA wouldn't even elect Brown to replace Kerry as the GOPers hope. He's a pandering bunghole. Someone tell the Grandpa Off-My-Lawn doll he's barking up the wrong tree.
Haven't we had enough of John McCain?
"The Arizona Republican is one of Rice's harshest critics. He has suggested the U.N. ambassador tried to cover up the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya – which killed four Americans including Ambassador Christopher Stevens – as a means to help the president win re-election."
And the facts aren't bearing this out, so he's reverting to Plan B...trying to get himself into a position where he can just block the nomination and make (more of) a complete farce out of the process. P.A.T.H.E.T.I.C.
LOL at "gateway drug" rhetoric. It's tobacco lobby code for "hey, we paid you to protect us from that competition" and nothing more.
It would serve Republicans well to send McCain packing if they ever expect to change the anger and hatred in their party. McCain's only focus is to "get Obama" by any means necessary, it's time for him to go home, he's already destroyed his legacy and will take them down with him.
Another day ... another McCain story.
He's old. He's yesterday's news.
Any day now, even CNN will catch on.
Really.
Sen McCain is just another grumpy and angry old white man in the GOP/Tea Party. This is one of the reasons why the GOP/Tea Party cannot attract young, minority, and women voters.
We need new blood on the Foreign Relations committee. He's done his share of damage.....
I have no idea why media pundits continue to parade this man about week after week. I really don't.
One can age gracefully and mellow to the turbulent nature of political issues. OR you can become more embittered by your failures....HELLO JOHN McCain!!!!
McCain has served the United States in the military and in Washington. Obama has never served in the military and has used his position as president to force his agenda through at all costs. McCain has every right to challenge this administration, based on his service to this country and his belief system regarding it.
@ Randy, San Francisco
What does McCain's race or age have to do with anything? Obama has infiltrated half the country's minds into racial warfare. How ironic is that? We're not talking about race here, it's about who is best qualified to be the next Secretary of State based on competency and integrity.
Would someone please tell this bitter, old, has been, sore loser to sit his ancient rear end down!!! Isn't it time for his decrepit butt to retire??
No, I do not hate old people!! My grandmother raised me. I love the nice ones.
It seems some of the media just can't get enough of him.
At one time Sen McCain was my favorite Republican....but not anymore. He seems like an old bitter man that never has gotten over losing to Obama in 2008 and has been trying to get back at him ever since. Once and a while the "old " John McCain shows up, the one the far right resents but lately that has not been the case. Thus I have replaced McCain with another John named Huntsman.
@ Freedom.....
Gov Romney nor his five sons ever served in the military yet I bet you supported him. Just like many of your kind on the right you have selective memory.
Wow, talking about a sore and out of touch loser!!!! The country is tired of the back and forth from the Republicans...and they wonder why the're losing which I only think is the beginning of a mudslide of Republicans losing!!!!
"It seems some of the media just can't get enough of him."
Apparently not. I'm still trying to understand why. Guess they aren't ready to tell us why he is such a ... media draw ... to them anyway.
John, don't embarrass the family name like that. Let it go.... You're wrong on this one.
The senator should retire. I know he was a war hero and can respect that. But he has turned into a bitter old man who seems more out for vengeance than anything else. He picked palin so what kind of judgment does he have????
Rice has no business being nominated. At least McCain having this seat would all but assure that.
@Lynda. You know why. His hatred of our wonderful President, they eat THAT up. Think about it, John McCain has been complaining about President Obama since 2008. He ramped it up even further after the smackdown President Obama put on him in November 2008. And he has tried everything to keep him from being reelected. But it didn't work!!
Well, why not! The GOP had Akin on the House Science committee, why not McCain and his challenging world view on the Foreign Relations Committee? Clearly, knowledge and ability aren't important for GOP appointees.