McCain seeking Foreign Relations seat before possible Rice confirmation hearing
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.
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Good Lord, McCain needs to retire and give it a rest. He will do nothing but acuse people of things that have no merit. All he is doing is trying to creat turmoil and spend our tax dollars.
McCain is a poor excuse for a Senator. Select Palin as a running mate, but quote a person who has the qualifications to be Sec. Of State.
I guess as long as Obama would have stayed in his place, there would be no racism to talk about huh?? Susan Rice has been involved on the national scene from an administrative standpoint more than John Kerry even though he served in the military. Regardless of what John McCain thinks about Susan Rice, she is qualified to be SOS and that is what eating old John's goat. John McCain will never be more than what he is now, he knows it and we know it! It is unfortunatley, that a man who has served this country has become so bitter and self serving over the years. Hero to Zero!
Enough of McCain. He blew all his credibility when he chose caribou barbie for his VP pick. If President Obama wants Susan Rice for Sec of State then he will get Susan Rick for Sec of State. Keep up the Obstruction repubs and you will lose more and more elections.
McCain went from maverick to madman to bumbling fool.. time for him to leave.. quickly.
More and more everyday he appears to be more pitiful than ever before. I wish he would just ride into the sunset...he seems to be losing touch with reality.
John McCain wants either Sarah or Bristol Palin for SOS because Susan Rice "isn't too bright".
McCain is a very nasty, embittered old man who is an embarrassment to himself and the country.
The only "SEAT": this old man should get is a rocking chair. Time to put him out to pasture.
I just laugh at him.I feel sorry for him after Sarah palin.
Will old man McCain please retire and go back to Arizona sick of hearing about this guy.
This is the exact reason why I think the congress and senate needs term limits. Washington needs fresh new blood and put these old control freaks out of there. McCain is really showing how upset he is about President Obama winning re-election. This is a shame.
I'll never forget – when he was in a debate with obama – the debate moderator asked how many Houses do You Own ? LOL – – – He indicated that he Owned 9 houses – lol – – – and he's still turning over $$$$$$$$$ – seems like the more they have – the more they want – never ends – guess they will do it till they finally die off.
McCain is one of the wooly mammoths who has lost his way to the tar pits.
I agree with those who have said this is all about trying to get Scott Brown into Senator Kerry's seat in congress. But here's the tee hee hee. MA Governor Deval Patrick can appoint himself the the Senator's seat and turn over governing MA to the Lt Governor. We currently have no African American Senators so I'm sure that would be very tempting for him and not a bad place to be come 2016 VP pick time... Just saying.
I'll take Susan Rice over John McCain .
Rice understands todays world , McCain is living in the past.
Hey Freedom , please change your name to something else . Even Karl Rove wouldn't call himself ,say " Liberty "
Wow, I see a consensus here, everyone agrees Mr. McCain needs to just go away. That is awesome and probably the first time there was total agreement in responses.
This old man {..I can say that...he's youger than I am}....... has taken a dislike for this young woman that is way out of line....He really didn't show us anything about his thinking when he brought S. Palin into our lives so why should we pay any attention to him now.. He's SO yesterday !!! Time to retire McCain.
....
Whether Rice lied or not it wouldn't have changed the fate of Ambassador Stevens and the other three Americans. If McCain really wasn't politicizing this tragic event he would be asking why Stevens request for additional security were denied. He should be going after those people but of course Rice the easier target.
He just needs to go away...
McCain served the country 40 years ago, despite his 'privilege' of being an Admirals son his only accomplishment was being shot down and captured. I salute his service then, but his 'service' in Washington had been mostly uneventful until he chose Palin as his VP candidate. It then became apparent that his 'worth' in service to the government of this great country had vanished. It's time for him to go home to Arizona and leave the governing to the more mentally competent.
Wonder how he voted on the funding the State Department requested to upgrade security at embassies and consulates?..............................oh wait, he's a republican so he voted against it, then, like all the other republicans, complained when the Ambassador got killed. They got him killed and tried to make it President Obamas fault. It is absolutely disgusting to USE these deaths the way they just to cause problems for this administration.
Susan Rice is the loser. John Kerry needs a nod from US Defense Secretary.
John, this obsession of yours really isn't healthy. I'm not being sarcastic. I think you need to seek help – sooner rather than later. A total meltdown with the videocams running is not the way to end your career.
Why would ANYONE care what this LOSER has to say?!
As Letterman suggested, McCain should just stay at Applebee's, and keep blowing on his soup...