Democrat Obstruction Leaves Gap in National Security Team

In it’s first session since President Trump took the oath of office, the Senate on Friday approved two of his Cabinet nominees — but held up a vote on CIA nominee Mike Pompeo.

The new defense secretary, James “Mad Dog” Mattis, and Homeland Security Secretary James Kelly, sailed through with little opposition.

“Why the hell don’t we just go ahead and give the president his national security team when we need it more than at any time in recent history?”

But Democrats used procedural maneuvers to slow down Pompeo’s confirmation. The vote will take place Monday after six hours of debate.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Armed Services Committee, expressed exasperation at the failure of Democrats to approve Trump’s full national security team.

“Why the hell don’t we just go ahead and give the president his national security team when we need it more than at any time in recent history?” he asked. “The American people have spoken about who they want to be commander-in-chief. Now let’s give the commander-in-chief his secretary of defense, his secretary of homeland security and let’s give him a leader of our intelligence community.”

McCain noted that the Senate confirmed seven of former President Barack Obama’s Cabinet nominees on his first day in office in 2009.

“The fact is that we moved forward and almost unanimously voted in favor of these Cabinet members because, for the simple reason that the American people had spoken and we had a new president of a different party and that we ought to give that president the team that he needed in order to get his job done.”

McCain said obstructionism is even more inexcusable now than it would have been then because the United States faces a far more dangerous world.

“The world’s on fire,” he said. “Look at the world today and look at a map of it in 2009. There weren’t 6 million refugees out of Syria. That weren’t 400,000 people murdered by [Syrian President] Bashar Assad with the assistance of [Russian President] Vladimir Putin.”

But Democrats argued that they had outstanding questions about Pompeo’s views on whether the government can and should collect bulk data on American citizens. Congress outlawed the collection of phone records en masse in 2015. Pompeo criticized that law but said during his confirmation hearing that he would lobby lawmakers to change the policy.

“This is going to be about whether the Senate is going to be a rubber stamp,” said Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

He rejected arguments that delaying the confirmation vote a few days is dangerous during a time of heightened vulnerability as the government transitions from one administration to the next. If a crisis hit over the weekend, he said., “We would have the talented senior people at the CIA there to protect our country.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested it was irresponsible for Democrats to hold up confirmation.

“It’s pretty obvious the senator from Oregon is not interested in approving this CIA nomination today,” he said. “I would remind everyone the previous director is gone. The deputy, the No. 2 person is gone. I don’t think it’s a good idea for Senate Democrats to be holding this over the weekend vacant.”

Wyden countered that waiting until Monday would ensure a “debate about the CIA and its future director in the light of day” rathe than after hours when senators’ minds are on inauguration balls.

The votes the Senate did take on Friday were without drama. Senators confirmed Mattis 98-1, with only Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) voting “no.” She has argued that a civilian should run the Pentagon.

[lz_related_box id=”274843″]

Kelly won confirmation on an 88-11 vote.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican who has been nominated for attorney general, did not vote on either nomination.

McCain said he has not seen a more effective or beloved leader than Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general who received a special waiver from Congress to be eligible for the Pentagon job because of his military service.

“I am very confident that when we finish this vote, the morale all over the United States military will go up because they know they will have a leader, and a leader that they can not only respect but that they admire and in many cases have great affection for,” McCaine said.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said Mattis possesses competence, courage and character.

On Kelly, another retired Marine general, McCain said: “He is experienced. He’s talented. He understands borders. And he understands the challenges we face for our national security throughout the world.”