Originally published on the CGS blog on March 22, 2012.
I came across an interesting piece by Carter Eskew this week in the Washington Post. The post, “Compromises for Romney?” speculated about concessions Mitt Romney might have to make to please conservatives in his party if he wins the Republican nomination and is elected President this fall. Some of the speculation: John Bolton as Secretary of State; Newt Gingrich as U.N. ambassador; and Rick Santorum as attorney general.
It’s going to be tough to lose the outstanding Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State in any case (as she’s leaving after this term is up even if President Obama is re-elected). But I can’t think of anyone I’d rather NOT see succeed her than John Bolton. He was refused confirmation as U.N. ambassador by the Senate in 2005 and 2006 (since he had expressed his belief that the U.N. shouldn’t exist at all, that was hardly surprising) before finally getting the position during a recess appointment. Somehow, I don’t think that having someone who opposes the U.N.’s very existence managing America’s relationship with the rest of the world is a very bright idea. Bolton also said the decision to pull out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) was the “happiest moment” of his political career to date.
Newt Gingrich has also staunchly criticized the U.N. on many occasions. For example, he’s stated that “The administration’s commitment to ‘multilateralism’ at the U.N. is nothing more than appeasement” and “We don’t need to fund a corrupt institution to beat up on our allies.” I’d prefer Gingrich stay as far away from Turtle Bay as possible.
As for Rick Santorum-well, during his last three years in the Senate from 2004 to 2006, he earned two D’s and an F grade in Global Solutions Report Card. I really don’t want to see him in such a high-level position with the ability to impact the future of our country and the lives of so many Americans. Between him and John Bolton, imagine what they could do to the U.S. relationship with the ICC.
Any potential “deal” that ends up putting Bolton, Santorum, and Gingrich into a future Romney administration would pretty much sink his credibility as a moderate, and, I believe, signal a bleak outlook for the future of U.S. foreign policy and relations with the international community. If Romney wins the nomination and the election, this is a deal with the devil that he should not make.
