Kerry sets hearings on Clinton, Rice

January 8, 2009

Senator John F. Kerry announced yesterday that the Foreign Relations Committee will hold the confirmation hearing Tuesday for Hillary Clinton, President-elect Barack Obama's pick for secretary of state.

Clinton is expected to be confirmed without any serious opposition when the committee votes two days later, just before the confirmation hearing for Susan Rice, Obama's selection for ambassador to the United Nations.

Kerry reiterated that he supports both nominations, promising a "fair and expeditious confirmation process."

"My friend and colleague Hillary Clinton will bring her years of experience and acute intellect to her position as America's top diplomat," Kerry said in a statement. "Susan Rice's expertise in foreign policy and commitment to strong alliances will be invaluable as she helps the president-elect restore America's rightful role in the international arena."

Kerry's office also announced that because of scheduled votes, he will not go on what was to be his first major overseas visit as chairman of the foreign relations panel - to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

They are near the top of the challenges facing the new administration.

GLOBE STAFF AND ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - Senator Dianne Feinstein, the incoming chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said yesterday that she intends to support President-elect Barack Obama's choice for CIA chief, Leon Panetta, despite her earlier reservations about Panetta's relative lack of intelligence experience.

Obama chose Panetta, a former White House chief of staff who has no formal background in the intelligence community, without consulting Feinstein. He subsequently apologized to her for the lapse.

Feinstein said in an interview that she spoke with Panetta, a fellow Californian, for about 20 minutes on Tuesday evening and came away reassured.

"I had a good discussion with him. I'm confident that he understands. I am supportive," Feinstein said. "I've known him for 20 years. I know him to be a man of credibility and a man of conscience and a man of talent, and I believe he will surround himself with top-notch staff from the intelligence community."

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former Republican presidential nominee John McCain, trying to breathe new life into his campaign message, has set up a new political action committee to get more Republicans elected.

The PAC is called Country First, and McCain sent an e-mail to supporters yesterday asking for donations.

"Country First will allow us to strengthen our party, better define our Republican ideals and message, recruit and back strong, dedicated candidates, and continue our efforts to bring real reform to government by always putting our country and the noble ideals she stands for first," McCain wrote.

Republicans are the first to admit that their party badly needs reinvention and a fresh message - witness the unusually fierce competition for Republican National Committee chairman. McCain, though, cites the age-old GOP values in his fund-raising plea: "limited government, economic opportunity, personal responsibility, and strong national security."

The e-mail makes no mention of President-elect Barack Obama, whose Cabinet nominations, federal court picks, and legislative initiatives - including the massive economic recovery plan he wants passed right away - will present Senate Republicans with a fundamental question: Does putting country first mean supporting the president, or opposing him?

SCOTT HELMAN