Family members of 9/11 victims are angry that incoming Majority Leader Trent Lott has blocked former Sen. Warren Rudman's appointment to the commission investigating the attacks.
Stephen Push, a spokesman for the families, said they believed that Mr. Rudman was the only Republican both highly qualified to participate in the investigation and sufficiently independent of his party's leadership to ensure a thorough and impartial inquiry.
"Warren Rudman is the only Republican candidate for this position that all the families trust," he said.
Mr. Push said the families had put Mr. Rudman's name forward to Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, who will be majority leader in the new Congress, through Mr. McCain. But he said Mr. Lott had so far refused to agree to their request.
Republican aides on Capitol Hill confirmed his account, saying Mr. McCain was supportive of Mr. Rudman but that there was an impasse with Mr. Lott over his appointment. (Washington Post)
Right now, Republicans enjoy an enormous level of public trust on national security matters. Stupid stunts like this that just reek of Beltway business-as-usual are an excellent way to help Democrats get back in the game.
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