The Bush administration will stand by the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. envoy to the United Nations, White House officials said Sunday, despite firm opposition to the choice from the Democrats who now control Congress. “I think if (Bolton) actually was able to get a vote in the full Senate, he would succeed ... I'm still hopeful that we can get him through,” White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten said on ABC's “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” “He's been a good ambassador. He deserves confirmation, so we are following the rules,” Bolten added. Bolton has been a controversial pick for the position, with President George W. Bush resorting to appointing him during a congressional recess, after facing strong opposition from Democrats. Bolten said Sunday that the White House will now try to build bipartisan support for the nomination, instead of trying to sidestep Congress again, Bush wants to see his nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations confirmed before Democrats take control of Congress in January, but Democrats and even some Republicans say Bolton's adversarial approach makes him a bad choice for the job.
