Copyright 2005 Bulletin News Network, Inc.


All three networks last night led their newscasts with Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice's confirmation hearing. While there was a consensus in the reporting that Rice faced no serious obstacles to her eventual confirmation, the stories noted the senators' pointed questions, especially on Iraq. Despite the tough "grilling," Rice was portrayed as holding her ground.

All three networks all noted the clash between Rice and Sen. Boxer, who asked Boxer to "refrain from impugning my integrity." Additionally, Sen. John Kerry indicated he may vote against Rice on the basis of his questions about the Iraq war. Other senators quoted by the networks included Republicans Chuck Hagel and George Voinovich, and Democrats Barbara Boxer, John Kerry, Barak Obama, Joseph Biden, and Christopher Dodd.

CBS Evening News (1/18, lead story, 3:10, Roberts) reported, "Her confirmation is not in doubt, but today, Senators raised plenty of doubts about White House policy, grilling Condoleezza Rice on the Iraq war and what it's done to America's image."

NBC Nightly News (1/18, lead story, 2:45, B. Williams) reported Rice faced a "sometimes ferocious cross-examination," making a "long day in the hot seat for the woman known for her famously cool demeanor under fire."

ABC World News Tonight (1/18, lead story, 3:10, Douglass) reported, "Rice held her ground as a Senators' frustration about the war in Iraq boiled over," and Sen. Chuck Hagel "asked skeptically if there really is a plan for the US to get out." Sen. Barbara Boxer "accused Rice of concocting new explanations" for the Iraq mission, while Kerry "heaped scorn on Rice's defense of the war."

Print media this morning covers the story along the same lines, while noting her vow to launch an era of "transformational diplomacy." Another key aspect many reports note is Rice's strong defense of Administration policies in Iraq and elsewhere. As USA Today (1/19, Slavin) reports in an analysis piece, "Rice followed Bush's example in refusing to admit any specific mistakes made in the previous four years."

The Los Angeles Times (1/19, Richter), however, reports that Tice told the Committee that "some past decisions on Iraq 'might not have been good.'" The Washington Post (1/19, A1, Kessler) offers the entire quote. Rice said, "I'm sure that we have multiple, many decisions -- some of which were good, some of which might not have been good. But the strategic decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein was the right one."

USA Today (1/19, Slavin) notes Rice "promised Tuesday to help President Bush foster a safer and freer world with 'transformational diplomacy.'" However, adds the Wall Street Journal (1/19, King Jr.) says Rice "offered few new ideas for grappling with trouble spots such as Iran and North Korea." Rice "is sure to sail through Senate confirmation, most likely tomorrow."

The New York Times (1/19, Weisman, Brinkley) reports Rice "said the administration would step up its efforts in the Middle East, hold Russia accountable for its backsliding on democracy and work with allies on Iran and North Korea."

Knight Ridder (1/19, Strobel) says "the uneven reception she received from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee illustrated the deep domestic divisions over US foreign policy that she will inherit." Rice "shied away from announcing specific policies in many world hotspots," although "hinted at additional US sanctions against Syria."

The Financial Times (1/19, Dinmore) says Rice "held her ground under intense questioning," and "presented what amounted to a neoconservative agenda, but emphasised the importance she would attach to diplomacy, allies and multilateral institutions."

The Baltimore Sun (1/19, Timberg) describes her as "largely unflappable -- if occasionally uncomfortable -- as members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee peppered her with questions." The issue "of how to disengage from Iraq remained the center of gravity for the nearly nine-hour interrogation session. In what seemed her most nuanced response to the question, she said, 'I can't give a timeline, but I think we will know when the Iraqis are able to have in place institutions, no matter how fragile and no matter how young, where they're actually beginning to try to solve their own problems within those institutions.'"

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (1/19, McFeatters) notes Rice will be "the nation's first African-American female secretary."

Rice Lists Four "Outposts Of Oppression," Criticizes Venezuela's Chavez.

The Los Angeles Times (1/19, Richter) reports that, in the hearing, Rice "offered a list of countries that she described as 'outposts of oppression,' including Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea, Iran, Zimbabwe and Belarus." The Washington Times (1/19, Kralev) notes "the only 'axis of evil' member missing from the new group is Iraq."

Meanwhile, Reuters (1/19) reports Rice "criticized Venezuelan populist leader Hugo Chavez on Tuesday for autocratic moves to stifle opposition in the major US oil supplier. ... 'We are very concerned about a democratically elected leader who governs in an illiberal way, and some of the steps he's taken against the media, against the opposition, I think are really very deeply troubling,' Rice said."

Local TV Notes "Sharp Exchanges," Clash With Boxer.

Rice's confirmation hearing received widespread local TV coverage, with many stories noting the "sharp exchanges" during the hearing. Of particular note in most reports was an exchange between Rice and Boxer. Nearly all of the coverage also reported, however, that there is little doubt that Rice will be confirmed. Some examples: WZVN-TV Fort Myers (1/18) reported, "There were some sharp exchanges today at the Senate confirmation hearing for Condoleezza Rice to become Secretary of State. Dr. Rice and California Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer clashed after Boxer challenged some of Rice's earlier statements about why the US needed to go to war with Iraq."

CN8-CABLE TV Philadelphia (1/18) reported that Rice faced "tough questions about the war in Iraq." Rice defended "the Bush Administration's decision to go to war in Iraq and despite all of the tough questions today insiders say there is very little doubt that Rice will be confirmed on Thursday."

Prefacing its report on the Boxer-Rice exchange, KSDK-TV St. Louis (1/18) said, "As President Bush's private advisor, Rice warned that Saddam had chemical and biological weapons and could soon have a nuke."

Kerry Undecided, Reprises Campaign Criticism On Iraq.

The New York Times (1/19, Stolberg) reports Kerry "reported for duty on Tuesday, making his 2005 Capitol debut with a reprise of his 2004 presidential campaign: pointed criticism of the way his former opponent, President Bush, is handling the war in Iraq and the proliferation of nuclear weapons." While Kerry "told Ms. Rice that 'you are going to be confirmed, and everybody knows that,' he said his own vote was not assured."

Biden Tells Europeans To "Get Over It" And Accept Bush Will Remain President.

UPI (1/19) reports Biden "urged Europe to 'get over' the fact President Bush was re-elected and work with the United States on common problems. 'I spent a little time in Europe recently, and I have one simple message: Get over it. Get over it.'" Bush, added Biden during the hearing, "is our president for the next four years, so get over it and start to act in your interest, Europe."

Biden Says He Will Vote To Confirm Rice's Nomination.

Sen. Joe Biden was asked on MSNBC's Hardball (1/18) if he will vote to confirm Rice. Biden said that "the answer is, yes, I will vote for her, because my standard is, look, the president should get to choose his Cabinet, assuming that the person is relatively competent and in fact has not committed any crime or moral turpitude, is a decent person. She's decent. She's bright. I'm just worried she's not going to be independent."

NYTimes Says Senators Didn't Press Rice Enough.

The New York Times (1/19) describes the hearing as a "delicate rinse cycle applied to Condoleezza Rice by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday, despite a jab here and there." Those watching "could be forgiven for thinking that the future secretary of state was a newcomer to the Bush administration. With a few exceptions, the hearing was political theater." Rice "acted as if things were going according to plan in Iraq and everywhere else, and the senators acted as if she were not part of the serial disasters of the administration's foreign policy." Senators "recited the flaws in Mr. Bush's foreign policies...and then did little more than politely urge Ms. Rice to check into those things once she's confirmed."

WPost Praises Rice.

The Washington Post (1/19) editorializes that Rice "was polished, well prepared, and good at making the president's case and answering the sometimes passionate critiques of his record in Iraq and elsewhere. ... Better presentation and a more professional style could certainly help U.S. foreign relations, which have been damaged not only by the war in Iraq and other substantive acts but by the arrogant highhandedness, incoherence or simple neglect that much of the world has experienced from Washington." Moreover, she "appears to be assembling a highly experienced and respected team, passing over agenda-driven appointees...in favor of more pragmatic professionals such as Robert B. Zoellick."