Matthew Continetti, editor-in-chief of The Washington Free Beacon, is urging Congress to confirm "eminently qualified" Mike Pompeo as secretary of state.
Continetti’s comments came in a column posted on the Free Beacon website.
"What on earth are the Democrats doing?" he said. "President (Donald) Trump has nominated CIA director Mike Pompeo, eminently qualified by any reasonable standard, to be America's 70th secretary of state.
"And yet the Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, have perverted the advice and consent clause of the Constitution into a license to obstruct this solid nominee for one of the most important cabinet offices."
He noted Trump is facing a growing number of foreign policy issues in the months ahead.
"In the coming months, President Trump will have to deal with the fallout from his strike on Syria, the growing conflict between Israel and Iran, the future of the Iran nuclear agreement, Chinese belligerence toward Taiwan, the planned summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and whatever unexpected international crises that erupt.
"Even if you accept the critique of Trump as someone who has no fixed worldview, little in the way of principle, and is dangerously enamored of the 'madman' theory of strategic ambiguity, you would therefore want him, it seems to me, to be surrounded by personnel who are experienced, knowledgeable, capable, and steadfast—individuals who can serve as ballast, who can tether the president to geopolitical reality.
"The slightest glance at Pompeo's official biography is enough to confirm that he is such a man."
And he said Senate Democrats assume it disqualifies a nominee if he shares the same views as the president and the majority party in Congress.
"Yes, it's true: Mike Pompeo is not a liberal Democrat," he said. "Knock me over with a feather."
He speculated the Democrats could be waiting to see the outcome of the midterm elections.
"But that strategy assumes an awful lot, as well," he said. "Say the Democrats win the House but not the Senate, where the opposition faces tougher odds. With (Mitch) McConnell in control, Trump could recess appoint a secretary of state until the end of his term. Maybe it would be Pompeo. Or maybe it would be someone who offends progressive sensibilities even more.
"'Secretary of State John Bolton' sure has a ring to it."
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