August 3, 1997

Reasons Behind Weld’s Nomination Dispute Too Clever

Machiavelli, the 15th century political realist, would love the machinations whirling around Gov. William Weld’s nomination for ambassador to Mexico. Wheels within wheels.

Weld, the Massachusetts Republican libertarian (the combination not necessarily an oxymoron), has tired of being governor. He seeks a higher office better fitting his qualifications. Last year he challenged Sen. John Kerry for the latter’s post and lost.

Sequel to this ordinary political event is an intrigue too clever by half. It merits telling simply to illustrate the schemes frustrated politicians sometimes cook up in attempts to salvage hopeless projects.

Be it known that Congressman Joe Kennedy II aspires to the Massachusetts governorship -- U.S. senatorial spots being firmly occupied by Uncle Teddy and Kerry. Unfortunately for Joe, his ambition took a nose-dive last year when he obtained a Catholic annulment of his 12-year marriage blessed with children so he could marry his younger secretary. Ex-wife Sheila objected in a book “Shattered Faith” that plunged his approval rating into the basement.

Pundits claiming inside information assert that Joe contacted President Clinton with a slick proposal -- appoint the restless Weld to an ambassadorship. This would make the president appear bi-partisan and at the same time clear the field for Joe’s gubernatorial run next year.

What ever the motivation, Clinton bought in. However, none of the conspirators took Sen. Jesse Helms into account. The hard-shell Republican chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee epitomizes his party’s elephant symbol -- he never forgets. He remembers the various insults tossed at him by Weld over the years.

Ambassadorships must be approved by the Senate, and Helms’ committee guards the door. He did not bother to schedule hearings on Weld’s nomination -- in effect, letting the nomination wither away.

Helms stated that Weld was “not ambassadorial quality” -- citing the governor’s long-held advocacy for free needles to drug addicts and medicinal use of marijuana. These positions, coupled with Mexico’s tolerance of drug trafficking, makes Helms uneasy. The chairman also objects to Weld’s support for abortion and gay rights. This liberal baggage led Clinton to float a proposal that Weld accept some other ambassadorship. The hot-tempered Weld angrily rejected this sensible alternative. He declared publicly that the administration should not knuckle under to “ideological extortion.”

Beltway politicians were astounded at Weld’s retort. The first requirement of an ambassador would seem to be diplomacy. It is now evident that this trait is not his long suit. Sen. Trent Lott, GOP majority leader, summed up the general reaction of Congress members: “He shot his foot off.” Helms’ spokesman let it be known last week that Weld “pretty much buried his chances.”

With humiliating defeat certain, Weld launched his own Machiavellian scheme. He resigned his governorship so he could “fight” for his nomination.

His explanation: “It would not be fair to the people of Massachusetts to permit the conduct of their government to become embroiled in the vagaries of Washington politics.”

Weld rushed to Washington, D.C. -- as a jobless civilian rather than a powerful governor -- to buttonhole senators as they rushed out the door for August recess. Figure out that one if you can. Not only does he lack diplomacy, he is short on smarts. Politicians respect power, laugh at chutzpah.

Presumably, Weld aims to recruit his former enemies to champion his cause with his former friends. It is not surprising that Senators Teddy Kennedy and John Kerry put their shoulders to the wheel. They want to save their original, complicated plan.

Sen. Kennedy allowed as how "the United States" relationship with Mexico is too important to allow a small group of extremists to block Governor Weld’s nomination because he failed some right-wing Republican litmus test.” Having passed a left-wing litmus test, Weld is embraced by those who want him go away after he embarrasses Republicans as much as possible.

Weld’s aides say his real plan is to position himself as a Washington “outsider,” above crass politics, to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 1999. He flirted with the idea in 1995. When Weld was asked why he was so confrontational about the nomination, he replied, “I don’t play by those rules up there!”

He contends the Republican Party must be “more inclusive” of liberals if it hopes to regain the White House. Interestingly, Senator Kennedy does not warn the Democratic Party that it must be more inclusive of conservatives if it hopes to regain the Congress.

Sen. Kerry last week circulated a letter urging Helms to grant Weld a hearing. All 45 Democrat senators signed it. A similar letter was circulated by Republican Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine. She has not revealed the number of her signers.

Helms meanwhile refuses to meet Weld. The stalwart GOP elephant remembers how Republican presidential nominations were stiffed by Democrat Congresses.

Politics ain’t bean bag -- as Machiavelli pointed out four centuries ago.

PARTING SHOTS

• Failure is never fatal, and success is never final.

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• The Trent Lott Middle School in Mississippi, named after the Senator, padlocks two belt-loops together on pants that boys wear low to expose the tops of their under shorts. Today, belt loops. Tomorrow, zippers.

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• The Smith Barney brokerage firm has agreed to pay the government $1.05 million to settle charges that it gave former Agricultural Secretary Mike Espy a ticket to the 1994 Super Bowl game. This was an unsuccessful effort to influence a regulatory decision. The ticket, purchased from a scalper, cost Smith Barney $2,250. Now the company knows how investors feel when stock in limited partnerships evaporate.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers