White House: Obama not backing down on nuke pact

White House: Obama not backing down on nuke pact
AP

By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press – 22 mins ago


WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will push for Senate ratification of a nuclear arms pact with Russia before year's-end despite opposition from a key Republican senator, the White House said Wednesday. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said he believes the New START deal will come up and pass during the lame-duck Congress, now in progress.

The pact is a top foreign policy priority for Obama. It would shrink the U.S. and Russian arsenals of strategic warheads, and revive on-the-ground inspections that ceased when a previous treaty expired nearly a year ago.

Sen. Jon Kyl, a leading Republican voice on the issue, dealt the pact a major setback Tuesday by coming out against a vote this year. Kyl, who's been seeking more money and focus on maintaining and modernizing the remaining arsenal, said more time was needed before moving forward.

When pressed on the issue Wednesday, Kyl told reporters: "We're talking in good faith."

The treaty has support from some moderate Republicans, but Kyl's opposition makes approval a tough climb since many in the GOP were looking to his assent before giving their backing. Sixty-seven votes are needed for approval, so Democrats need at least eight Republican votes for ratification in the current Senate.

Once the newly elected Senate is sworn in January, Democrats need the support of at least 14 Republicans.

"The president will continue to push this and believes the Senate should act on it before they go home," Gibbs told reporters at the White House.

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101117/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_us_russia_nuclear

Kyl is nothing short of a scumbag.

Other than they just want to be assholes?

spelled it out last night; Kyl was for this early this year; now, not so much because they want Obama to fail.