Last week Senator Rubio placed a hold on the nomination in an effort to get assistance for American families whose children are stranded in orphanages in Vietnam. His hold follows that of Senator Dick Lugar, Republican from Indiana, who initially placed a hold on Shear nomination last month amid concerns.
"Senator Lugar placed a temporary hold on Ambassador-designate Shear’s nomination in an effort to secure information about the status of assistance to American families with pending adoption cases in Vietnam,” explains Andy Fisher, a senior aide to Lugar. “This included responses to requests made by the families to obtain copies of their respective adoption files from the Departments of State and Homeland Security. Unfortunately, the families had encountered innumerable roadblocks in this regard.”
What happened to the Republicans agreeing to filibuster reform? This is the second hold on Shear. How does Rubio and Lugar expect changes in Vietnam's adoption policies with the United States holding up the confirmation of its ambassador? Republicans are literally looking for creative ways to block Shear's nomination.
My question is does America really want to encourage Vietnam becoming a for-profit adoption industry? I am sure there are Americans that sincerely want to help these children? Unfortunately, selling a child for adoption is profitable in the third world. Adoption can cost $25,000 with no guarantee that the child will be allowed to leave the country.
Perhaps this really isn't a Partisan issue...maybe this is just a case of these families trying to get our State Department to do the right thing after years of effort. Maybe this is exactly the type of dipolamtic pressure that will encourage Viet Nam to change its policies. Maybe you should do a little more research before automatically assuming that these two Senators are looking for an excuse to fillibuster?
ReplyDeleteYour story lacks the actual human side of this and basic facts. 16 kids being punished for no reason. They should have been home to their families years ago. You need to brush up on adoption as well instead of making it sound like a profit center. Think of the kids-they are too often forgotten in all of this as they suffer in sub par care.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is it is a means of profit in Vietnam. I wrote in my post that I don't doubt there are families sincere about helping these children. That doesn't change the fact that Republicans are filibustering the confirmation of a uncontroversial candidate. I remember these same Republicans screaming "up or down" vote during the Bush years.
ReplyDeleteMichael, if you did a little research, you would understand that Senator Lugar has been critizied for years for having a deference to presidential nominees. In fact, this is what his republican primary opponent is hammering him on.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is the first hold that Richard Lugar has placed on a presidential nominee in over 20 years in the Senate
"Michael, if you did a little research, you would understand that Senator Lugar has been critizied for years for having a deference to presidential nominees. In fact, this is what his republican primary opponent is hammering him on."
ReplyDeleteAnd now Lugar places a hold now that he is in a tough primary.
You're right. Everything is about political posturing and not about human rights.
ReplyDelete