Sens. Paul, DeMint not blocking ambassador to Iraq

By Julian Pecquet - 09/19/12 01:57 PM ET

Senate Tea Party leaders Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) said Wednesday they're not blocking President Obama's nominee to be ambassador to Iraq, increasing the chances that Robert Beecroft will get confirmed before Congress leaves town at the end of the week.

“I don't think we ever did [have a hold] on Iraq,” Paul told reporters as he headed into a vote, “but we do have a hold on the Pakistani ambassador.”

And DeMint told The Hill following Beecroft's nomination hearing Wednesday morning that he should be quickly confirmed.

“I think this nominee is working in Iraq now and we need someone there,” DeMint said. “This is not a political appointment. He knows what he's doing.”

Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) and ranking member Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) during the hearing urged the Senate to quickly approve Beecroft before leaving town at the end of the week.

“This is no time for delay,” Kerry said. “There is simply no substitute for having a confirmed ambassador in place and ready to hit the ground running, especially at this critical moment in the region.”

Obama nominated Beecroft last week after his first pick, Brett McGurk, withdrew from consideration when racy emails he exchanged with a reporter were made public.

Beecroft served as ambassador to Jordan from 2008 to 2011 before being named deputy chief of mission in Iraq since July 2011 and serving as chargé d'affaires since June 2012. If confirmed, he will replace James Jeffrey, who stepped down in June to retire.