WASHINGTON - The White House is pressing American Jewish organizations to speak out in favor of John Bolton, President Bush's choice for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as Republicans push for votes to approve him.
Democrats have criticized Bolton, but he has been well-received in the Jewish community, primarily because he was the architect of the 1991 repeal of the 1975 United Nations resolution denigrating Zionism as racism.
But Jewish groups have not expended much energy on Bolton's behalf. That has angered Bush administration officials, who say Bolton's philosophy on U.N. reform is in line with Jewish community views and that the community should be backing a nominee who can help Israel in the international body.
The administration also hopes Jewish community support will counterbalance lingering questions about Bolton's past statements and work style and help him win the necessary votes for Senate confirmation.
"We are surprised at the half-hearted efforts by Jewish organizations who know that John Bolton is exactly the right guy to bring reform to the United Nations, which is an institution desperately in need of reform," a White House official said.
The lack of effort on Bolton's behalf highlights the dilemmas Jewish groups face in taking policy positions.
Although Bolton may appeal to some groups, speaking out for him might pit them against liberal colleagues who are concerned about some of Bolton's actions, and even against some of their own members, who have been reluctant to support a White House appointee because of Bush's stances on domestic-policy issues.
Jason Isaacson, director of government and international affairs at the American Jewish Committee, said his organization finds nomination battles "personal and political" and said they don't necessarily advance the committee's agenda.
"But we're certainly on record in the past as having been grateful to John Bolton on positions he has taken on 'Zionism equals racism' and highlighting nonproliferation," Isaacson said.
Republicans have been unable to garner the Senate votes needed to move the nomination forward amid allegations that Bolton tried to exaggerate U.S. intelligence about Syria and Cuba and that he bullied subordinates at the State Department.
Democrats have been seeking additional information about Bolton's knowledge of several countries' weapons programs, but also have suggested that his criticism of the United Nations might make him an inappropriate choice.
The White House reportedly is considering a recess appointment for Bolton, which would put him in the job for 18 months without a Senate vote.
The White House has been watching Jewish groups' engagement on the issue for several months, since Bolton's nomination became controversial. But administration officials have become more proactive in recent weeks, calling Jewish organizational officials to ask what they're doing to back Bolton.
Some Jewish officials in Washington suggested the issue was not a priority, while others hinted they didn't want to get involved in such a divisive issue.
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs has been actively backing Bolton. The organization, which has stronger ties to foreign-policy conservatives than most other Jewish groups, has been reaching out to senators and issuing statements backing Bolton.
"I think he deserves all the support he can get from the Jewish community," said Tom Neumann, JINSA's executive director.
Neumann said Jews have almost an obligation to back Bolton, suggesting he would be in the same mold as Jeane Kirkpatrick and Daniel Patrick Moynihan - strong supporters of Israel - as U.N. ambassador.
