Greg Sargent reports:
Dianne Feinstein Bringing In Chas Freeman For Chat With Senators
Okay, another key development in the war against Charles "Chas" Freeman, Obama's pick for National Intelligence Council chief, who's taking heavy fire from neocons and the pro-Israel lobby over his views on Israel and his foreign ties.Dianne Feinstein, the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a high-profile voice on intel matters, is summoning Freeman to meet with Senators from both parties on the committee to assuage any concerns they might have about the pick, Feinstein spokesperson Gil Duran confirms to me.
This could be a make or break moment for Freeman. The fact that Feinstein is bringing Freeman in could signal that some Dem Senators are on the verge of going public with opposition to him.
This is highly unusual. Sargent adds that Feinstein's efforts may help smother the controversy around Freeman's appointment which has been building for weeks. Perhaps that is her goal. But the fact that these meetings are necessary at all is a sign that this appointment has become a serious problem -- and that the problem remains unresolved.
Update: And JTA produces a background quote from one "Capitol Hill insider" who thinks Freeman won't survive:
This person argued that Freeman's comments on China and Tibet, and his involvement with CNOOC, the oil company, are what will end up derailing the appointment.
"He was never vetted, where these kinds of things would come out," said the source, referring to the announcement last week that the examination of Freeman's finances that is customary for all top appointments has not yet occurred. "While the initial point of contention may have been Israel, people became aware of a multitude of problems."
We will see.
