The United States Senate has an opportunity this month to achieve a common-sense bipartisan victory for all. In a time where global unrest is high and our enemies seek to increase their spheres of influence, it is imperative that the Senate move to approve Mike Pompeo’s nomination for secretary of state without delay.
It’s worth remembering that a mere 15 months ago, largely this same group of senators approved Pompeo’s nomination to serve as CIA director by an overwhelming bipartisan majority, 66-32. Not much has changed since then. Pompeo is still the same honorable, diligent, highly qualified nominee he was then. We know that better than most in Kansas, because he is one of our own. Pompeo was selected from Kansas to serve at West Point, where he graduated first in his class, later commanding an armored unit on the border between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. After his time in uniform, Pompeo continued to excel, graduating from Harvard Law School, and achieving success as a respected businessman in Wichita, Kan.
In 2010, Kansans chose Pompeo to represent us in Congress, where he did a remarkable job and was easily re-elected three times. At each stage of his career, Pompeo has earned the admiration and respect of everyone who has had the opportunity to work with him. His integrity and leadership skills are beyond question.
As CIA director, he has continued to exercise those same qualities which made him successful in his previous roles. No one can deny that Pompeo has a record of putting the safety and security of American citizens at the forefront. This nomination deserves bipartisan support in the Senate. Consistently, secretary of state confirmations have been bipartisan exercises. John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Colin Powell were all confirmed with overwhelming majorities. Even the Washington Post editorial board published an editorial with the headline, “Confirm Mike Pompeo.” Democrats and Republicans should come together, put partisanship aside, and do what is right for the country.
Americans deserve to have their top diplomat in place to tackle the numerous foreign policy challenges facing our nation. As talks with North Korea continue to advance, we need someone as secretary of state who can navigate through tenuous waters. Decisions will be made in the next month regarding the Iran nuclear deal, and someone with Pompeo’s vast experience and knowledge will be an invaluable asset, who will ensure that any decisions we make are in the best interest of the country.
In fact, through his extraordinary qualifications and achievements, Pompeo brings to mind another great soldier-statesman from Kansas, Dwight Eisenhower. Those who feared that the former general would lead the nation into war were proven wrong by history. Eisenhower successfully brought the Korean War to an end and established a record of peaceful, diplomatic achievements around the globe. We have every reason to believe Pompeo will do the same if the Senate that confirmed him as CIA director votes to approve his nomination as secretary of state.
President Ronald Reagan once said, “The people are watching and waiting. They don’t demand miracles. They do expect us to act. Let us act together.” I am calling on the Senate to act now, act for the country, and confirm Pompeo as secretary of state.
Gov. Jeff Colyer, a Republican, is governor of Kansas.
