Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s embarrassing excuse for opposing Mike Pompeo

On Wednesday, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., offered a very poor rationale for opposing Mike Pompeo’s nomination to become the next secretary of state.

I recognize that senators can rely on whatever rationale they so desire in opposing a nomination. Ultimately, they are accountable to the law and their electorate and no one else. But I’m not buying Shaheen’s claim that she must oppose the current CIA director due to his positions “particularly in regards to the LGBTQ community, American Muslims and women’s reproductive rights.”

For a start, Pompeo is well regarded at the CIA for his absolute focus on getting officers — those who collect secret information — out into the field to take risks in pursuit of national security. Put simply, Pompeo has made it clear that he has no concerns as to an employee’s sexual orientation or religious background, only their efficacy. Testifying to that fact, Pompeo appointed a Muslim-American to lead the CIA’s Iran efforts.

In his testimony before the Senate last week, Pompeo emphasized his commitment to carrying forward these principles if he wins appointment to the State Department. In addition, Pompeo’s designated CIA successor — who seems unlikely to have been nominated by President Trump without Pompeo’s approval — has made a point of empowering diversity in the CIA mission force.

Ultimately, Pompeo deserves to be treated fairly by senators.

Yes, if, as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has outlined, senators have concerns about Pompeo’s views on foreign policy issues, they should vote him down. But Pompeo doesn’t deserve to be voted down due to personal views that he has never implemented into executive branch policy.