Senate confirms Goss as next CIA director
Forty-nine Republicans join 28 Democrats in voting "yes" for confirmation of House member, CIA veteran.
The Senate Wednesday confirmed Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., as the next CIA director on a 77-17 vote.
Forty-nine Republicans joined 28 Democrats in voting "yes" to confirm Goss. The 17 "no" votes against Goss all came from Democrats.
In explaining his "no" vote, Senate Intelligence ranking member John (Jay) Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said Wednesday that when Goss was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he had protected the administration and blamed intelligence failures on Democrats.
Acknowledging Goss' pledge to be non-partisan as CIA director, Rockefeller said: "I must vote on his record. I cannot vote on his promise."
Florida Democratic Sens. Bob Graham and Bill Nelson voted for Goss' nomination.
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