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Obama expected to nominate Sen. Kerry for secretary of state

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    Republican Sen. Isakson weighs in

  • Duration 3:40
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News alert there will be a nominee for secretary of state a familiar name to most of you former presidential candidate and now Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.

He is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee let's talk about it with a member of that committee senator Johnny Isaacson -- Georgia Republican.

He was.

Part of the hearing yesterday on the Ben Ghazi attacks we'll get to that in just a moment but first senator.

Your reaction to your fellow senator -- soon to come before your committee.

As nominee to be secretary of state.

Well John Kerry is very qualified I've had the occasion to work -- them on the foreign relations committee now for four years.

He's been very active and engaged international diplomacy in particular the conference -- peace agreement in the Sudan which was successfully concluded last year.

I think he would be a good nominee for the present the senate it is -- is a club members are polite to one another do you see anything that stands in the way.

Of his confirmation.

Well every club has an initiation process and we have our approval hearing some advice and consent in the -- so.

I'm sure there'll be questions and analysis of his career but I think he'll be confirmed.

And would you -- I presume that's going to happen fairly quickly do you know a timetable on all of us.

Well that's an important question I think we need closure on the Ben -- issue and he's -- particularly interesting position as chairman of the committee.

While we're holding the hearings on the on -- I think it's very important for his sake and for the country say that we have cloture on what happened and in Gaza and we put that to bed and then have a nomination come.

Forward and where does that stand now the independent review review board put out a fairly scathing report earlier this week it's my understanding your -- committee.

Had hoped to hear testimony from the secretary of state but she has not been available to this point.

Well we certainly hope she recovers quickly from the concussion.

I understand she wants to testify in January I think I hope it's early January because the last questions to really be answered the closed.

This investigation.

Need to come from the secretary of state that it does she need to testify while she is still in office in your view.

Funny she would to still be in office until the appointment of secretary.

John Kerry as secretary of state is confirmed so I think display it's -- -- -- -- Right I just wanted to to get your take on whether or not testifying as a civilian verses testified while actively on duty is secretary of state is important.

I think he would be best is active.

Secretary of state for testified during that -- in the past sectors what is the biggest question that comes to your mind about what happened in the Ben Ghazi attack that.

Led to the loss of our ambassador in those three other American hero.

We know when you read the accountability review board report it calls a culture of push back within the State Department in terms request for more security.

And the fact that the action never seem to travel up to the seventh floor which -- secretary Clinton's offices.

I think it's important for us to find out if that sect it's that culture of push back exist.

We need to find out what we can do to do away with it to streamline request for more security and be sure we can respond to our diplomats in harm's way wherever they are in the world.

So as you stand here today you seem fairly confident of that these two big items the looking for answers to -- in -- -- reports of the attack.

As well as the confirmation.

Hearings for Senator Kennedy you vote on certain Senator Kerry -- -- you believe those two things can be handled fairly quickly.

I think they -- -- really depend on the timing secretary Clinton's willingness to come -- -- for the committee.

Senator Johnny Isaacson Republican George's good to have you on today thank you very much good news John thanks Merry Christmas it's got a break.

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