Obama likely to support LV judge nomination

Benjamin Grove

Friday, July 15, 2005 | 9:57 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., now says he is likely to support the confirmation of Las Vegan Henrietta Holsman Fore, nominated by President Bush to a top job at the State Department.

Obama had delayed her confirmation in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee due to concerns about racially insensitive comments she made in 1987.

The White House allowed Obama on June 29 to review parts of an FBI file on Fore, at his request. Obama declined to comment about the FBI report on Thursday, but he has told the Chicago Tribune that the file added to his confusion over Fore's comments.

But Obama also met with Fore in his office June 30 with leaders of the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucuses.

"At this point I am leaning toward her confirmation," Obama said in an interview on Thursday. He added, "But there are still a few details to be worked out." Obama did not elaborate.

At issue were comments made by Fore 18 years ago when she was a California company executive, speaking to students at Wellesley College. Obama has referenced a New York Times story from 1987 that quoted Fore as having told the students that black assembly-line workers preferred selling drugs to working in a factory. She has said she resigned as a Wellesley trustee to minimize damage to the college.

Fore, currently director of the U.S. Mint, has declined to comment since Bush nominated her in May to be Undersecretary of State for Management, a nomination that requires Senate approval.

But at a June 9 confirmation hearing Fore said the comments were misrepresented in the article and that her hiring record in the private sector and government demonstrates a commitment to diversity.

Obama, who has also reviewed written answers to 15 questions he posed to her, said her comments in 1987 were "ill-advised." But he said he now believes that she did not make the comments with malicious intent. Obama said Fore has left him with the impression that she is committed to workplace diversity.

It takes an objection by only one senator to block a nomination, although no others appear poised to block For. She has the support of Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who met with Fore to discuss her comments June 29. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has said he has not decided his stance on Fore's nomination.