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USA Republicans break ranks to support nuclear treaty

Underscoring the schism among Republicans, the party’s No. 3 leader, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, announced his support for the treaty, saying it would make Americans safer and more secure. Other Republicans followed suit.

Senate poised to pass nuclear treaty, giving Obama a major victory, latimes.com, By Paul Richter and Lisa Mascaro,, 22 Dec 10, Republican senators break ranks to end debate on the New START nuclear pact with Russia. Adoption is expected Wednesday Washington — A new arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia seemed headed for certain Senate ratification after Republican opposition crumbled Tuesday beneath a torrid campaign of White House pressure.

Eleven Republican senators joined Democrats in cutting off debate over the treaty, and more could join when the Senate votes on the treaty Wednesday, giving the White House a major foreign policy victory.

The Republican support for the agreement, known as the New START treaty, came in defiance of GOP leaders, who opposed ratification but did not insist that everyone remain in lock step on the issue.

That freed a few moderate Republicans to abandon Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and join the party’s respected foreign policy statesman, Sen. Richard G. Lugar of Indiana, in support of the treaty.

Underscoring the schism among Republicans, the party’s No. 3 leader, Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, announced his support for the treaty, saying it would make Americans safer and more secure. Other Republicans followed suit….

New START, Republicans, Senate: Senate poised to pass New START nuclear treaty – latimes.com

December 22, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA