10 Questions For Barbara Boxer

By Perry Bacon Jr.

At 5 ft. tall, California Senator Barbara Boxer can reach most lectern mikes only after her staff sets up a 3-in. stand dubbed the Boxer box. But she is standing out in the Senate, along with Ted Kennedy, as one of Congress's most outspoken liberals. After her tough questioning last week of Bush's nominee for U.N. ambassador, John Bolton, she spoke with TIME's Perry Bacon Jr.

WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT JOHN BOLTON AS AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.?

Making him U.N. ambassador would be like putting Phyllis Schlafly in charge of a Planned Parenthood clinic. It's just not a match. His attitude toward the U.N.--he's despised it all his life. It makes no sense.

REPUBLICANS HAVE 55 SEATS IN THE SENATE NOW. WHY SHOULD DEMOCRATS, THROUGH A FILIBUSTER, BE ABLE TO BLOCK JUDGES THAT 55 SENATORS AGREE ON?

It goes to the issue of the importance of the lifelong appointee. Ever since our country was founded, we've had the ability to block nominations of the President that were out of the mainstream.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TOM DELAY'S CURRENT ETHICS PROBLEMS?

I left the House right before Newt Gingrich came [as Speaker] because I felt the atmosphere changing over there. It's poison. That poison seems to come back and hit people, and it's heading in his direction.

ONE OF THE CRITICISMS HAS BEEN THAT DELAY HAD SOME OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS ON HIS PAYROLL. YOUR SON'S FIRM WAS PAID MORE THAN $130,000 OVER FOUR YEARS BY YOUR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. IS THAT FAIR?

I believe that the most important thing for us is to have the best people running our campaigns and our PACs. If we're just putting family on the payroll to get them money, that's unethical. But if they are truly doing the work and they are very qualified--in my own case, my son is a lawyer, and I'm very fortunate that he's willing to do this and does a great job at it.

DO YOU THINK CONDOLEEZZA RICE HAS FORGIVEN YOU FOR YOUR TOUGH QUESTIONS DURING HER CONFIRMATION HEARINGS?

She never said the questions were over the line. Let me just put it this way: I don't think she's forgiven me, and I don't forgive her. I can't forgive someone who didn't tell the facts to the America people, and I'm sure she can't forgive me for disagreeing with her. So you just move on.

HILLARY CLINTON GAVE A SPEECH IN WHICH SHE SUGGESTED THE GOAL WAS TO HAVE ZERO ABORTIONS. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT SHE SAID?

What Hillary says is, of course, what we've said for years. Every child should be a wanted child, and abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Of course the goal is zero. That's an obvious point, and I think it was a fine speech.

WHAT DOES YOUR PARTY NEED TO DO TO WIN MORE ELECTIONS?

I think we should be authentic, and I think we should allow our candidates to be who they are. We should be a big tent, and we're pretty much tied together to be the party of hope, opportunity and fairness. But I think authenticity is the key; I think that's what people want more than everything.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT ANTONIN SCALIA OR CLARENCE THOMAS BECOMING CHIEF JUSTICE IF WILLIAM REHNQUIST DECIDES TO RESIGN?

I have a candidate in mind that I would love to see, and that's Sandra Day O'Connor. I think she would be the perfect choice, a very healing choice for the country. I think those others would be very polarizing and not good for the country.

DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD NOT SAY THAT OUT LOUD BECAUSE IF THEY HEAR YOU LIKE HER, IT MIGHT CHANGE THE ADMINISTRATION'S MIND?

I think I speak for a lot of people who really like her on both sides of the aisle. But I get your point, believe me.

SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN DIDN'T WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. ANY CHANCE YOU'LL TAKE HIM ON?

Oh, no. I'm staying in the Senate. o