On Friday, the House of Representatives - including Washington's Cathy McMorris Rodgers - voted down a measure giving the President authority to continue military actions in Libya.
Although the 295-123 vote has no immediate impact on U.S. involvement, it was a clear repudiation of Obama's actions in the war torn nation.
Obama involved American military forces in Libya in March, but has failed to seek Congressional approval in accordance with the War Powers Resolution. Last Sunday, the 90-day time limit mandated by the law was reached. The Administration maintains it does not need Congressional approval.
The Associated Press reported:
House Republican leaders pushed for the vote, with rank-and-file members saying the president broke the law by failing to seek congressional approval for the 3-month-old war. Some Democrats accused the GOP of playing politics with national security.Even some of the most liberal Democrats in the House were not sold on Obama's actions.
“The president has not developed strong relationships with members of Congress that would allow members to even look at the politics of this,” said Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA). “I am opposed to this mission,” she added.
Politico reports that Waters asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday to identify the leaders of the Libyan opposition.
According to Politico, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has no intention of letting the House bill become law.
Hillary Clinton, who famously stood in the Senate and screamed that Americans had a right to disagree with the President, took issue with those who disagree with Obama's Libyan adventure.
"But the bottom line is, whose side are you on?" she asked while in Jamaica Wednesday. "Are you on Qadhafi’s side or are you on the side of the aspirations of the Libyan people and the international coalition that has been created to support them? For the Obama Administration, the answer to that question is very easy."
Apparently, dissent was all the rage when a Republican was President, but it is not to be allowed when a Democratic President unilaterally decides to involve the nation in a war with no apparent U.S. national interest.
The New York Times also saw the measure as a partisan ploy to weaken the President, but opposition to Obama's actions is bipartisan.
Worse yet for the Administration, Gallup reports Friday that 46 percent disapprove of military action, while only 39 percent approve.
Does Clinton now believe 46 percent of the American people stand with Khaddafi?
-----------------------------------------------------------
If you like this article, you can follow Joe on Twitter @jnewby1956, visit his Facebook page, or click the Subscribe button to receive email updates when a new article is published.
Comments