While the Republican leadership and their mouthpieces in the media have been frothing at the mouth to condemn Nancy Pelosi over her visit to Syria, they have been noticeably more generous towards Republicans visiting Syria as well. Even when they (*gasp!*) criticize the President on foreign soil.
The Chicago Tribune takes the Post's moronic editorial apart and, although, they don't speculate on the Post's motives for lying about Pelosi's trip, they leave no doubt that that is exactly what they did. Now what about Republicans in Congress?
Three Republican congressmen who parted with President Bush by meeting with Syrian leaders said Wednesday it is important to maintain a dialogue with a country the White House says sponsors terrorism.
"I don't care what the administration says on this. You've got to do what you think is in the best interest of your country," said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va. "I want us to be successful in Iraq. I want us to clamp down on Hezbollah."
..."This is an area where we would disagree with the administration," (Rep. Robert) Aderholt (of Alabama) said. "None of us in the Congress work for the president. We have to cast our own votes and ultimately answer to our own constituents. ... I think there's room that we can try to work with them as long as they know where we draw the line.Another Republican congressman, David Hobson (R-OH), who traveled with Speaker Pelosi to Syria also differed with the Bush Regime partisan game players. [..]
Darrell Issa (R-CA) is generally even further to the right and at least as much of a rubber stamp as New Jersey's Christopher Smith. But he just drew a line. He's in Damascus today, meeting with Assad and also with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem. He said "Bush had failed to promote the dialogue that is necessary to resolve disagreements between the United States and Syria."
So of course, you'd expect Dick Cheney and his minions to go back on Rush and denounce these turncoat Republicans, wouldn't you? Not so much. In fact, Think Progress documents where John Boehner all but says IOKIYAR:
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) explains that it's okay for Republicans to visit Syria, just not Pelosi:
Boehner declined to criticize [fellow Republican Rep. David Hobson] for joining Pelosi, saying her stature gave the visit an imprimatur it didn't deserve.
"It's one thing for other members to go," Boehner said, "but you have to ask yourself, ‘Why is Pelosi going?' She's going for one reason and that is to embarrass the president. She is the speaker of the House. She's giving (the Syrian) government more credit than they deserve. They sponsor terrorism. They have not been at all helpful. I wish she wasn't there."
I won't hold my breath to see if the editorial board at WaPo condemns these Republicans as strongly as they have Nancy Pelosi. What say you, Hiatt?
