Numbers in Congress Show Obama Far From Approval on Syria

[Purveyor]

By Michael C. Bender, Roxana Tiron and Greg Giroux - Sep 5, 2013

Republican U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi voted the same way just five times in the past three years. Every time, the House has followed their lead.

That may change when it comes to Syria. Boehner and Pelosi are among about 20 members -- or about 5 percent of the House -- publicly supporting a military strike so far.

On the other side is an unusual alliance of Tea Party Republicans and antiwar Democrats who make up the bulk of at least 68 lawmakers opposed to military action -- 54 Republicans and 14 Democrats, according to a Bloomberg News tally. It would take 217 votes to kill the measure in the House, or to pass it.

In the balance are about 350 House lawmakers who are undecided, leaning one way or the other or haven’t yet made their views known -- illustrating the difficult task ahead for President Barack Obama in securing congressional support for a strike.

“Many members on both sides of the aisle are struggling with this issue,” Representative Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat who supports military action, said yesterday in Washington during a House committee hearing on the resolution.

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-05/numbers-in-congress-show-obama-far-from-approval-on-syria.html

[FarCenter]

1. The House doesn't have 40% of its members totally committed to the MIC and to Israel.

You can count on 40 senators that will always vote for any military action in the Middle East.

[Purveyor]

2. I understand the israeli lobby AIPAC is laying it on thick in the halls and alleyways of congress.nt

[Catherina]

3. Thanks for posting this encouraging news about the Left/Libertarian alliance. Rec'd n/t

[ocpagu]

4. Shame on Obama for forcing good people to side with Tea Baggers. n/t