Gerry Connelly has been trying to sell his constituents on Obama’s plan for military strikes in Syria. Even in liberal Northern Virginia it’s been a tough sell. Like his neighbor, Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA10), calls to Connelly’s office are running overwhelmingly against any any involvement in Syria. From today’s Washington Post:
“It’s been overwhelmingly negative,” Connolly sighs after the encounter (with a constituent). He was referring to the reaction in his district — a wide swath of center-left-leaning Northern Virginia that happens to include a high proportion of military veterans and defense contractors.
Connolly and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) have written a more narrow force resolution than the White House version in a bid to win support from lawmakers still skeptical about the proposed strikes. Of the few hundred people who have contacted his office about Syria, the vast majority have said, “Don’t do this.”
I am hearing that if it continues to look like the House will reject Obama’s plan for Syria, he will withdraw the resolution rather than face defeat. Then what? Will he go it alone without the support of the Congress and the American people? Stay tuned, it’s going to be a bumpy ride, not something Obama is used to.
