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Hobson says Pelosi trip productive despite critics
Thursday, April 05, 2007
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. David Hobson on Wednesday rebuffed Bush administration criticism of his trip to Syria with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying she has reinforced Bush administration policies in the region and possibly made progress toward peace in the Middle East.
Hobson of Springfield, the lone Republican on a seven-member tour of the Middle East led by Pelosi, D-San Francisco, said the speaker strongly reinforced Bush policy on Syria, urging Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to work to lessen the influence of terrorist organizations Hamas and Hezbollah in the region, to stop the influx of suicide bombers into Iraq from Syria and to "not fall into the trap of being dominated by Iran."
Extras
Though the administration does not currently talk to Syria, Hobson said the delegation was adamant in urging Assad to support administration policy in the Middle East.
"I think we played a useful role," Hobson said in a phone call from Saudi Arabia. "We reinforced the administration's positions and at the same time we were trying to understand and maybe getting some voice to some things people wanted to say that maybe they were not comfortable saying to the administration. The jury's out ... but this was not an anti-administration trip at all."
Hobson, who has been generally supportive of the war in Iraq, said the war was not the subject of discussions in countries that also included Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Instead, he said, Middle East leaders who have watched Pelosi criticize the war may have been surprised by her support of other Bush policies in the Middle East. He said, however, that Assad urged the United States to find a diplomatic way to get out of the war.
"I think they might've thought there was some wedge between the president's policies and the House Republican policies," he said. "But (Pelosi) enunciated and we all enunciated that we wanted them to do more."
Bush on Tuesday called the trip "counterproductive," and said "going to Syria sends mixed signals."
Hobson did not speculate on whether Bush's criticism of her trip damaged its effectiveness. "They (the politicians we met) never brought it up to her."
Hobson, who came at Pelosi's invitation, said he's on the trip because he wanted to make it a bipartisan one and wanted to lend a Republican perspective to the trip. He said he has worked with Pelosi's office to make news releases on the trip bipartisan and said he's been included in every meeting on the trip.
"I think actually we've helped the administration's position by showing there's not dissension," he said.
"They (Democrats) have not gone around this region attacking the president for his, I thought, inappropriate discussion of this."
Comments
By Jon Cain
April 6, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this
Mr. Hobson made a huge mistake, as many of our so called “Republican” or “conservatives” have made. Just look at the midterms and you will see, Mr. Hobson, your future. I hope you are not planning to run for re election. Pelosi should be censured for treason.
By Horse
April 6, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
Pelosi is out of her job scope by going to speak to International Community as a Representative of American Citizenry. Hobson should have recognized the illegality (see Logan Act) and found a reason to decline.
If Pelosi wanted to be an “Ambassador” she should not have taken the “Speakers” position…
By markg8
April 6, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this
I applaud Speaker Pelosi, Mr. Hobson and the others on their trip. If anything it strengthens our side’s hand in any negotiations that may occur in the future. Showing unity of purpose can only help President Bush if and when he chooses to negotiate. He ought to get to it before the US Army falls completely apart because of the Iraq war and makes our position much less tenable.
By Bill
April 6, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
I have worked with and for Dave Hobson for several years and have never met a finer representative in Congress. I will not call him a poltician as I do not see him in that light. He is my Representative and he certainly represents me and his area and the country extremely well. We are fortunate to have men like him in Congress. If we as Republicians hope to accomplish anything we must work with the Democrats and Dave does that. He is respected on both sides of the isle and that is great!!
By Chris
April 6, 2007 4:09 AM | Link to this
Rumor has it that the reason the Iranians released those Brit’s is because they heard Pelosi was going to go to Tehran to negotiate their release and they (The Iranians) wanted nothing to do with her. Can’t say that I blame them……..
By Chuck
April 6, 2007 1:29 AM | Link to this
Congratulations to Dave Hobson for reminding us that almost all of our best achievements in foreign policy over many decades have been the result of bipartisan efforts. I know Dave to be a good, loyal Republican, but the thing I’ve always admired most about him is his ability to balance partisanship with thoughtful and intelligent analysis of national and international issues. He is in Congress to represent all of his constituency —not just the most rabid supporters of George Bush.
By Mickey finn
April 6, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this
The biggest joke is the notion that the Bush administration has a ‘foreign policy’. Their catostrophic policies have made the US an international pariah, creating a generation of new enemies,while
alienating many of our allies. The claim that the Bush government doesn’t talk to Syria is false. Recently, State Department officials went to Damascus and met with high-level Syrian officials to discuss the massive influx of Iraqi refugees. Of course, we cannot ignore our reliance on Syria as a reliable torture partner. Many victims of our ‘extraordinary rendition’ program have been dropped off in Syria for some tuning up.
The main problem with this story is the lack of context in the way in which it has been reported. In addition to the State Dept.visit, a GOP delegation also recently traveled to Syria without a peep of protest from the Prevaricator-In-Chief. It is typical of the bully-boy Bush Crime Family to rise up in faux outrage over a Democrat doing what they and their Republican cohorts have already done. And juat as predictable for their zombie-like supporters to blindly follow their lead.
By KARON
April 5, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
hobson, please help dayton and cincinnati get a passenger rail system, this will help create thousands of jobs for the dayton and cincy area . please SUPPORT LIGHT PASSENGER RAIL!
By Dennis
April 5, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this
No Congressional representatives or Senators have any right trying to represent the US in foreign policy on their own - they made fools of themselves and in a time of war, cozying up to terrorists is tantamount to treason. I hope Hobson doesn’t plan on another term - I have always supported him in the past - those days are now over for good.
By sam
April 5, 2007 5:47 PM | Link to this
The two did not have anything to do with eachother.
By arthur kline
April 5, 2007 5:16 PM | Link to this
it is not a coincedence that the brits were freed while pelosi was in the area. subtelty is not this administrations forte. volatile words and no actions from this dc group. all they want to do is make a profit, regardless of the human cost. pelosi’s presence was a nod to some who might be considering peace.
By Matt
April 5, 2007 4:34 PM | Link to this
Apparently most don’t agree with Hobson. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,264334,00.html
Way to go Pelosi. Defy the President and place your foot in your mouth in front of the entire world. Take note everyone…This is the future we all get to look forward to unless we make the difference.
By Sharp
April 5, 2007 2:47 PM | Link to this
I applaud all our senators for going to Syria and talking to the leaders of the Arab nations- Bush can’t and won’t because he realizes the Arab leaders are more intelligent than he is. We need our senators to prove to the world that the American people are represented by caring politicians that we, the people, voted for to change our war policy. Bush, Cheney and all the lemmings following them, watch and learn what diplomacy is. Get all foreigners out of Iraq including Syrians, Iranians, and us.
By Bob
April 5, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this
As an American I think “Face Lift” Pelosi should be charged with treason during war time and shot like the dog she is!!!!!!!
By Jerry
April 5, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
I am disapointed that David Hobson accompanied Nancy Pelosi on her illegal trip to Syria, it gives her an out that a Republican also went on the trip. She is just trying to stick it to George Bush and undermine his policy. David Hobson should have seen this motive.
She has misquoted the Israel PM on wantng peace talks with the terrorist state of Syria.
She should tend to her own business and stop playing politics with President Bush’s foreign policy.
By madison
April 5, 2007 1:56 PM | Link to this
My question is why is the topic of this discussion whether hobson should have gone there. Shouldn’t the question have been if Pelosi should have gone on this trip? Why do you shift the attention to Hobson, who gave a good report on her trip? I am confused.
By george
April 5, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
DDN, she did not manage the guantlet very well, if you will read the brittish newspapers from today they ridiculed her for speaking out of turn and falsley making statements about how the meetings went. Just read them is all i ask.
By george
April 5, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
why should he not have gone robert? you think the country should be run by demacrats and demacrats only?
By Rob
April 5, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
Hobson is lucky that he is not in my district. I would work very hard to make sure he was not re-elected. Republicans that undermine our country are just as bad, if not worse than Democrats. I hope a good primary candidate emerges to eliminate Hobson and his serf-serving, back-stabbing politics.
By Ray
April 5, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
This was bad politics…and that is exactly what it was…Politics! I’m not sure anyone who went can be considered a Patriot. They are undermining the executive branch of the government. This shows no unity. I have been along time supporter of Rep. Hobson. I may have cast my last vote for him.
By DDN Op/Ed Critic
April 5, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
Hobson seemed to be the ‘invisible man’ on this trip that was hyperfocused solely on Pelosi’s every move and word (the Israeli comments, the head scarf)…and while she gracefully managed that gauntlet, two GOP lawmakers garnered hardly any press during their own trip immediately prior to the speaker’s delegation—an another one from California (Darrell Issa) met with Assad today!!!
By DDN Op/Ed Critic
April 5, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
Hobson seemed to be the ‘invisible man’ on this trip that was hyperfocused solely on Pelosi’s every move and word (the Israeli comments, the head scarf)…and while she gracefully managed that gauntlet, two GOP lawmakers garnered hardly any press during their own trip immediately prior to the speaker’s delegation—an another one from California (Darrell Issa) met with Assad today!!!
By Jack
April 5, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this
So let 104 senators and hundreds of congressman take overseas trips to effect foriegn policy as they see fit! Won’t that just be grand!
By Tim Brooks
April 5, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
This trip to the Middle east by our politicians is nearly treasonous. Dealing with Terrorist countries and terrorists is the job of Bush and his cabinet, specifically the Secretary of State.
These polticians that did this should be ashamed.
If Nancy Pelosi feels so compelled, she should apply for the Secretary of Satte job when the next President is elected.
Its amazing this country ever accomplishes anything. Everyone thinks they’re a chief.
By Jake
April 5, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Hobson does nothing without an agenda. This trip was only an opportunity to invest some face time to promote his next BIG PORK project. Peace is the farthest thing from his mind…
By Jake
April 5, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
Hobson does nothing without an agenda. This trip was only an opportunity to invest some face time to promote his next BIG PORK project. Peace is the farthest thing from his mind…
By Joan
April 5, 2007 11:25 AM | Link to this
I am very glad that Rep. Hobson accompanied Speaker Pelosi to the Middle East. It is very important that we show bi-partisan quest for peace in the Middle East and hopefully reestablish some of our credibility that has been lost. I believe it should be the goal of every American, irregardless of Party, to want and seek peace in the world.
By robert
April 5, 2007 11:07 AM | Link to this
NO HE SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE ON THE TRIP. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HIM NEXT ELECTION.
By frank
April 5, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
yes ver important to peace
By Carolyn
April 5, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this
Certainly Rep. Hobson should have accompanied Speaker Pelosi on the Middle East trip. There is hope for harmony if intelligent Republicans take part in such ventures. The fact that some in our government are openminded toward diplomacy speaks volumes.