President's speech draws mixed congressional reaction

By Kevin Diaz

September 10, 2014 | Updated: September 10, 2014 10:22pm

Reaction to President Obama's speech, in which he ordered an expanded military effort against Sunni militants, drew a mixed reaction from Texas lawmakers, even among Republicans.

Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a potential GOP White House contender, said on Fox News after the speech that the president's response was too little too late.

"The idea of supporting the rebels in Syria," he said, "among the rebels was ISIS."

Waiting on Shia and Sunni cooperation in Iraq, Cruz said, reflects the United States' diminished influence in the region, which he blamed largely on Obama's withdrawal from the country.

"President Obama squandered the gains that so many men and women in the military bled and died to accomplish," he said.

Taking up the GOP refrain that Obama undid President George W. Bush's gains in Iraq, Texas Republican Randy Weber tweeted, "Pres Obama owes Geo Bush an apology."

U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, called the address "a key moment in our continued fight against the terrorism that came to our shores thirteen years ago tomorrow."

"Tonight," McCaul continued, "the president seemed to have faced reality."

Another Texas Republican, U.S. Rep. John Culberson, called on Congress to pass a resolution authorizing the use of force needed to "eliminate" ISIS and its allies.

"I am immensely relieved that President Obama is finally dealing with this grave threat to our national security," Culberson said.

Texas Democrats in Washington said it is time to rally behind the president. "Tonight, the president announced that the United States will lead a broad coalition of our allies to defeat ISIL and deny them safe haven," said U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar. "Now is the time to rally behind the men and women of our armed forces and it is not a time to play politics."

Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee also praised the president's message. "Tonight the President was specific in indicating direct action," she said. "One, that he was prepared to go into Syria in collaboration with specific opposition groups to President Assad. Two, that there will be systematic airstrikes in conjunction with the Iraqi government forces."

Another Houston Democrat, Rep. Gene Green, expressed support for Obama's plan, though he alluded to Americans' war-weariness. "We're supportive of a comprehensive strategy that includes airstrikes and drones to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces, but we cannot and will not put American boots on the ground," Green said. "The American people are weary, and we've already sacrificed too many of our servicemen and women fighting the war in Iraq."

Texas Republican Joe Barton, the dean of the state's GOP delegation, said he found the president's speech wanting.

"The president should have clearly and emphatically outlined and defined a strategy to defend our nation and totally defeat ISIS," Barton said, "Sadly, he did not do this."

Another Houston Democrat, Rep. Gene Green, expressed support for Obama's plan, though he alluded to Americans' war-weariness. "We're supportive of a comprehensive strategy that includes airstrikes and drones to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces, but we cannot and will not put American boots on the ground," Green said. "The American people are weary, and we've already sacrificed too many of our servicemen and women fighting the war in Iraq."

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