Harris: Why didn't Andrews sign letter to president concerning Syria

There is no issue of greater national importance than the use of military force.  I think President Obama should consult with the Nation’s representatives to collectively decide whether to use military force in Syria, and to what extent it should be employed.  By obtaining Congress’s consent before employing military force, the United States will stand united behind whichever course of action decided.

Congressman Rob Andrews told phillyBurbs, “The president should seek congressional approval before involving American service members.”  He additionally told constituents on Facebook, “Any decision to attack Syria requires a vote by the Congress.”  These statements sound great, right?

If Congressman Andrews thinks congressional authorization is required, then why didn’t he sign one of the several letters his colleagues in Congress sent to the president stating they must be consulted?  Congresswoman Lee’s letter to President Obama urges him to “seek an affirmative decision by Congress prior to committing any U.S. military engagement to this complex crisis.”  This is the same argument that Andrews made to phillyBurbs, so why not sign a letter that makes this argument directly to President Obama?

Once again I am disheartened by Congressman Andrews’s actions.  The use of military force is the most important decision our Nation can make.  Instead of demonstrating leadership by acting on what he thinks, we get a representative who makes statements in the local newspaper, which President Obama is unlikely to read.

This lack of action by our congressman is why I wrote a letter to President Obama on Friday, August 30 urging him to seek congressional authorization for military action against the government of Syria.  You can read this letter at: http://matthewharrisforcongress.com/letter-to-president-obama-concerning-the-chemical-attacks-in-syr...

Matthew Harris

Runnemede

Matthew Harris is a Democratic candidate challenging Congressman Rob Andrews in the June 2014 Primary.