Bush stands firm as Republicans blast ports takeover
By Michael Gawenda Herald Correspondent in Washington
February 24, 2006
DESPITE his threat to veto any legislation that would block the takeover of six American ports by a Dubai-based company, President George Bush is facing an unprecedented Republican revolt over the issue.
The Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist, and the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, have criticised the deal and vowed to block it. Many Republicans have been highly critical of the Administration for failing to consult on what they describe as a "major national security issue". While he defended the deal, the White House spokesman, Scott McClellan, admitted that Mr Bush had not known about the proposed takeover until it became the subject of several conservative radio talk shows late last week. It became a big issue when anxious constituents began contacting their members of Congress. "This is not a matter that had to come to the President," Mr McClellan said. In fact the sale had been widely covered in the financial media for weeks with no reaction from Congress.
While Mr Bush refused to comment further on the issue, Administration officials said both Republicans and Democrats were exploiting anti-Arab feeling for political purposes with the mid-term congressional elections looming in November, which was why Mr Bush was determined to threaten a presidential veto - his first.
Apart from lukewarm support from Senator John McCain, a presidential hopeful, not one senior Republican has come out in support of the Administration. Republican critics remained adamant that they would have the numbers - a two-thirds majority in the Senate and the House - to override a veto by President Bush.
http://smh.com.au/news/world/bush-stands-firm-as-republicans-blast-ports-takeover/2006/02/23/1140670212260.html