Backlash Against Markeys Decision to Pass on Syria Vote

(NECN: Greg Wayland) – President Obama believes the Syrian government used chemical weapons on its own people and needs to be punished.

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey passed on the chance to take a stand on the issue during a committee vote.

Markey’s decision has a lot of people talking.

A lot of people are lambasting him.

On a major vote, he took a pass.

One week ago, Sen. Markey said: “It is important for the United States to stand up and to say, ‘no, chemical weapons cannot be used,’”

Exactly one week later, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Markey voted “present.”

Present is neither for nor against.

This was in the 10-7 vote authorizing U.S. military action against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the use of chemical weapons.

In a statement, Markey said in part:

“The resolution as currently drafted contains language that could be interpreted as expanding the scope of the U.S. military action beyond merely the degradation and deterrence of Assad’s chemical weapons capability.”

UMass Boston political scientist Paul Watanabe was astonished at Markey’s claim that he needed more information before taking a stand.

"This is not somebody who was, you know, wet behind the ears, legislator's only been in Washington for two months. He heralded the fact that he'd been there 36 years."

He believes the vote was a rebuke of Markey's Senate predecessor, now Secretary of State John Kerry.

The Boston Herald was tart.

In their editorial they said, “In an astonishing act of political cowardice, Markey, in his first truly crucial vote since his election to Senate, punted.”

Former Republican Sen. Scott Brown, on his Facebook page, said in part:

“I did not agree with John Kerry on much, but at least he would have had the guts to vote. Markey said he needs more time to analyze the information. He sits on the Committee that gets all the information.”

Some Democrats are defending Markey, saying he has always been a very deliberative and cautious legislator.

"You know, Ed Markey has always been a thoughtful, deliberate, thorough legislator," John Walsh said.

Walsh is president of the Mass. Democratic State Committee.

Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren have both said they worry about the unintended consequences of any strike against Syria.

"I have a real reservation about anything that would involve us in a prolonged military role in that conflict."

For Markey, though, the unintended consequences may be to his political career.