Syria Strike Whip Count - No/Lean No: 124 Yes/Lean Yes: 35 Undecided: 63 [View all]

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ThinkProgress ‏@thinkprogress 30m
SYRIA WHIP COUNT [UPDATED] No/Lean No: 124 Yes/Lean Yes: 35 Undecided: 63 http://thkpr.gs/15RgyxN


As members of Congress consider President Obama’s request to authorize military force in Syria, following evidence that President Bashar Assad’s use of chemical weapons killed over 1,400 people, a ThinkProgress analysis of the public statements of 223 Representatives found that 124 lawmakers have either decisively ruled out supporting the measure or say they are unlikely to back it.

Just 35 of the 223 members of the House of Representatives said they will definitely or likely vote in favor or the resolution. Sixty-three are undecided.

Republicans were far more likely to oppose military action in Syria, while Democrats were more likely to support it. The numbers are a contrast to 2002, when Democrats in the House provided “the bulk of the opposition” to President George W. Bush’s Iraq war resolution — though a majority of Democrats (61 percent) still backed war. Only six House Republicans voted against the Iraq war in 2002.

In 2013, just seven Republicans in the 223-person sample said the will or are likely to vote for the use of force in Syria: Chabot (OH), Coffman (CO), Cotton (AK), King (NY), Kinzinger (MI), McKeon (CA), Rogers (MI). Twelve Democrats said they will definitely back the resolution: Vargas (CA), Rahall (WV), Perlmutter (CO), Pascrell (NJ), Pelosi (CA), Lee (TX), Israel (NY), Engel (NY), Deutch (FL), Castro (TX), Bera (CA), Foster (IL) . . .

If the close to 40 Democrats who say they oppose military action all vote against the resolution and all other Democrats back it, President Obama will need to attract some 50 Republican votes for the measure to pass in the House.


Each member’s individual position, along with sourcing, can be found in this spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AmXJhRgn8UhudFlwcFdEVWt5TXdCRGFPWW5Pd21Sd3c&output=html