Rep. Rangel: Going To War Because of Drawing a Red Line Is Unheard Of

Rep. Rangel: "I Love Obama" But His Handling Of Syria Is "Embarrassing" (RealClearPolitics)

MSNBC ANCHOR: Now, are you concerned, in terms of the red line, the president was clear about that a year ago. Are you concerned if there is not action once that line has been crossed, that it will send a message to the world about United States's influence and their strength in the face of countries openly defying them?

REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D-NY): I love Obama and you'll never find a truer Democrat than me, but this whole idea of any president of the United States drawing lines saying, that if any country does something, that he considers wrong, that the nation is going to war, it's unheard of, drawing a red line. So, of course, it's embarrassing. I wish it didn't happen. I guess Secretary Kerry is even more embarrassed than me after making his emotional speech that this was urgent.

Clearly, as I said earlier, I couldn't see anything urgent about it and I'm glad the president reviewed his thinking and he is going to give us time to discuss it. During those discussions, I hope that other people in the international community would come forward and take this great decision off of the Congress because we have to make it.