Rep. Cox attacks Democrats

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- Unhappy about criticism of President Bush’s foreign

policy, Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) lashed back at leading

Democrats this week.

Cox aimed his comments most pointedly at Senate Majority Leader Tom

Daschle (D-South Dakota).

“Sen. Daschle and the party he leads are moving dangerously close to a

new, more virulent strain of isolationism that renounces America’s

opportunity and responsibility to lead the world,” Cox said in the

statement. “President Bush’s foreign policy has had a remarkably rapid

pace of success.”

The congressman was responding to a speech given Thursday by Daschle

that criticized Bush for showing “a willingness to walk away” from a

number of international agreements, including the Kyoto global warming

pact, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Anti-Ballistic Missile

Treaty.

“Instead of asserting our leadership, we are abdicating it,” Daschle

said. “Instead of shaping international agreements to serve our

interests, we have removed ourselves from a position to shape them at

all.”

It was Daschle’s first foreign policy speech since taking over as

majority leader at the beginning of the summer.

During an interview Friday, Cox dismissed Daschle’s assessment that

the Bush administration was shirking international responsibilities.

Instead, he pointed to Daschle’s efforts to limit Bush’s powers to

negotiate international treaties as what is hurting American foreign

policy.

Bush has been seeking what is known as Trade Promotion Authority, a

power granted to the president by Congress that allows broader

flexibility to negotiate trade agreements with other countries.

The executive branch has not been granted that authority since 1994.

In his speech, Daschle said it was Bush who isn’t doing enough to make

trade deals.

“It’s not enough, as President Bush has suggested, simply to send U.S.

officials to international meetings,” Daschle said. “Woody Allen wasn’t

talking about foreign policy when he said that 85% of life is just

showing up.”

In the last five years, more than 100 trade deals have been signed and

the U.S. has been a party to only two, Cox said.

“So much of our economy is dependent on our ability to do business

with the rest of the world, “Cox said. “Many people in Newport-Mesa will

have to close their small businesses” if more trade treaties aren’t

signed. * Paul Clinton covers the environment and John Wayne Airport. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail ato7

paul.clinton@latimes.comf7 .