Vt. Sen. Opposes U.S. Fund Limit for U.N.

AP ^ | 6/6/5 | NICK WADHAMS

[SmithL]

UNITED NATIONS -- A leading Senate Democrat said Monday that he opposes legislation that would restrict U.S. funding to the United Nations, saying the measure would hurt American efforts to reform the world body.

Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy said that many U.S. lawmakers see the U.N. as "an easy place to beat up" and that both Democrats and Republicans — including President Bush — should speak up in its defense.

"I know there are a lot of members — unfortunately it's sometimes been both parties — who find it very easy to get applause lines back in their home states or districts by blasting the U.N. or blasting the idea of foreign aid," Leahy said after meeting Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In an interview Monday with NBC's Katie Couric for Tuesday's Today Show, Annan said he was disappointed that the United States has not been more supportive of the United Nations.

"The U.S. gains a lot by working with other nations through the United Nations," he said. He added that some U.N. critics "have gone beyond the zone of all reasonableness."

Leahy said the proposed legislation would send the wrong message

[SmithL]

The UN is the wrong message.

[thoughtomator]

I keep trying to figure out which Democrat Senator is the biggest slimeball... every time I decide on one, another one makes a play for the pole position.

[Brett66]

Annan said he was disappointed that the United States has not been more supportive of the United Nations.

I wonder what it would take for this asshat to get a clue?

[thoughtomator]

A gallows. Long overdue, too.

[Morgan's Raider]

I keep trying to figure out which Democrat Senator is the biggest slimeball... every time I decide on one, another one makes a play for the pole position.

I think they have a caucus meeting every Monday morning and draw straws.

[DTogo]

"The U.S. gains a lot by working with other nations through the United Nations," he said.

Yeah, we gained so much in early 2003 when trying to enforce your toothless (and gutless) resolutions, Kofi. But we all know what you and other nations gained.

[Jaysun]

"The U.S. gains a lot by working with other nations through the United Nations,"

You hear this and things like, "they play a vital role" and, "the UN is essential in...." but they never say WHAT.

Hey Leahy, what does the US gain? What? Saying that the UN is "vital" or "important" is like saying that Paris Hilton is a great celebrity. HOW SO? WHY?

[MJY1288]

Patrick Leahy opposes all things that advance freedom or oppose tyrants. Leahy and his cohorts have only one thing in mind and that's POWER.

They are out of POWER right now and the despiration is evident in almost everything they do these days. for Howard Dean to say publicly that we should presume the innocence of Osama-bin-Laden when he is eventually brought before justice, yet later he calls for Tom Delay to begin serving a prison sentence for a crime he not only hasn't been convicted of, but hasn't even been charged with,

[Tacis]

Clearly, Leahy is on the same pad as Kofi. There were billions of dollars of Iraqi oil money that went into the pockets of the third worlders including Chirac, Annan and other anti-Americans. It appears that Leahy had a pay day because he classifies as an anti-American!

[InvisibleChurch]

Excuse me, is this "the John Kerry brings down President Bush" thread?

[Friend_from_the_Frozen_North]

I think I'd prefer a Guillotine - it's the only thing the French ever got right...

[Friend_from_the_Frozen_North]

I think I'd prefer a Guillotine - it's the only thing the French ever got right...

[Republican Wildcat]

Annan is disappointed in US? LOL.

[johnmecainrino]

Cheney said it best about Leahy but the voters of the canada republic of vermont love this senile fool.

Vermont sure can pick winners with jeffords, sanders, and leahy what a socialist group.

[johnmecainrino]

Cheney said it best about Leahy but the voters of the canada republic of vermont love this senile fool.

Vermont sure can pick winners with jeffords, sanders, and leahy what a socialist group.

[church16]

Wow... absolutely spot on. I never thought of the presumed guilt/innocence test with this deaniac clown until you pointed it out. Pretty much a first rate "everyone but my political rivals gets the benefit of the doubt" guy, isn't he????

[MJY1288]

This is the standard the left has enjoyed for the past 50 years. Those days are over for them because they no longer have a strangle hold on the Media. The new media is kicking their ass and they know it. Howard Dean is simply a reality challenged leftists who has been spoiled by the non- confrontational media who have never challenged the numerous unsubstantiated claims Howard Dean and many others on the far left, have leveled against this president and several other prominent Republicans who stand against their worthless propaganda

[Rabble]

"Leahy said the proposed legislation would send the wrong message — that the U.S. government "can tell all the rest of the world exactly how they must operate simply because the United Nations happens to be here within the borders of the United States."

There's an easy remedy to this situation. GET THE UN OUT OF THE US! We can transfer this useless organization to some other nation, say France or Canada and have that country pay the lion's share of the funding for this dinosaur.

[JSteff]

Hmmm. So if we want to control the U.N. we need to give them unlimited funding? Oh, right,... sort of like welfare. When it was unlimitly funded it produced better results and got more people back to work and well being.

Typical liberal. Throwing money down a dry well cures all it's ills

[NY Attitude]

Time for the US to get out of th UN and boot the UN out of the US. Maybe they can move to France.