Emerson, other GOP moderates meet with Bush on war

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and 10 other moderate Republicans met with President George Bush and his top advisers Tuesday to warn the president that his Iraq war efforts are hurting GOP political fortunes and public support for the war is rapidly dwindling, the New York Times and the Associated Press reported.

Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, was one of two House members who voted "present" on the Iraq war funding bill that set a timetable to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. Bush vetoed that bill, and Democrats have responded with a new funding measure that would keep military operations going through July. Congress would vote again in August whether to release an additional $52.8 billion for war spending through September, the AP reported.

A vote on that bill is expected today.

Emerson Wednesday became the target of an ad campaign by VoteVets.org, a veterans group that wants U.S. forces to redeploy and concentrate on fighting Al Quaida.

The Tuesday meeting at the White House, which included Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, political adviser Carl Rove and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, was a chance for GOP lawmakers to push for a new policy direction.

"We asked them what's Plan B," Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia told the Associated Press. "We let them know that the status quo is not acceptable."

Emerson did not comment on the meeting to the Associated Press or the New York Times. She was not immediately available for comment this morning when the Southeast Missourian called her office.

Check back at www.semissourian.com for updates or read Friday's Southeast Missourian.

Check out the New York Times report at www.nytimes.com/2007/05/10/washington/10cong.html?hp