47 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to pause the Syrian Refugee Program and establish new standards for review of participants in the program. Of course, the bill faces a more difficult challenge in the Senate. Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid has pledged to block the bill in the Senate. Of course President Obama has already promised to veto the bill.
The strength of the vote demonstrates there is a growing sense of the President’s weakness within his own party and is a serious blow to the President’s – and Hillary Clinton’s – attempts to paste Republicans as “uncaring” or lacking compassion. It is also in line with polling that shows that a clear majority of Americans are opposed to resettling more Syrian refugees in the United States.