When it comes to the developing international crisis in Egypt, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he’s with the White House all the way.
“The White House is totally on top of this and I’m totally supportive of them,” Reid told reporters on a conference call today.
Like Obama, Reid stopped short of calling for embattled Egyptian president and longtime U.S. ally Hosni Mubarak to step down from power — as the protesters want — though he urged the Egyptian regime to respect the “universal rights” of its citizens to speech and protest. He said he hopes Mubarak “will not allow” the protesters to be subject to violent reprisals from the army and national police forces.
Reid called for an “orderly transition to democracy in Egypt.”
Reid called what’s going on in the streets of Cairo and other Egyptian this week “a historic moment” and called on Mubarak to allow the citizens of his country access to the internet and use of mobile telephones. Mubarak’s government severed communications access as the protests against him began and most Egyptians reportedly still cannot get online.
Reid, a Nevada Democrat, pointed out that most Republicans have taken a similar tack to his when it comes to the situation in Egypt.
“Every Republican I’ve heard” discussing Egypt has been supportive of the Obama administration’s efforts so far, Reid said.
