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| Democrats Are Weary in Wake of Bergdahl Case | Democrats Are Weary in Wake of Bergdahl Case |
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| WASHINGTON — President Obama’s handling of the Bergdahl prisoner exchange has renewed frustration among congressional Democrats about the administration’s relations with its allies on Capitol Hill, and prompted criticism that the White House failed to prepare the lawmakers for the politically explosive case. | WASHINGTON — President Obama’s handling of the Bergdahl prisoner exchange has renewed frustration among congressional Democrats about the administration’s relations with its allies on Capitol Hill, and prompted criticism that the White House failed to prepare the lawmakers for the politically explosive case. |
| While Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the Intelligence Committee, went public with her dissatisfaction at not being notified in advance about the exchange, other lawmakers and officials said privately that Democrats felt exposed by their lack of knowledge about the circumstances surrounding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s capture and the backgrounds of the five Taliban officials traded for his freedom. | While Senator Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who leads the Intelligence Committee, went public with her dissatisfaction at not being notified in advance about the exchange, other lawmakers and officials said privately that Democrats felt exposed by their lack of knowledge about the circumstances surrounding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s capture and the backgrounds of the five Taliban officials traded for his freedom. |
| The chain of events, coming after days of contending with a searing scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs and coupled with some Democratic unrest over new proposed rules on power plant emissions, has some Democrats questioning the effectiveness of the administration’s team and its ability to help them get on the offensive with a midterm election just months away. | The chain of events, coming after days of contending with a searing scandal at the Department of Veterans Affairs and coupled with some Democratic unrest over new proposed rules on power plant emissions, has some Democrats questioning the effectiveness of the administration’s team and its ability to help them get on the offensive with a midterm election just months away. |
| “We have to quit putting out fires,” said one Democratic senator, who asked not to be named in talking candidly about internal party views of the White House. | “We have to quit putting out fires,” said one Democratic senator, who asked not to be named in talking candidly about internal party views of the White House. |
| Strains between a president and congressional members of his party during a second term are not unheard-of given their differing political situations. Lawmakers are trying to survive in what is traditionally a difficult political environment, while the occupant of the White House will not be on a ballot again and can become caught up with presidential legacy. | Strains between a president and congressional members of his party during a second term are not unheard-of given their differing political situations. Lawmakers are trying to survive in what is traditionally a difficult political environment, while the occupant of the White House will not be on a ballot again and can become caught up with presidential legacy. |
| Still, the level of discontent this week among Democrats seemed noticeably high and was fueled not only by recent events, but also by lingering fallout from last year’s health care furor and unease about the approaching election. House Republicans are also readying special hearings into the 2012 attacks on the diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, forcing Democrats to put up a defense of the administration in that incident. | Still, the level of discontent this week among Democrats seemed noticeably high and was fueled not only by recent events, but also by lingering fallout from last year’s health care furor and unease about the approaching election. House Republicans are also readying special hearings into the 2012 attacks on the diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, forcing Democrats to put up a defense of the administration in that incident. |
| Sensing that Republicans and other critics of the prisoner exchange may have gone too far in their efforts to attack the exchange, Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, on Wednesday mounted a strong defense of the deal in what appeared to be an effort to provide Democrats with a road map for backing the administration’s action. His argument was less about the administration than the nation’s traditional dedication to securing the return of all troops. | Sensing that Republicans and other critics of the prisoner exchange may have gone too far in their efforts to attack the exchange, Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat and majority leader, on Wednesday mounted a strong defense of the deal in what appeared to be an effort to provide Democrats with a road map for backing the administration’s action. His argument was less about the administration than the nation’s traditional dedication to securing the return of all troops. |
| “Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Sergeant Bergdahl did violate his sworn oath,” Mr. Reid said. “Who do we want to mete out justice to an American soldier? The Taliban? I will choose the justice system of the United States Army — American justice — every time.” | “Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that Sergeant Bergdahl did violate his sworn oath,” Mr. Reid said. “Who do we want to mete out justice to an American soldier? The Taliban? I will choose the justice system of the United States Army — American justice — every time.” |
| At the same time, the administration provided a classified briefing Wednesday evening to members of the Senate of both parties to try to answer mounting demands for information. | At the same time, the administration provided a classified briefing Wednesday evening to members of the Senate of both parties to try to answer mounting demands for information. |
| Aides said that lawmakers at the briefing were told that the possibility of the trade of five Taliban members was raised twice this year with senior congressional staff members, not just in 2011 as some have asserted. | Aides said that lawmakers at the briefing were told that the possibility of the trade of five Taliban members was raised twice this year with senior congressional staff members, not just in 2011 as some have asserted. |
| “In January and February, the national security interagency staff reached out to staff of the national security committees about Bergdahl, the proof-of-life video, and reports in February of U.S. actions to pursue Bergdahl’s release through intermediary talks with Taliban on a possible prisoner swap,” a White House official said. | |
| But the administration had a way to go to placate Democrats, some of whom said senators were not soothed on Tuesday by an appearance by Denis R. McDonough, the White House chief of staff, at a private weekly party lunch. Mr. McDonough, people familiar with the meeting said, told lawmakers that the administration had been in touch with officials on Capitol Hill before the prisoner exchange, when nearly all of those in the luncheon had not been consulted, including Ms. Feinstein. | But the administration had a way to go to placate Democrats, some of whom said senators were not soothed on Tuesday by an appearance by Denis R. McDonough, the White House chief of staff, at a private weekly party lunch. Mr. McDonough, people familiar with the meeting said, told lawmakers that the administration had been in touch with officials on Capitol Hill before the prisoner exchange, when nearly all of those in the luncheon had not been consulted, including Ms. Feinstein. |
| White House officials said they anticipated some blowback from Democrats about the lack of consultation, but had to put the protection of a sensitive military operation ahead of that concern. In addition, one official said, the administration’s view that it did not have to notify Congress in a fast-moving situation was at odds with the congressional view that it did, creating a policy divide from the start. | White House officials said they anticipated some blowback from Democrats about the lack of consultation, but had to put the protection of a sensitive military operation ahead of that concern. In addition, one official said, the administration’s view that it did not have to notify Congress in a fast-moving situation was at odds with the congressional view that it did, creating a policy divide from the start. |
| Acknowledging some dissent from Capitol Hill, administration officials said they remained comfortable with the way the situation was handled. | Acknowledging some dissent from Capitol Hill, administration officials said they remained comfortable with the way the situation was handled. |
| The president did have his supporters. Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader and a former senior member of the Intelligence Committee, said that she supported the president’s decision and that the White House notified congressional leaders to the extent possible. | The president did have his supporters. Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the Democratic leader and a former senior member of the Intelligence Committee, said that she supported the president’s decision and that the White House notified congressional leaders to the extent possible. |
| “I’m comfortable with what the president did,” said Ms. Pelosi, who was attending campaign events in the Midwest during a House recess. “I want any president, Democrat or Republican, to be able to use his discretion as to what is in the national security interests of our country.” | |
| She also noted that the president had made clear the possibility that he might not always comply with the 30-day congressional notification for releases from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, when he signed Pentagon policy legislation last year. | She also noted that the president had made clear the possibility that he might not always comply with the 30-day congressional notification for releases from Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, when he signed Pentagon policy legislation last year. |
| “The Republicans never seemed to mind when President Bush was doing signing statements all the time about what he would enforce or not,” she said. | “The Republicans never seemed to mind when President Bush was doing signing statements all the time about what he would enforce or not,” she said. |
| Despite the president’s service in the Senate, the relationship between the Obama White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill has been troubled in recent years as lawmakers complained that administration paid scant attention to the political needs of Democratic members and didn’t reach out to them enough. White House allies have suggested that lawmakers are too needy and that stroking congressional egos in either party is no guarantee of legislative progress. | Despite the president’s service in the Senate, the relationship between the Obama White House and Democrats on Capitol Hill has been troubled in recent years as lawmakers complained that administration paid scant attention to the political needs of Democratic members and didn’t reach out to them enough. White House allies have suggested that lawmakers are too needy and that stroking congressional egos in either party is no guarantee of legislative progress. |
| The White House has changed personnel in an effort to improve communication between the administration and Capitol Hill, and lawmakers have noted some progress. But they said the sense of being caught off-guard by the furor surrounding Sergeant Bergdahl shook congressional confidence in the administration once again. | The White House has changed personnel in an effort to improve communication between the administration and Capitol Hill, and lawmakers have noted some progress. But they said the sense of being caught off-guard by the furor surrounding Sergeant Bergdahl shook congressional confidence in the administration once again. |