Some Congressional Democrats are taking a tough stance on Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts was among the first to call upon Mubarak to "step aside gracefully."
U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy wasn't quite as direct yet he still had harsh words for "governments... that rely on repression."
"As Egypt bravely navigates a transition to democracy, the United States should be on the side of the Egyptian people,'' Murphy said in a statement issued yesterday. "For too long, we have been given a false choice between stability and freedom in the Arab world. Governments that respect human rights and give their people a voice in government are inherently more stable in the long run than those that rely on repression. The United States must be an ally to those who seek to be free."