Kucinich: Ros-Lehtinen captured mood of Congress on Egypt

One of Congress' most strident doves said Friday evening that he agrees with the hawkish chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee on her statement on the upheaval in Egypt.

"I want to say that I think that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has captured really the mood of many members of Congress in her statement of support," Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said on MSNBC. "And I would agree with her."

The Florida Republican issued a statement Friday saying that the dreams of the Egyptian people had been suppressed for "far too long."

"I am deeply concerned about the Egyptian government's heavy-handed response seeking to silence the Egyptian people. It is imperative that all parties involved avoid violence," Ros-Lehtinen said. "...The U.S. and other responsible nations must work together to support the pursuit of freedom, democracy, and human rights in Egypt and throughout the world."

But the chairwoman alluded to the fears of many observers that if President Hosni Mubarak is forced to step down, the door could open further for the Muslim Brotherhood to turn Egypt into an Islamist state.

"I am further concerned that certain extremist elements inside Egypt will manipulate the current situation for nefarious ends," she said.

Kucinich said the U.S. "should not be trying to pick who should be the government of any country."

"You know, that's been my position for all the time I've been in Congress," he said. "And if the government of any country ends up being connected to groups that we -- that the United States may not officially approve, you know what? It's up to the people in that country to make the choice."

Kucinich said that many would speak on the protesters' behalf, "on the eve of perhaps even a revolution."

"But we were mindful of that for the last three decades and basically did nothing, helped Mr. Mubarak stay in power because he was our guy," he said.