House leader congratulates Chen on win (Delay called, not Bush)

[Robbien]

U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (Republican-Texas) congratulated President Chen Shui-bian on his re-election Friday, the Presidential Office said in a press release.

According to the press statement, DeLay, speaking by telephone, first expressed concerns for the injury Chen sustained in a failed election-eve assassination attempt. DeLay said he would pray for Chen's quick recovery.

<snip>

DeLay was quoted as having told Chen that his success in Taiwan's most closely fought presidential election will receive full U.S. recognition and support. The influential U.S. congressman further said that Taiwan's democratization and Chen's devotion to that bumpy process are encouraging for American people and should be an inspiration to mainland China and many other developing countries. DeLay assured Chen that he and his congressional colleagues will offer full support to Taiwan's cause.

DeLay said he hopes to form a congressional delegation to attend Chen's May 20 inauguration and he further said the U.S. Congress will hold a series of activities in April to mark the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act - the U.S. law that regulates relations with Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/Taiwan/2004/03/27/1080355623.htm

comment: Am I nuts, shouldn't Bush have been the one to make this call?