I’m sure Hoyer would be saying the same thing with a Republican in the White House.

Via The Hill:

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said President Obama has the go-ahead to use military force in Syria without congressional approval if negotiations fall through.

Hoyer, who supported a resolution authorizing military force, said Obama would be in a stronger position if he went through Congress, but Russia and Syria should understand it is not necessary.

“If we passed a resolution, he’d have a stronger hand,” Hoyer said in an interview with Bloomberg’s Al Hunt to air Sunday. “But having said that, neither the Russians nor the Syrians ought to conclude that the president is without authority to act.”