Byrd tells critics: ‘Shut up’

Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) took control of his own narrative Wednesday by managing a two-hour Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the Iraq war that for the time being silenced critics who say he’s no longer fit to serve as chairman.

Byrd seemed to grasp that what was on the official agenda was not the only topic of the hearing, showing up on time in a crisp suit and displaying a broad smile while an aide wheeled him into the room.

{mosads}When the hearing ended, his only words for his critics were, “Shut up.” He seemed to pass the test, convincing three Senate Democratic leaders that he’s able to continue as chairman.

Byrd knows that he is the most closely watched senator on Capitol Hill. He is aware that he’s the subject of whispers, private meetings and even a possible coup. Yet he kept his words short after chairing his first Appropriations hearing since September and twice being hospitalized this year.

While many showed up to see if Byrd was up to the job, he focused his attention at the hearing on  President Bush’s $108 billion supplemental spending request.

For now, his appearance seemed to staunch a flow of speculation about his ability to handle the upcoming appropriations season.

In brief comments after the meeting, Byrd told reporters he is “doing fine,” laughed off a question about his health and said those who question his capacity to lead the committee should “shut up.”

Byrd’s performance was followed by comments from Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

“Today was a good sign,” said Schumer. “Everybody wants Sen. Byrd to recover and get back to running the Appropriations Committee.”

Durbin even lashed out at reporters, calling the attention surrounding Byrd “macabre.”

“This ought to stop. This is not fair. It really isn’t,” Durbin said. “This poor man is working himself as hard as he can, and all you can do is kind of boil the pot a little.”

Prior to the hearing, Reid told reporters that he spoke recently with Byrd and that Byrd assured him that “he’s feeling strong” and will be “back to his old fighting self.”

“We’ll wait and see how that works out,” Reid said.

Afterward, Reid’s spokesman said the majority leader thought Byrd did a “commendable job.”

Behind the scenes, one Democratic source agreed the close-up view of Byrd “eases immediate concern.”

{mospagebreak}If Byrd’s performance was smooth, the official hearing topic was anything but — Jim Nussle, director of the Office of Management and Budget, was excoriated by both Democrats and Republicans for Bush’s Iraq funding request and threat to veto any significant spending added by Congress.

Senate Democrats Durbin, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Dianne Feinstein of California and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota particularly ripped into Nussle, saying Bush appears to care more about Iraq’s infrastructure than U.S. needs.

“This country is so far off-track it’s unbelievable,” Dorgan said. “You know better, the president knows better and so does this Congress.”

{mosads}Nussle, a former congressman, was unshaken, telling senators their “passion” was understandable and that he shares concern about waste and abuse in Iraq. He said the country is increasing its accountability and fiscal responsibility, however, and repeated Bush’s request for a “clean” appropriations bill without extraneous spending.

Some of the criticism was bipartisan, with Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) agreeing that the situation has become a challenge to explain.

“I’m going to have a very difficult time going home and telling the people of Idaho that we’re going to spend their money while the Iraqi money is drawing interest in some bank somewhere in the world,” Craig said.

Byrd eagerly joined that chorus, criticizing the war as “dreadful, intolerable and hateful” and warning that Congress’s patience is “running dry.” The longest-serving member in Senate history spoke in a trembling, sometimes rambling tone, but peppered the meeting with quips and sharp points of emphasis.

“Why is it that President Bush is satisfied with leaving a legacy built on a crumbling infrastructure?” Byrd asked Nussle at one point.

It was the first Appropriations Committee meeting Byrd has chaired since last September, although there was only one held since then.

Committee members from both parties saluted Byrd’s stewardship of the often-contentious hearing, with ranking Republican Thad Cochran of Mississippi complimenting the chairman’s “even-handed” leadership.

Landrieu said the meeting “speaks for itself.”

“He’s large and in charge,” she said of Byrd. “He just has good days and bad days.”

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Byrd “certainly seems to be on top of his game” and that his staff’s performance is not unusual for any senator.

“He may be frail but he’s in control of his faculties and that’s the most important point,” Nelson said.

“There’s an awful lot of gossip and conjecture, but the fact is that the chairman is holding his own and looks like he will continue to do so [today.]”

Susan Crabtree and Manu Raju contributed to this article.