Even such a staunch conservative supporter of the Bush administration as California Republican Dana Rohrabacher, co-chairman of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, blasted the administration as "wimps" for not letting Chen visit Washington and not letting administration officials attend the congressional reception.
"Today, we are welcoming a great hero of freedom," Rohrabacher said. "President Lee, I want you to know that you are now in the Capitol, where we celebrate those who make trouble for tyrants."
He regretted the "timid behavior" of the Bush administration for distancing itself from Lee's visit "in the shadow of tyrants who rule the mainland of China," even thought Taiwan defended US ideals such as liberty and democracy.
"We have a monument here for the greatest troublemakers of our history -- Thomas Jefferson and George Washington," Rohrabacher said, referring to the third and first US presidents. "They were troublemakers for the tyrants of their day. President Lee is making trouble for the tyrants of our day."
While the House caucus has long been active in pro-Taiwan activities, the reception is believed to be the first time the Senate caucus has done something proactively since its high-profile inauguration in September 2003.
Lee called on the US to strengthen its commitment to Taiwan's democracy.
"We hope that our American friends will understand and accordingly support the Taiwanese people's desire to be free and to choose their own future," Lee said, citing China's military and economic rise in recent years and its danger of "becoming a threat to world peace."
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