Senior Senate Democrat and Obama Ally Rejects Iran Deal
The finalized nuclear deal with Iran is a bad deal made much worse by abandoning our fellow Americans wrongfully imprisoned in Iran.
And now, a senior Democrat in the Senate and major ally of President Obama has announced he will vote against the deal.
We have written before about why the Iran deal is so bad – from the billions of dollars handed over to the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism to the phantom checks and balances put in place on Iran’s nuclear programs.
The more Americans find out about the Iran deal, the more they oppose it.
And now, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, has announced his opposition to the bill.
The Associated Press has more:
"After deep study, careful thought and considerable soul-searching, I have decided I must oppose the agreement and will vote yes on a motion of disapproval," Schumer said in a statement late Thursday night, weeks before he will cast a vote.
Schumer, a leading Jewish Democrat, is the first senator of Obama's party to step forward to oppose the deal. His announcement came just hours after two other Senate Democrats — New York's Kirsten Gillibrand and New Hampshire's Jeanne Shaheen — announced their support for the international accord. . . .
Schumer's decision is a blow to the administration, though it remains to be seen how many other Democratic lawmakers follow the New York senator. Schumer informed the White House of his decision Thursday afternoon. New York Rep. Eliot Engel, who is Jewish and the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement that he too would oppose the deal.
Schumer's split with Obama is remarkable for a senior leader in line to replace Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid after he retires at the end of next year.
His complete statement in opposition to the Iranian nuclear deal can be read here.
Senator Schumer ultimately concludes that we are better off without the deal for numerous reasons. He decries the lack of anytime, anywhere inspections and is even troubled by the non-nuclear aspects of the agreement.
Senator Schumer and Rep. Engel’s opposition to the Iranian deal are a major step in the right direction as opposition to this dangerous deal builds in the House and Senate, even among the President’s staunchest allies.
The long August recess will provide many other opportunities for Members of Congress to hear from their constituents about why the Iran deal should be rejected.
We continue to work on Capitol Hill to urge Congress to reject the deal and save American Pastor Saeed and the other hostages left behind in Iran.
Sign our petition to stand up for your fellow Americans.