Key Senate Democrat Announces Opposition to Iran Nuclear Deal
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Version 0 of 1. WASHINGTON — Senator Benjamin L. Cardin, the senior Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee and a prominent Jewish voice in Congress, said on Friday that he would oppose the Iran nuclear deal, increasing the chance that President Obama will have to use a veto to prevent it from being scuttled. While the president has been working to gain enough support to block a vote on a resolution to disapprove the deal and thus avoid a diplomatic embarrassment, Mr. Cardin’s announcement puts opponents close to securing enough votes to overcome any filibuster. Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, said on Friday that it would be “outrageous” for Democrats to prevent a vote. “The president has said he would probably veto it,” Mr. McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, said of the Iran resolution. “We ought to give him the opportunity to do that.” With Congress returning from its August break next Tuesday, Mr. McConnell said in an interview that the Senate would begin debate on the Iran deal on Wednesday afternoon after party meetings. He said no committee hearings would be held next week so that senators could give the resolution their full attention. And he said he did not anticipate amendments that could complicate the fight. “This is a proposal that ought to be voted on in its entirety the way the president submitted it,” Mr. McConnell said. Mr. Cardin, of Maryland, became the third Senate Democrat to say he would oppose the agreement, joining Chuck Schumer of New York, the party’s No. 3 leader in the Senate, and Robert Menendez of New Jersey. Mr. Cardin’s closely watched decision did not put the nuclear accord in jeopardy because enough Democrats have already announced that they would not vote to override any presidential veto of the legislation blocking the deal. Besides the three current Democratic opponents, at least two other Democrats have indicated that they will vote with 54 Republicans on a procedural effort to break any filibuster, even though they support the agreement. That puts opponents within one vote of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster, with five Democrats yet to indicate how they will vote. Republicans would much prefer that Mr. Obama be forced to veto the measure because that would make it clear that the agreement was saved by a minority in the House and the Senate that sustained a veto over the objections of a bipartisan majority. Mr. Cardin, whose strong advocacy on humanitarian issues and more than two decades of service on the United States Helsinki Commission have made him a voice of moral authority on Capitol Hill, said he would push for legislation to put strict controls on how the Iran accord is carried out, including a sharp response to any violations. Other Democrats have said that they, too, would back such legislation after an agreement is in place. But Mr. McConnell said the Democrats’ proposals amounted to an effort to find political cover after they had sided with the president on an agreement that even some of its supporters have called flawed. “I predict every Democrat who votes against this bill is going to be introducing Iran-bashing bills right and left in great numbers to get well after supporting a deal that only the ayatollah could love,” he said. On Wednesday, Mr. Obama secured enough votes to prevent a veto override when Mr. Cardin’s Maryland colleague, Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, also a Democrat, announced her support of the deal. That made Mr. Cardin’s opposition all the more striking — a reflection of how lawmakers have been confronted with an extraordinarily complex and divisive issue, with potentially heavy political repercussions. One of those who will have to navigate the repercussions is Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado, who also said on Friday that he supported the deal. Mr. Bennet potentially faces the most difficult re-election bid of any Democratic incumbent. “Our primary objectives are to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon, make sure Israel is safe and, if possible, avoid another war in the Middle East,” Mr. Bennet said. “This agreement represents a flawed, but important, step to accomplish those goals.” Mr. McConnell said he thought it was telling that Mr. Cardin and Mr. Menendez, the two most senior Democrats on the Foreign Relations Committee, both opposed the deal. In an interview, Mr. Cardin said, “I recognize the numbers, believe me, I do,” sounding anguished about opposing Mr. Obama, whom he normally supports. “It was a close call, and I acknowledge it was a close call,” Mr. Cardin said. On the agreement, he said, “It allows Iran a legal path to have such a sophisticated enrichment program,” as well as “additional financial resources after sanction relief has been granted.” He added, “Iran is going to do whatever it needs to do to get around this agreement.” Mr. Cardin said his legislation would focus on authorizing the Obama administration to use all options in responding to any violations of the agreement by Iran, as well as to any Iranian support for terrorist activities. Such options would include a military strike, he said. “My point is this debate will come to an end,” Mr. Cardin said, “but it’s important we work in a united way so that America will have the strongest hand possible internationally.” The Democratic senators who had not yet announced their position on the agreement were Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Maria Cantwell of Washington, Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Gary Peters of Michigan and Ron Wyden of Oregon. |