Liberal groups up pressure over Iran vote
A handful of liberal groups are pledging to “hold accountable” Democratic senators who vote in favor of legislation on Iran’s nuclear program.
“We are writing today to inform you that we will hold accountable members of your caucus who vote with Republicans to pass legislation,” Credo, the Daily Kos, Democracy for America, MoveOn.org Political Action and USAction said in a letter to Senate Democratic leadership Wednesday.
The groups urge Democrats to vote against legislation sponsored by Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) that would allow Congress to weigh in on any deal, as well as sanctions legislation from Menendez and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).
{mosads}It also presses senators to vote against any similar measures.
The groups compare upcoming votes on Iran to a 2002 vote on the Iraq War, arguing that if Democrats support the Iran legislation, they could “potentially start a war.”
“Senate Democrats are now faced with a choice: Support President Obama’s diplomacy or vote with Republicans to potentially start a war with Iran. There is no third option,” they write.
“We urge you to support the diplomatic process, and ensure that Democrats don’t deliver the Republicans the votes they need to override a presidential veto of diplomacy-killing legislation and begin yet another war of choice in the Middle East.”
The letter comes ahead of an expected Foreign Relations Committee vote Tuesday on the Corker-Menendez bill.
The Obama administration is in the midst of an all-out push for lawmakers to delay Iran legislation until after June 30. Negotiators have until the mid-year deadline to finalize details of a deal curbing Iran’s nuclear program.
The president has pledged to reject any bill that reaches his desk before then, and Republicans will need 67 votes, including at least 13 Democrats, to override a veto.
Some Senate Democrats are signaling their support for the bill could be softening.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) wants to strip a provision that would allow Congress to reinstate sanctions against Iran if Obama doesn’t, or isn’t able to, certify that Iran hasn’t directly supported or carried out terrorism against the United States or a U.S. citizen anywhere in the world.
Meanwhile, aides for Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), the ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee, suggested the senators are working to modify Corker’s legislation to address the White House’s concerns.
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