Did Wasserman Schultz Nix Democratic Vote on Backing Iran Deal
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Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz reportedly prevented consideration of a resolution at the party’s summer meeting that praised President Barack Obama and offered backing for the Iran nuclear deal.
The Washington Post report on Saturday, which cited unidentified “knowledgeable Democrats,” said the resolution was drafted last week with the intention of putting the national committee on record in support of the agreement.
A party spokeswoman told the Post that “procedural issues” prevented consideration of the resolution. But unnamed Democrats said that it was the opposition of Wasserman Schultz that blocked its consideration.
Wasserman Schultz, who is Jewish, has not taken a position on the agreement finalized last month between Iran and six world powers. Her South Florida congressional district is heavily Jewish.
Meanwhile, six Jewish Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives sent a letter to colleagues publicizing their support of the Iran deal and that of former Jewish lawmakers. The letter directs Democrats to a New York Times ad on Thursday in which 11 former Jewish members endorsed the agreement, Roll Call reported Friday.
“During our many collective years in Congress we unwaveringly supported Israel, led or co-sponsored every major piece of legislation to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship and stood at the forefront of every major piece of sanction law designed to halt Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons,” read the ad, which was signed by former lawmakers including Michigan Sen. Carl Levin, and former Reps. Barney Frank of Massachusetts; Mel Levine of California; Steve Rothman of New Jersey; and Robert Wexler of Florida. “We support the international nuclear weapons agreement between the P5+1 nations and Iran.”
Congress will vote on the deal in September. Obama has promised to veto any rejection of the deal.
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