Washington – New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the No. 3 Senate Democrat and next-in-line party leader, said late Thursday that he is breaking with President Barack Obama and will oppose the Iran nuclear deal.
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“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 weeks before he will cast a vote.
Schumer is the first Senate Democrat 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. The administration, which has lobbied intensely for the pact, had secured the backing of more than a dozen Senate Democrats.
Schumer’s decision is a blow to the administration and his split with Obama is remarkable for a senior leader in line to replace Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Schumer has been under pressure as a congressional ally of Israel, leading fundraiser and strategist for his party, and lawmaker from a state that is home to more than a million-and-a-half Jews.
“The very real risk that Iran will not moderate and will, instead, use the agreement to pursue its nefarious goals is too great,” he said.
Schumer said that while he is opposing the deal, which would curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief, he signaled that he wouldn’t lobby hard against the accord.
“There are some who believe that I can force my colleagues to vote my way,” he said. “While I will certainly share my view and try to persuade them that the vote to disapprove is the right one, in my experience with matters of conscience and great consequence like this, each member ultimately comes to their own conclusion.”
Even I will vote for schemer next November Jews show loyalty and hate depending how people vote
Doesn’t matter . Not enough votes to override a veto.
I’m not one to be accused of being a Chucky fan!
But trust me politics plaid a role in his decision……… If in fact he will oppose the the plan I say BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO!
Thank you Dov for putting on the pressure..
The deal with Iran is a total abdication of American interests, not to mention Israel and other allies. I hope Senator Schumer votes against this Neville Chamberland deal.
I believe that Chuck and Obama made a deal. They waited until they tallied sufficient votes to sustain the anticipated veto, and then Schumer was given the unofficial green light to come out against the deal to pacify his constituency. He will not aggressively seek to push other Senators. His political future is all that counts to him. He had a problem. Do you buck your party that you want to be the future majority leader of, or do you buck your constituency that put you in office and will control whether you continue in office. I believe he made a deal to accomplish both. Pathetic.
Yasher Koach!
Never liked schumer but might have to vote for him next time!
#6 is probably right,but the Senator deserves our respect for standing up to this president behaima,even if he did cut a deal.
Wether he cut a deal or not will be obvious if he works to veto it completely,so that will be the true litmus test,but he did take a big step publicly and come election day he deserves our vote,as does congressman Engel