Posted on 09/04/2015 9:26:28 AM PDT by Dave346
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said on Friday that he will oppose the Iran nuclear deal, making him the third Senate Democrat to come out against the agreement.
"This is a close call, but after a lengthy review, I will vote to disapprove the deal," he wrote in a Washington Post op-ed. "The JCPOA legitimizes Iran's nuclear program. After 10 to 15 years, it would leave Iran with the option to produce enough enriched fuel for a nuclear weapon in a short time."
The opposition of Cardin — the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — is a setback for the Obama administration as it tries to lockdown 41 votes to block a resolution of disapproval on the deal from passing the Senate.
The president, with 37 senators backing the deal, is still four votes shy of blocking the resolution, and Cardin, widely considered one of the most influential Democrats on Iran, could impact the handful of Senate Democrats who are still on the fence.
The Maryland Democrat helped reach a deal earlier this year with Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) on legislation that allows Congress to weigh in and vote on the deal.
Cardin, however, distanced himself from the decisions that his colleagues will make, saying the Iran deal is "a vote of conscience, not a litmus test of party loyalty or political acumen."
He added that the nuclear deal gives Iran a "legal path," even though it is "rouge state and has violated its international nonproliferation obligations for years."
"It would provide Iran with international endorsement of an industrial-scale nuclear program. Worse, Iran would be economically strengthened by frighteningly quick relief from sanctions and international economic engagement," he added. "If Iran violates the agreement, building international support for new sanctions would take too long to be effective."
In addition to Cardin, Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) have said they will oppose the deal.
Despite his opposition, Cardin said the agreement "does contain significant achievements" including "severe restrictions" on Iran's nuclear program in the short term and the ability to reapply sanctions if Iran violates the agreement.
Welcome back to sanity, Senator Cardin!
(Red Dwarf Mikulski is deeply saddened.)
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
OMG. How can that be? Has he awakened from his Obamacoma?
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