Washington – Senator Brian Schatz said on Monday he backs the U.S.-led international nuclear deal with Iran, becoming the 16th senator to do so and moving President Barack Obama one vote closer to locking in enough Senate votes to make the deal fly.
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A liberal, Jewish-born lawmaker from Hawaii, Schatz had been expected to come down in favor of the deal. But his decision was noteworthy because it came just a few days after another Jewish senator, Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York, announced his opposition to the Iran agreement.
Schumer’s decision last week caused an uproar as he usually lines up behind the president. He is the No. 3 senator and wants to become Senate Democratic leader after the 2016 election.
In a statement, Schatz said he was backing the pact between six world powers and Iran because it is the best option for keeping nuclear bombs out of Tehran’s hands.
“Iran must never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, and that is why I support this agreement,” Schatz said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the agreement, as do some Jewish groups in the United States.
Most Republicans have also said they oppose the deal, which was unveiled on July 14. It is designed to curb Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting of economic sanctions.
Republicans plan to push for a congressional “resolution of disapproval” that could cripple the deal. Obama is pinning his hopes on Democrats, in the minority in both houses of Congress.
Several key votes on the deal are likely in weeks ahead after Congress returns from its August recess.
Schatz said no military option could do what the agreement would do – deny Iran a bomb for at least 15 years.
“This agreement should not be compared to an imaginary deal where Iran rolled over and eliminated all its centrifuges and all peaceful nuclear energy generation. That was never seriously on the table,” he said.
Congress has until Sept. 17 to vote on any resolution of disapproval of the agreement. After Schumer’s announcement last week, Democrats said they were still confident they could rebuff Republican attempts to sink the agreement.
when Schatz got reelected from being appointed he said I will push Obamas agenda so no surprise, hes married to a Chinese woman.
Im glad this senator didn’t cave in to Jewish led pressure.
It is utter chutzpah by Netanyahu and his followers in the usa to inject themselves in American politics. If Netanyahu doesn’t like Obama and our country let him refuse all the help of our American government. Lets see if Israel can survive one day without American support morally and financial.
Its a Shanda for Jews in America to respect this rabble rouser Netanyahu before respecting Obama.
All these liberal jews that vote for this deal they are so stupid and just kissing up to the president they think by siding with the enemy they will be spared. how they forget that the nazis could care less what kind of jew you were they send them all to death . and to think the islamo-nazis wont do the same to the jews they are sadly mistaken. we jews have to wake up the writing is clearly on the wall, anti-semitism is growing at leaps and bounds colleges are indoctrinating the students with anti israel anti jewish agendas we should stop sleeping and pretend it wont affect us.
Jewish in name only. He has no Shaychus to the Am HaKadosh.
Kudos to him for expressing his thoughts.
well maven we see whos side you are on, and last time i checked we are american citizens dont we get a say on the matter instead of following a so called president who should be impeached for his treachery for leading us down the road to certain terror and a nuclear holocaust,shame on you!!
How Jewish are these people?
Another liberal looser!
He’s a democrat thus I am NOT surprised.
Shame on him!!!
The guy is a brain damaged idiot.