WASHINGTON — Debate on the Iran nuclear deal morphed into full-blown political spectacle Wednesday as Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, held a rally to denounce it, Hillary Rodham Clinton gave a speech to praise it and congressional Republicans turned on each other angrily as they grasped for a last-ditch play to stop it.
The maneuvering and speechifying did little to change the reality: Barring unlikely success of an eleventh-hour gambit by the House, the international accord aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions will move ahead. Even if Congress succeeds in passing legislation aimed at undermining it by next week’s deadline, President Obama would veto such a measure and minority Democrats command enough votes to sustain him.
But that seemed only to inflame Republican opponents as Congress convened for its first full day back after a five-week summer recess that hardened partisan divisions around the accord. Republicans turned up the rhetoric against the deal at a rally outside the Capitol, while inside, House conservatives searched for a legislative way to undermine it.
FAR DIFFERENT MESSAGES
Across town, Clinton praised the accord. “Diplomacy is not the pursuit of perfection. It is the balancing of risk,” she said in a speech at the Brookings Institution. Either the deal moves forward, she said, or “we turn down a more dangerous path leading to a far less certain and riskier future.”
The message was far different at the Capitol rally headlined by Republican presidential candidates Trump and Cruz denouncing the Iran accord, which Republicans contend will not stop the Iranians from developing a nuclear bomb. The gathering featured conservative favorites, including former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, in front of several thousand people who waved flags and banners denouncing Obama. One placard showed a smiling president alongside a billowing mushroom cloud over New York City.
“Never ever, ever in my life have I seen a deal so incompetently negotiated as our deal with Iran,” Trump said. “We are led by very, very stupid people. We cannot let it continue.”
The congressional resolution, on its own, wouldn’t reverse a multicountry agreement blessed by the United Natons.
ELEVENTH-HOUR HOUSE GOP GAMBIT
A vote of disapproval, however, could signal Congress’ readiness to introduce new sanctions at the risk of causing Tehran – and other governments – to abandon the accord and blame the U.S. for the failure.
Along with the criticism of Obama, the crowd outside the Capitol booed lustily as speakers mentioned Republican House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Conservatives long dissatisfied with their leadership demanded that the two come up with a way to stop the deal.
No such solution seemed likely but House Republican leaders canceled the start of debate on a disapproval resolution and called an emergency meeting on how to move forward.
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