Posted on 03/10/2015 10:17:04 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross
The showdown between the White House, Democrats and Republicans just got a whole lot uglier.
As a refresher, controversy between the White House and Republicans on Capitol Hill started in January when House Speaker John Boehner invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress and to warn the world about the threat of a nuclear Iran. Boehner did this without first consulting the White House. After Netanyahu accepted the invitation and delivered his speech last week, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed she nearly cried because she was so offended. Leading up to the speech, White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice claimed Netanyahu's speech would "tear at the fabric" of the U.S.-Israeli relationship while other White House officials warned his remarks could torpedo U.S. talks with Iran over a deal regarding their nuclear program.
The latest clash comes after 47 Senators sent a letter directly to Iranian leaders yesterday explaining that the President of the United States doesn't have unilateral authority to make a deal with the regime. They also warned if President Obama acts alone and doesn't consult Congress before making a deal, the deal will be considered temporary.
"It has come to our attention while observing your nuclear negotiations with our government that you may not fully understand our constitutional system. Thus, we are writing to bring to your attention two features of our Constitution -- the power to make binding international agreements and the different character of federal offices -- which you should seriously consider as negotiations progress," the letter states. "What these two constitutional provisions mean is that we will consider any agreement regarding your nuclear-weapons program that is not approved by the Congress as nothing more than an executive agreement between President Obama and Ayatollah Khamenei. The next president could revoke such an executive agreement with the stroke of a pen and future Congresses could modify the terms of the agreement at any time."
In response, Vice President Joe Biden sent a scathing letter to Republicans late Monday, accusing them of undermining the dignity of the Senate, offending him personally and disrespecting President Obama for contacting the Iranian government directly. Biden also argued many international negotiations are done without the approval or consent of Congress.
"I served in the United States Senate for thirty-six years. I believe deeply in its traditions, in its value as an institution, and in its indispensable constitutional role in the conduct of our foreign policy. The letter sent on March 9th by forty-seven Republican Senators to the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressly designed to undercut a sitting President in the midst of sensitive international negotiations, is beneath the dignity of an institution I revere. This letter, in the guise of a constitutional lesson, ignores two centuries of precedent and threatens to undermine the ability of any future American President, whether Democrat or Republican, to negotiate with other nations on behalf of the United States. Honorable people can disagree over policy. But this is no way to make America safer or stronger," Biden wrote to the Senators. "In thirty-six years in the United States Senate, I cannot recall another instance in which Senators wrote directly to advise another country—much less a longtime foreign adversary— that the President does not have the constitutional authority to reach a meaningful understanding with them. This letter sends a highly misleading signal to friend and foe alike that that our Commander-in-Chief cannot deliver on America’s commitments—a message that is as false as it is dangerous. The decision to undercut our President and circumvent our constitutional system offends me as a matter of principle. As a matter of policy, the letter and its authors have also offered no viable alternative to the diplomatic resolution with Iran that their letter seeks to undermine."
Last night, President Obama accused Republicans of aligning themselves with Iranian "hardliners" for sending the letter.
“I think it’s somewhat ironic to see some members for Congress wanting to make common cause with the hard-liners in Iran,” Obama said. “It’s an unusual coalition.”
The White House has been clear that any deal with Iran will not be a treaty and therefore will not require ratification from Congress.
Meanwhile the Iranians who fund the world's largest terror organization, Hezbollah, continue their nuclear secrecy and goals of wiping Israel off the map.
video at link ....
Uglier?
Good.
The deal sucks.
Kill it.
608 days until Obama is out of office...
I’m still batting 1,000 since November. The Republicans will do nothing.
“The White House has been clear that any deal with Iran will not be a treaty “
Obama:” So a treaty is not a treaty “
Republicans: “ You mean old meanie! “
Well done. But they didn't undermine him. He has all the powers he had before. They just made sure Iran knew what the President could and could not agree to.
If Iran wants a permanent agreement, they have to come up with something Congress will agree to. And that better have an excellent verification process.
Well done. But they didn't undermine him. He has all the powers he had before. They just made sure Iran knew what the President could and could not agree to.
If Iran wants a permanent agreement, they have to come up with something Congress will agree to. And that better have an excellent verification process.
“I served in the United States Senate for thirty-six years. I believe deeply in its traditions, in its value as an institution”
“unless it comes to ayatollah obama working outside the senate and Constitution...then I’m fine with it”
Good.
The deal sucks.
Kill it.
"
Kill the deal, too.
John Kerry wasn't available for comment...he was busy cleaning earcrap out of his ears.
That statement means nothing with the topic at hand.
Negotiations are not deals and deals are the topic at hand.
In response, Vice President Joe Biden sent a scathing letter to Republicans late Monday
Well that will do it.... I mean a scathing letter from Joe.. That will surely scare the bejevers out of the Republicans.
Could this Administration get any dumber? Nah..........
BO must be impeached ASAP for the good of our nation and the world.
The white hut would not only get no R's to ratify Val's deal with Iran, but many Sinate D's would not ratify either. The Sinate D's that boycotted Bibi, okay, will be for wiping Israel off the map... but many Sinate D's were present and supportive of what Bibi had to say.
Joe Biden, when just any ole dumb s—t won’t do.
Anyone ever thought that the republicans got wind that Kerry etc were telling Iran that they could do this without the senate and therefore the republicans sent Iran a letter explaining that is not how it works.
Maybe that is why the Dems are in a baby tantrum state right now.
“”I served in the United States Senate for thirty-six years””
We know, Joe and we’ve never gotten over the stupidity of the Maryland voters. Why didn’t you try doing something useful/productive with your life?
Which means O's deal is not a deal and has no official status. He cannot even sign a deal without Constitutional authority which requires Congressional approval. The president may not create private deals with enemies of the state. As the deal has been outlined so far it gives support to the enemy and as such is grounds for a military tribunal.
What the 47 Senators said is perfectly true and it’s high time somebody started clamping down on this president’s deal making, especially considering the scale of what is yet in the pipeline. There seems to be some sort of love/hate dissonance in the tone of the legacy making efforts of late and the lack of transparency is truly alarming. We are a nation of many and diverse people, so it’s never been all about one guy.
Delaware, please. MD is dumb but Del is dumber.
> Obama accused Republicans of aligning themselves with Iranian “hardliners” for sending the letter.
Stupid comment Obama.
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