The Republican presidential field is united in the belief that Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran is a mistake with disastrous—potentially catastrophic—results for Israel, the Middle East and the United States. Even Rand Paul, an outspoken non-interventionist on foreign policy, opposes both the deal and the president’s initial decision to sidestep Congress when implementing it.
But who is to blame for the deal being implemented? Republican presidential hopeful Bobby Jindal says his party—including Sen. Paul—bear the responsibility.
As of this writing, 36 U.S. senators say they will vote to support the agreement when it comes before them later this month. That will prevent the GOP from overcoming a filibuster.
That never would have been enough under traditional scenarios, in which a treaty requires two-thirds support in the Senate. But in May, the Senate adopted the Corker-Cardin framework, saying that the agreement was not a treaty and therefore, could be passed like any other piece of legislation.
“That’s when Republicans surrendered to President Obama on the Iran deal,” Gov. Jindal said. “Many have argued that bill paved the way for Obama to only need 34 votes to win. By endorsing the Corker-Cardin framework, the Senators allowed the deal to go ahead.”
The bill passed the Senate 98-1, with one senator—Barbara Boxer, D-CA—not attending the vote.
“Amazingly, only one senator had the sense to oppose this,” Jindal said.
“It was not any of the four Republican Senators running for president. It was not Ted Cruz; it was Tom Cotton,” the newly elected Republican from Arkansas.
“The Iranians conned the president, and the president conned the Republicans in the Senate,” the Louisiana governor said. “Senate Republicans are the only ones who are worse negotiators than President Obama.”
He is not alone in his views. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, made the same point while guest hosting Sean Hannity’s radio program Friday afternoon. Republican leaders who approved the Corker solution have “became willing accomplices” in “the hell it will unleash on so many innocent people,” he said.
