Another Jewish Dem opposes Iran deal

Rep. Brad Sherman (Calif.), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is opposing the Iran nuclear deal.

“A strong Congressional vote against the Agreement is the best way to make it clear that the Agreement is not binding on Congress, the American people or future administrations,” said Sherman, the second-highest ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Friday.

{mosads}Sherman’s announcement came a day after four other senior Jewish Democrats announced their opposition to the deal: Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), and Reps. Eliot Engel (N.Y.) — the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee — Ted Deutch (Fla.) and Nita Lowey (N.Y.).

Schumer’s opposition, which was reportedly leaked during the Republican presidential debate, sent shockwaves through Washington. Schumer is poised to be the next Senate Democratic leader.

The White House has engaged in a heavy lobbying effort to sustain enough Democratic support to kill Republican attempts to squash the deal.

Republicans plan to pass a resolution of disapproval of the deal in September, which would effectively prevent it from being implemented. President Obama has vowed to veto the resolution, and the deal’s critics would need two-thirds in both the House and Senate to override the veto.

Sherman said in a statement that for 19 years he has focused on preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and has been briefed at every stage of the negotiations.

He also said he stayed in Washington after the House went on recess to study the agreement, met one-on-one with President Obama “at length,” and talked with other government officials.

“This Agreement is the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. It contains the good and the bad in the first year, and gets ugly in the years thereafter,” he said.

The good was that Iran gives up 97 percent of its stockpile of enriched uranium and two-thirds of its existing centrifuges, he said. Among the bad, he cited $56 billion in funds that would be immediately unfrozen after the deal is enacted.

The “ugly” includes allowing Iran to have an “unlimited quantity of centrifuges of unlimited quality, as well as heavy water reactors and reprocessing facilities” in 15 years or less.

Sherman said Congress should force changes to the agreement and extend nuclear restrictions “before it gets ugly.”

He also rejected the administration’s assertion that those who voted for the Iraq War were the same people who opposed the Iran deal.

“It should be noted that many supporters of the Agreement also supported the invasion of Iraq, including: Vice President Biden, Secretary Kerry and Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright,” he said.

Sherman added he was grateful, however, for the president and administration’s efforts.

“I appreciate the incredible efforts President Obama and his Administration have made to address the threat of Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” he said.  

— Updated 6:45 p.m.