The Obama Administration moved one step closer to ensuring the Iranian nuclear deal stays in effect.
According to Jonathan Tamari of the Inquirer, Senator Bob Casey will be voting in favor of the deal.
“This agreement will substantially constrain the Iranian nuclear program for its duration, and compared with all realistic alternatives, it is the best option available to us at this time,” Casey wrote in a 17-page, more than 8,000 word analysis he shared with the Inquirer.
The state’s senior Senator called it “one of the most difficult decisions of my public career.”
Casey was one of the few Democratic holdouts remaining and is now the 32nd Senator to voice support for the Iranian deal (Chris Coons of Delaware has since become the 33rd).
The Administration just needs two more votes to reach a veto-proof majority.
The Republicans in Congress are seeking to defeat the deal through legislation. It is expected that since they have the majority in both chambers, that bill will pass and the President will naturally veto it. Therefore, 34 Senators would prevent the necessary two-thirds majority needed for a veto override.
The White House has given recent indications, however, that they would like to reach 41 votes in the Senate so that they can filibuster the motion and stop it there.
There are currently 46 Democrats in the Senate. So far only two have announced their opposition, Chuck Schumer of New York and Bob Menendez of New Jersey.
Recently, President Obama conducted an interview with Philadelphia’s 6abc, in an attempt to convince Pennsylvanians and Sen. Casey to support the deal.
“At some point it has to be a vote, I think, of conscience,” Casey told Tamari, adding “and I have many very good friends who will disagree with the decision, I’m certain of that.”
You can read Sen. Casey’s full dissertation on the Iranian nuclear deal here.
UPDATE: Barbara Mikulski of Maryland has since stated she will support the deal, meaning it has enough support to avoid a veto override.
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63 Responses
Unsanctioned R-
The Republicans in congress still think Iraq had WMD’s.
Chuck Schumer caved to AIPAC. Maybe he knew Obama had the 34 votes elsewhere and didn’t want to stick his neck out with his donors.
The Iranians know it’s the end to their nuclear weapons program. They like to talk big to the citizens to save face, but they know the score.
Lifting the sanctions is a great deal compared to military action or them getting a nuke. If the US failed to agree to this deal, the other countries would still have lifted the sanctions.
From JFK and RFK to crap like OBama, Kerry and Casey. As someone else said Casey is no more tha a political pimp for Obama and the left wing. Lets vote that pimp out of office. Unlike his dad – casey JR stinks
Personally, I cannot thank Democrats for winking and nodding at Iranian ramp up and construction, but I will give them all the credit.
Thank you for pointing out the Democrats found a way to get rid of the “unjust” sanctions. Fool’s trade.
“…agreeing to end their nuclear weapons program and allow inspections.”
That’s funny. Because the Republicans and Democrats in congress voting No AND the Iranians all claim the deal doesn’t do those things.
Unsanctioned R-
So, every day that Iran doesn’t have a nuke, will you be thanking the Democrats?
LOL. China’s and Russia’s motives aside, I’ll leave picking apart the fourth grade understanding of leading a coalition of Allies to someone else.
How about this. Repeat after me:
DEMOCRATS AND DEMOCRATS ALONE DESERVE ALL THE CREDIT FOR THE NUCLEAR OUTCOMES OF IRAN.
Unsanctioned R-
We did use sanctions. That got them to the negotiating table, and agreeing to end their nuclear weapons program and allow inspections.
That’s how it works. We got our goal, so the sanctions get lifted.
Unsanctioned R-
Can’t build coalition?
This is a multi nation deal. We even got China and Russia on board, because they don’t want Iran having nukes either.
David, that’s like saying Democrats think any use of force or sanctions are unjust. You’re better than that.
Right, this crap deal or War. That’s all you can see or say because your diplomacy failed to keep us safe. Rank and file Rs, Ds, and Is know this is appeasement by a weak president who can’t build a coalition of allies at home or abroad.
Unsanctioned R-
The Republicans pretty much view all diplomacy as “appeasement”.
Versus paranoid, war-mongering, cowboy-diplomacy Repubs? Please just go get into a bar fight, less collateral damage that way.
I think a lot of people wouldn’t choose to be the appeaser. You guys own it now. Another amazing, huge, transformative vote of just Democrat senators…shrinking, shrinking democrat senators.
So then what it comes down to — if you’re not advocating confrontation — is that you think you could have been a tougher negotiator on this? Give me a break.
War is the only alternative? Is that all the D’s have to sell? We have to accept whatever Iran gives us or else?
If you don’t like the alternatives already out there, you can read my plan when Obama shares the text of his deal.
What in the hell do you propose for an alternate. You want to invade them/bomb them/go to war with them the way Dubya did with Iraq. How’d that work out, cowboy?
Hey Montco, you think this deal “keeps nuclear weapons out of the hands of an outlaw regime?” Did John Kerry tell you that?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2015/08/13/kerrys-claim-that-bush-offered-iran-way-beyond-what-obama-negotiated/?tid=hybrid_collaborative_1_na
Iran will never use a proxy. Period.
The only alternative is war. Period.
You may not read this deal, but it is awesome, trust me. Period.
No one can really afford a nuclear exchange of any size. Having said that, the Iranians can expect guaranteed total destruction, just from an Israeli response.
Congratulations Senator Casey. Peace in our time.
What else did you expect from this POS? He hasn’t done anything without first checking with the White House and it’s present occupant since he’s been in office. If I’m not mistaken, he even asks them what color tie and socks to wear each day! He’s a waste and the long term effects to this country (and elsewhere)will be felt long after casey is out of office.
I get it, start blaming Bush now for the nuclear 9/11. -Saul Alinski
I support the Iran deal. If we give the terrorists more money and let them get the bomb then they will like us alot and will choose not to use the bomb on us. It makes total sense. All along I thought Obama didn’t know what he was doing. But now I see the genius in all of it.
I like you Senator Casey, I have met and talked with you several times, and I think you a decent & honest guy. However, you are wrong to support this “deal”. It’s not a case of the Iranians not liking us, they HATE us. There is nothing in this that is good, unless you just want to say that we have a deal. I have another name for it.
And only numbskull paranoid wingnuts could re-brand a treaty that keeps nuclear weapons out of the hands of an outlaw regime as something that “allows nuclear weapons.”
Only liberals could support an agenda which grants marital rights to homosexuals, and yet at the same time support an administration which allows nuclear weapons to a country who executes them. hat tip Stuart Liss
We should note that the Obama Administration has entrusted inspections to the International Atomic Energy Agency whose loyalties are, obviously, international and not to the USA. Why would we think internationalists would reliably protect US interests? The UN monitored sanctions on Saddam Hussein that ended in pathetic failure. Why would we trust another international agency?
Donald Trump would not be silent like Pennsylvania Republicans. Pennsylvania Republicans have not said a word of criticism; Republicans are losing Pennsylvania.
Do we really want to pay Iran to kill Americans? This agreement provides 10s of billions to a regime that declared war on the US in 1979 and has waged war against us every since.
Ambassador Stevens was not available for comment.
If we’ve learned anything over the past 15 years, it’s that you can’t trust what Republicans say about the Middle East. And I’ve got the same doctor I had eight years ago, Dealbreaker, as do all of my friends, colleagues and acquaintances. I’d be willing to bet you do, too.
If we’ve learned anything in recent history, it should be that the ends justify the means for radical islamists. That principle has seemed to rub off on some deceitful commenters here and our president who promises we can can keep our doctors.
David Diano, Do you really think you can just keep making stuff up? It’s funny how you demand complete verified sources but present none to advance your crazy theories on everything from porn emails to pay-to-play in the Delco courthouse.
1) Source?
2) Susan Rice has confirmed that no Americans will be with the IAEA teams. https://grabien.com/file.php?id=51958&searchorder=date
BLITZER: “No Americans — I want to be precise on this. Sorry for interrupting. No Americans will be on the ground in Iran actually inspecting?”
RICE: “No Americans will be part of the IAEA inspection teams.”
3) The IAEA is carrying out the inspections, not individual countries with diplomatic relations with Iran. If Americans cannot be on the IAEA teams, there’s no basis for them to demand the right to inspect.
Besides, the United States will not resume full diplomatic relations with Iran given Iran’s history. Heck, the Iranians took over the United Kingdom’s embassy less than four years ago. Even Jimmy Carter isn’t that stupid in 2015.
Casey is a political pimp-unlike his father. Casey disgraced our State and Nation by being a pimp for Obama’s reckless policies that harm our Nation.
Casey should be ashamed!
Democrats get all the credit for the success of this Iranian written, Obama hidden deal. Once they figured out he wasn’t leaving the table without a deal, Iran just waited and made him eat their loopholes and side deals so he could claim “peace” until he walks out the door. History repeats itself. Congratulations, you just wrote the first chapter for the next 9/11 Commission.
“Long and agonizing process”? You mean you had to calculate backing your Party and President and Peace, or what, maybe kissing Netanyahu’s ring? All Democrats who have a hard time with this decision disgust me. Of course, the deal is not Perfect. The “art of the deal” is compromise to get something better than War. I know so many GOP thinks Trump could get it all, but you are delusional. This is the best that we can get from Iran at this time. Maybe in a few years (we have 15 years now under the deal) the Iranian people will overthrow these Ayatollahs and get a more reasonable govt. If not, we can always bomb them then, IF there is no better alternative.
Unsanctioned R-
Besides the right-wing opponents failing to offer a better alternative, what events would have to occur (not occur) to declare the deal a success?
Since the goal is no nukes, then no nukes produced/developed during the deal would be a criteria for success.
I’m sure we’ll never regret taking the deal Iran gave us.
Another day, another example of Iran outsmarting us: http://freebeacon.com/national-security/iran-vows-to-violate-un-restrictions-on-ballistic-missiles/
KSDF
1) the CIA is well embedded in the international inspectors
2) the article is a month old and just “talk”. Russia, China, France, Germany, etc. want nuclear free Iran, and their inspectors are plenty capable and share their data with us.
3) we will probably reestablish diplomatic relations soon anyway, thus nullify the “restriction” on inspectors.
Boots must be licked. It is Casey’s place to lick them.
DD, “we” (assuming you are American) aren’t even allowed to inspect the facilities under the “deal.” http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-us-canada-banned-un-nuclear-inspections/
They will not be able to build nuclear bombs. We will be able to get inspectors in there. Iran cares more about fixing its economy (and quelling potential revolt) than building bombs they can’t use.
Reagan: Trust but verify
Obama: Trust
What could go wrong?
@PA DEM 24/7 mandatory access to nuclear sites, no enrichment over the needed amount to make energy, not give them billions to cause more terror and kill our men and women. You want to give terrorist money fine but i would prefer not to and make our country stronger! All you DEMS care about is image and not really how the deal hurts the U.S.A and Israel. Israel and USA are threaten everyday by Iran. You can’t make peace with people who want you dead! Try and realize that before giving them billions to build bombs and try kill you!
James T. “over site” Smith: How would you do it any better?
Bad move. This deal gives IRAN billions and the USA little power to check nuclear sites! This deal as you call it will give the Iran the bomb with very little over site. This deal hurts Israel and America. It also tells Iran in advance, where we plan to insoect. I give it a year before Iran is back to its old ways. This deal is Obama trying to make a legacy, not peace in the middle east. Read up on the deal and you’ll find out just how poorly made it was!
Thank you Sen Casey. I know this has been a difficult time for you. You have chosen peace over war.
Thanks Sen. Casey, this was the right thing to do.
No harm in giving diplomacy a try
Thank you Sen. Casey! Try to sway Brendan Boyle to do the right thing.
Four words: Don’t negotiate with terrorists.
Excellent! I’m glad Casey is doing the right thing.