Call out the neocons: The Iran deal gives Democrats an opportunity — but they may be too timid....

[DonViejo]

Call out the neocons: The Iran deal gives Democrats an opportunity — but they may be too timid to seize it

Democrats might try taking the fight to the GOP in favor of Iran diplomacy, rather than fearfully ducking the issue

SIMON MALOY

There are still several unknowns surrounding the new diplomatic framework limiting Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but when news of the deal came down early Tuesday, two things were certain: Republicans would be united in opposition, and Democrats would – in very Democrat-like fashion – panic and fall to pieces.

The Iran deal now moves to Congress for review and approval. Since Republicans control both chambers and are predisposed to hate the deal, what will likely happen is they’ll vote to block the removal of sanctions on Iran, and Obama will veto that resolution. The question is whether Republicans can round up enough Democratic support to override Obama’s veto in both houses (it is unlikely this would happen).

But the Republicans will nonetheless try to extract political benefit from all this by saying very mean things about the president “appeasing” the terrorists and attacking Democrats for supporting him. Vox’s Jonathan Allen took the temperature of a few Hill Democrats to get a sense of where things stand, and, predictably, they’re scared that voters will punish them for backing Obama and his diplomatic engagement. As such, they’re looking for ways to duck the issue and keep their fingerprints off it:

One House Democrat who is generally supportive of the president — and open to the deal — expressed hope Tuesday that the Senate would sustain an Obama veto of legislation blocking the deal so that House Democrats wouldn’t have to vote on it at all. It’s easier for Obama to round up 34 senators than 146 House Democrats, the lawmaker argued — even though conventional wisdom holds that the opposite is true.

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http://www.salon.com/2015/07/15/call_out_the_neocons_the_iran_deal_gives_democrats_an_opportunity_but_they_may_be_too_timid_to_seize_it/