Sen. Chuck Schumer breaks with Obama, declares opposition to Iran-sanctions lifting proposition

Huffington Post reports Sen. Chuck Schumer planning to break with Obama on Thursday and oppose the Iran deal.   

Over 10k urge Schumer at Stop Iran Rally in Times Squre

Sen. Schumer has become fond of telling his voters that his surname is derived from “shomer,” the Hebrew word for “guardian.” “I am a shomer for Israel and I will continue to be that with every bone in my body,” he said in 2010.

Dov Hikind and Helen Freedman sit-in at Schumer's NY office

But to his more hawkish pro-Israel constituents, Schumer’s hesitation to announce his position and his failure to whip fellow Democrats against the deal demonstrate a betrayal of this promise. “Schumer, you are no shomer,” yelled a crowd of 10,000 protesters rallying against the Iran deal in New York City's Times Square last month. “Where is Chuck? Kill this deal!” they chanted.

'Schumer accountable for Dem Senate votes to override Iran bill'- Jeff Wiesenfeld, Stop-Iran Rally



'Schumer and Democrats' careers should hang in opposition to Obama's Iran bill'- rally co-leader, Jeff Wiesenfeld

Schumer’s announcement comes one month before lawmakers hold a critical vote on a resolution of disapproval of the nuclear accord, which would revoke the president’s ability to waive some sanctions against Iran and likely kill the deal. Even if all Republican senators vote down the deal (and Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake is a big if), 13 Democrats will need to join them in order to override Obama’s inevitable veto of the resolution.

Schumer posted an essay on Medium laying out his position on the Iran deal and confirming that he will vote against it. Read his statement in full below or here.

"To me, the very real risk that Iran will not moderate and will, instead, use the agreement to pursue its nefarious goals is too great.

Therefore, I will vote to disapprove the agreement, not because I believe war is a viable or desirable option, nor to challenge the path of diplomacy. It is because I believe Iran will not change, and under this agreement it will be able to achieve its dual goals of eliminating sanctions while ultimately retaining its nuclear and non-nuclear power. Better to keep U.S. sanctions in place, strengthen them, enforce secondary sanctions on other nations, and pursue the hard-trodden path of diplomacy once more, difficult as it may be.

For all of these reasons, I believe the vote to disapprove is the right one."