Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said Tuesday that the letter to Iran signed by 47 Republican senators “weakens our president, weakens our country, weakens our credibility” by undercutting President Barack Obama during sensitive negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.
“We shouldn’t tank a deal before there is a deal,” he said in a floor speech. “There’s a right way and a wrong way to approach these matters.”
Kaine, a cosponsor of legislation by Sens. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to ensure congressional review of any deal with Iran, said the Senate must not leave questions as to whether it is capable of handling national security “in a mature and responsible way.”
“Is it just partisanship now?” he said, saying it’s important for lawmakers to avoid creating the impression that “Congress is now just a partisan, sort of sideshow.”
Sen. Angus King (I-ME), another cosponsor of Corker-Menendez, called the GOP’s letter “unprecedented and unthinkable” as it undercuts President
“I think this institution is being tested,” he said. “The question is can we deal with the most serious of issues facing this country in the world in a responsible, reasonable and bipartisan way.”
He said he’d be disappointed if Congress cannot “resist the temptation to politicize … this grave issue of war and peace.”
