Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who also serves as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, announced on Sunday that she will support the Iran nuclear deal in a congressional vote expected next week.
“I have subsequently come to the conclusion that the agreement promotes the national security interests of the United States and our allies and merits my vote of support,” she said in a statement. “This agreement is not perfect. But I join many in the belief that with complex, multilateral, nuclear non-proliferation negotiations with inherent geopolitical implications for the entire world, there is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ deal.”
“In an unprecedented standard, the agreement requires monitoring and inspections at every stage of the nuclear supply chain, starting with mining to milling to processing and storing. Even if Iran cheats, with this agreement in place it is clear to me that we will know much more about their nuclear program than we do now, which will give us the ability to more effectively eliminate it if that ever becomes necessary,” the Jewish congreswoman asserted.
Wasserman-Schultz announced her decision on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday morning program after informing President Barack Obama of her decision. The Miami Herald first reported the news.
Last Thursday, Vice President Joe Biden came to Florida to meet with Jewish leaders and members of her district to give a first-hand sale presentation of the deal. Wasserman-Schultz, who introduced the vice president said she’ll make her decision on whether to support the deal based on facts and “my Jewish heart.”
During the DNC’s summer meeting in Minneapolis earlier this month, Wasserman-Schultz rejected bringing a resolution in support of the deal to the floor.
“The Obama-controlled DNC could not pass a resolution this weekend expressing support for President Obama’s Iran deal,” New York Times reporter Jonathan Martin said on CNN following the reported news. “It’s a bit of an embarrassment for the administration seeing as it’s how his party, he appointed Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and it’s revived the sort-of latest round of eye-rolling among Democratic operatives about the state of the party.”
But her support for the deal now erases that part from her political diary.
Wasserman Schultz stated she is confident in her decision, which may come under heavy criticsm back in her disrict.
“The thorough, pragmatic, and factual analysis I have done and my fervent desire as a Jewish mother to ensure that Israel will always be there — l’dor v’dor — from generation to generation — leads me to the conclusion that this agreement provides the best chance to ensure America’s, Israel’s and our allies’ security today and tomorrow,” she stated. “My commitment to the security of Israel as an American ally, but more personally as a deeply committed member of the Jewish community, has weighed heavily on me throughout my review process. Make no mistake: this is an American national security issue. But when Iran continues to call for the destruction of the Jewish people and the state of Israel, our most staunch ally in the region, and its proxy Hezbollah continues to launch attacks against innocent civilians, it is irresponsible not to consider this agreement’s impact on that nation.”
