Predictably, Republicans were quick to condemn the historic agreement on Iran's nuclear program negotiated with that nation by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, and the European Union. As Dana Milbank points out, knowing the details of the agreement (included its technical annexes) wasn't as important to Republicans as was getting out those nasty sound bites:
By about 9 a.m., House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had both reached conclusions. Boehner said that Obama “abandoned his own goals,” that the deal would put Iran on “a break-out threshold to produce a nuclear bomb,” and that it would “only embolden Iran — the world’s largest sponsor of terror.”
“It sounds,” a reporter later said to Boehner, “like you’ve already rejected it.”
“I want to review all the facts,” the speaker replied.
Verdict first — then the facts.Among the worst offenders was struggling- for- airtime Sen. Lindsey "Huckleberry J. Butchmeup"* Graham (R-SC), who headed to the fainting couch with his hair on fire:
“You have created a possible death sentence for Israel,” he declared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“This is a virtual declaration of war against Sunni Arabs,” he said.
“This is the most dangerous, irresponsible step I have ever seen in the history of watching the Mideast. Barack Obama, John Kerry, have been dangerously naive,” he added.Of course,when asked if he'd seen the agreement, Huckleberry J. said, "No."
Then there's this reprehensible "moderate."
Would you expect any other response from people who have been reflexively anti- anything President Obama touched for the past 6 years (including, yes, his plan for health insurance reform that was essentially the Republican plan just over a decade ago)? But, as another op/ ed points out, those voices are more outliers in world opinion than ever before:
In the wake of the agreement, Netanyahu called Tuesday “one of the darkest days in world history.” Republican politicians made similar strident attacks, but the critics appeared to be outliers. The pact has the support of most major nations. Even Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates offered measured comments. Obama seems to have won this round. Netanyahu and his GOP allies are indignant about the deal, but they are taking on the world.They're also taking on American public opinion, which supports the administration 2 to 1.
For those interested in a readable summary of the historic agreement on Iran's nuclear program, this works pretty well.
* H/t Charles Pierce.
BONUS: Andy Borowitz has his special take on conservative outrage.
BONUS II: Or, as Clay Jones puts it:
