Schumer Must Whip Up the Minyan on Iran Deal

Schumer Must Whip Up the Minyan on Iran Deal

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn

August 20, 2015

Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer (D-NY) wants to be Minority Leader in the next Congress. (Actually he really wants to be Majority Leader, but is at least smart enough to know that won’t happen.) Point being, Schumer, for all his desire to lead, passed on a golden opportunity to do just that – demonstrate his leadership chops on this disgraceful Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

There have been numerous articles and columns written ad nauseum opposing Barack Obama’s capitulation to Iran while doing his best impression of the second coming of former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain (1869-1940). These two feckless so-called leaders gave away their respective stores in an attempt to bring “peace to our time.” It failed miserably under Chamberlain, who did not live long enough to see his successor Winston Churchill (1874-1965) become a British hero, himself rising out of the political ashes like a Phoenix.

Obama, not learning from history, presented two options to both the American people and the world – his tepid, borderline traitorous deal with Iran or the inevitability of war, most probably a nuclear war at that. For once Iran procures the bomb its first strike will be toward Israel, the nation Iran perpetually promises to wipe from the map and globe, followed by attempts to destroy Western Civilization as a whole.

Obama, as GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee (R-AR) has advised, should take Iran seriously. Huckabee came under a degree of criticism for not just calling the Iran deal “idiotic,” but that “Obama ultimately will take the Israelis and march them to the door of the oven,” a reference to the Holocaust without using that word. Huckabee said neither anything wrong or hyperbolic in the strength of his words, and in fact it was Iran, long a Holocaust denier, said having so many Jews in Israel makes it easier to wipe them off the face of the map, calling for a holocaust. Huckabee also opined that when Iran makes such incendiary proposals it is better to take them at their word. And while Obama chided Huckabee’s remarks as “ridiculous and sad,” Huckabee responded by saying, “what’s ridiculous and sad is that President Obama does not take the Iran threats seriously.”

Apparently neither does Secretary of State John Kerry. Iran’s repeated virulent calls for Israel’s destruction makes Kerry’s recent remarks even more myopic than one could have originally imagined. In an interview with Jeffery Goldberg of The Atlantic, Kerry said “this deal is as pro-Israel… as it gets.”

Kerry further demonstrated how obtuse he truly is when asked if he believes “Iranian leaders sincerely seek the elimination of the Jewish state?”

“I think they have a fundamental ideological confrontation with Israel at this particular moment. Whether or not that translates into active steps, quote, ‘wipe it,’ you know…

“Wipe it off the map,” Goldberg said, finishing Kerry’s moronic thought.

“I don’t know the answer to that,” Kerry continued, adding he saw nothing to indicate the destruction of Israel was a goal of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kerry also said, “There isn’t a better deal to be gotten.” That statement alone is demonstrative of the utter submission to Iran and its future quest to achieve nuclear weaponry.

“The deal leaves Tehran on the cusp of a bomb while sanctions vanish,” wrote The Wall Street Journal in its July 15 editorial condemning this atrocious deal that will almost certainly lead to the destruction of Israel.

Certainly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who can run mental circles around both Obama and Kerry with half his brain tied behind his back, understands the riskiness of this deal.

“The world is a much more dangerous place today than it way yesterday,” calling this deal a “stunning historic mistake,” and a “death sentence for Israel,” said Netanyahu in July. He also said it is a gamble that 10 years from now Iran will no longer be a state sponsor of terror seeking to destroy Israel and the United States.

Netanyahu observed and asked, that with all their oil, why do they need a nuclear power plant, as Iran claims it is seeking. Clearly Iran is undergoing a quest to build a nuclear bomb, or numerous bombs, as they continue pursuing nuclear bomb grade uranium. And with the relaxed sanctions and the return of $150 billion to Iran, their quest just became easier.

“Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran because Iran continues to seek our destruction,” said Netanyahu in July.

Because of the stress on Israel and its future, it becomes incumbent of the United States Congress to eviscerate this deal when it reaches their chambers in September. This is where Senator Schumer needs to step up and be the leader he was elected to be. To be the leader that will promote him to the Leader post he so desires, as well as be the statesman by leading his people to the right side of history.

There are 10 Jewish United States senators. From a religious standpoint, this is significant, as 10 people having surpassed the age of bar/bat mitzvah (13), comprise a minyan, the daily service required in the Jewish faith. Jews are required to pray thrice daily, and in a minyan, as certain prayers are required to be recited as a community.

Schumer has already announced his rejection of the Iran deal and plans to vote against it. Sadly, he also announced he would not “whip up” his fellow Democrats to follow suit. This is a huge mistake on Schumer’s part. He must remain true to his position that “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… because I believe Iran will not change… Better to keep U.S. sanctions in place, strengthen them, [and] enforce secondary sanctions on other nations,” wrote Schumer in an August 6 editorial in The Wall Street Journal.

How weak a deal did Obama cobble together? As previously mentioned, millions of dollars returned, which only strengthen Iran’s financial place in the world, when in reality, Iran should be shunned and isolated until brought to its knees. Leading from behind, as is an Obama trait, is akin to America on her knees before the Ayatollah. The United States couldn’t even extract the four hostages still held in Iran. This country is still rewarding bad behavior.

And now, the latest shocking news as reported by the Associated Press on Wednesday, August 19, “that Iran can conduct inspections on its own Parchin nuclear site under a top-secret agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) amounted to a new target for critics of the deal ahead of next month’s vote on the nuclear deal in Congress.”

Such an absurd allowance is worse than the proverbial fox guarding the henhouse.

This is why Schumer must whip up the minyan, and although the Jewish vote is not a monolithic vote (OK, not as much as it used to be) he must get the other nine Jewish senators on board. They must abandon their ultra-liberal roots in favor of common sense to preserve and protect both Israel as well as the United States. Make no mistake, if Iran can, it will strike the United States. It is up to all Americans, from all faiths to call these senators as well as the two from each of our home states.

Need more evidence this deal with Iran is wrong and dangerous? Israel and Saudi Arabia are on the same side opposing this treacherous pact, and the United Nations approves the deal. Iran’s long-standing desires to exenterate Israel must be stopped before the mushroom cloud of World War III forces World War IV to be fought with nothing more than sticks and stones.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.

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Cantor Loss Sings Volumes

Cantor Loss Sings Volumes

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
June 11, 2014

I like Eric Cantor. I’ve talked with him numerous times and he’s a good guy – a genuine mensch. However, to quote the cantankerous and irascible baseball manager Leo “the Lip” Durocher, “nice guys finish last.”

Nearing the end of his seventh term in Congress representing Virginia’s seventh district, Eric Cantor was defeated in a Republican primary – the first House Majority Leader so vanquished since the advent of that post in 1899.

Cantor’s defeat can be attributed to both the amnesty for illegals issue as well as his losing touch with his constituents in the Richmond suburbs. And sadly, he is on the wrong side of both, as political newcomer Dave Brat proved in his stunning 55.45 percent to 45.55 percent trouncing of the second highest ranking Republican in Congress.

Considering Cantor’s district is but a couple hours drive south of DC, and not half a day by plane in  places like California or Montana, he had no excuse, especially since Cantor returned home each week. But the voters felt Cantor lost sight of the fact that “all politics is local,” as the late Speaker of the House, Thomas P. “Tip” O ‘Neill (D-MA) oft-quipped.

Eric Cantor is a “world class legislator of great integrity,” said fellow GOP House member Chris Smith of New Jersey.

Cantor’s loss sends shockwaves, not just through Virginia or the GOP, but the entire body politic that should put the establishment on notice.

While many in the media will paint Brat as a far right TEA Party loon, all one need do is hear Brat’s words; read his positions as they are everyday issues about which the average American cares.

“I ran on free markets, the rule of law, immigration, property rights, and free market constitutional issues. I don’t think those are left or right issues. I don’t think many people in DC know what free markets are,” said Brat, in a post-primary interview with Sean Hannity on the Fox News Channel.

“We have to take free markets seriously; simplify the tax code,” which is pro-growth and will restore jobs, said Brat, 49, an economics professor at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland since 1996, when he moved to Virginia.

Originally from Alma, MI, Brat, a Roman Catholic, is married to wife Laura and the couple have two children, Jonathan and Sophia. Brat earned his Bachelors in Business Administration from Hope College, a Masters in Divinity from the Princeton Theological Seminary, and a PhD in Economics from American University. Brat has never held public office, yet made an unsuccessful attempt at a Virginia House of Delegates seat in 2011. In this race he earned vigorous support from conservative radio hosts Mark Levin and Laura Ingraham, which along with his solid door to door grassroots effort proved indefatigable against Cantor’s huge financial advantage. Cantor spent more than $5 million to Brat’s roughly $200,000, proving, as Brat said, “money doesn’t vote, people vote.”

Perhaps an economics professor is just what the House needs. Brat correctly campaigned on issues such as the bloated budget and deficit, noting that the nation is $17 trillion in debt with $127 trillion in unfunded liabilities. “No leader on either side [of the aisle] is mentioning this [and] I have based my campaign on this issue,” said Brat, who will face off against Jack Trammell, another Randolph-Macon professor, this November.

Most every federal program is insolvent, suggested Brat, reminding people that the central government in Washington, DC is designed to be limited. “The 10^th Amendment is the big one; the Constitution has enumerated powers belonging to the federal government. All the rest of the powers belong to the states and the people,” said Brat at his victory celebration Tuesday night.

In addition to debt, simplifying the tax code, and free markets, Brat noted the economics of Obamacare as a problem. He said it is important to separate  health care from insurance; that the people need to understand the price system and see the true bottom line. He cited, for example, that a person shows up at the doctor with the sniffles and pays a $20 co-pay, when the reality of that office visit costs $200.

But Brat singled out immigration as a vital issue needing serious attention. “Closing the border is very important,” said Brat, adding that it is necessary to get our own house in order. “We’re out of control there,” said Brat.

Hopefully, the defeat of Cantor will make comprehensive immigration reform DOA should it reach a vote on the House floor. This should send a message, that the rank and file – the voters, are tired of Executive Orders and Obama’s threats to use his phone and pen to achieve his goals whether inside or outside his purview as president or the rule of law.

“No other House Republican will want to end up like Cantor,” said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Cantor will step down as Majority Leader effective July 31.

“He won because people don’t want illegal immigration,” said Midlothian, VA resident and Brat volunteer Laurie Kalata. Clearly this is the spring of the voters discontent.

Sadly Cantor took too much of an amnesty view on the issue of illegal immigration – too willing to compromise with Obama. This is an issue where there should be no compromise. It should not be emotional, but instead logical and within the rule of law. Those who cross the border without permission are in the United States illegally, have broken the law, have no legal right to be here, and should be returned to their country of origin. (Yes, there is the emotional aspect of this issue clearly on display thanks to the media, particularly in recent weeks with the overrun of the southern border by unaccompanied children. More to follow on that issue in a separate column.)

“I will make Washington, DC as irrelevant to your everyday life as possible,” said Brat.

Was the defeat of Cantor an anomaly? Time will tell as the November midterm elections are but five months away.

Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige said “don’t look back, something  may be gaining on you.” Perhaps it is high time the establishment in Washington take a little peek.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN. Prior to Indiana, Horn lived in Virginia and was politically active there.