DEMOCRATS (80 VOTES)
Very significant: 14%
Somewhat significant: 41%
Insignificant: 45%
Very significant
“Republicans need the president to actually veto it to make a case.”
“This will officially move the Jewish community into the Republican column.”
“The world is watching, and division on an issue of this magnitude further accents the perception of dysfunction of the U.S. government.”
Somewhat significant
“Shows a true breakdown in bipartisan foreign policy.”
“Only significant to the GOP for use in showing their major pro-Israel super PAC donors they did all they could.”
“It locks in those who will have to live with the consequences of allowing Iran to arm itself. Let’s hope someone is keeping score.”
“Since Repubs enjoy making the president look weak, it is still likely to happen.”
“In real terms, meaningless; in political terms, priceless.”
Insignificant
“This was a done deal as soon as Congress agreed to this procedure. Whatever political advantage on either side has already been taken.”
“Congressional Republicans can drag this out, but it’s over.”
“Putting aside the very serious nature of the Iran deal, it’s still a political win for the president, and no resolution will change that.”
“The task is now implementation not continued rejection. Didn’t work for Obamacare, did it?”
REPUBLICANS (84 VOTES)
Very significant: 52%
Somewhat significant: 28%
Insignificant: 20%
Very significant
“No downside—if things go badly, you set up an ‘I told you so.’ ”
“It makes it a campaign issue and signals the deal could be reversed if the WH changes hands.”
“The American people need to see large bipartisan majorities opposing this deal. The folks who vote to support Obama will be remembered one way or another. This is their moment in history.”
“No downside for Republicans to vote against the president. Shows Israel who is steadfastly in their corner. When problems get worse in the Middle East, as they are almost certain to be, then opposing a shift to Iran against the interests of almost all our long-term allies will be the right move.”
“While the president may get his deal, he is doing so with slim majorities and having completely lost public support. This will be a vote that haunts.”
“It shows Iran that Congress is suspicious of the deal and lays the predicate that future violations will be the fault of a naive Obama administration.”
Somewhat significant
“It’s the principle not the reality. Iran will do as it wishes. But it will show we’re with Israel, and Obama thinks they’re expendable.”
“The argument needs to be continued so Americans can use their votes in Nov. ’16 to make clear their disapproval.”
“Important that the party be clearly on record as standing in firm opposition to what in time will almost certainly be perceived as an egregious error on the part of this administration.”
Insignificant
“The game is over. Obama wins this one just like he did with Obamacare.”
“But allows opponents to say, ‘I told you so,’ when Iran violates the agreement and / or blows up Israel. Little comfort to victims of their zealotry, of course.”
. . . . . . . . . .
Democratic Political Insiders Jill Alper, John Anzalone, Brad Bannon, Dave Beattie, Andy Bechhoefer, Cornell Belcher, Matt Bennett, Mitchell W. Berger, Mike Berman, Stephanie Bosh, Paul Brathwaite, Donna Brazile, Mark Brewer, Ed Bruley, George Bruno, Bonnie Campbell, Bill Carrick, Guy Cecil, Martin J. Chávez, Tony Coelho, Larry Cohen, Jerry Crawford, Brendan Daly, Jeff Danielson, Peter Daou, Howard Dean, Scott DeFife, Jim Demers, Tad Devine, David Di Martino, Debbie Dingell, Monica Dixon, Patrick Dorton, Pat Dujakovich, Anita Dunn, Jeff Eller, Steve Elmendorf, Carter Eskew, Vic Fazio, Peter Fenn, Scott Ferson, Jim Fleischmann, Tina Flournoy, Don Foley, Jeffrey Forbes, Vincent Frillici, Gina Glantz, Niles Godes, John Michael Gonzalez, Joe Grandmaison, Anna Greenberg, Stan Greenberg, Pat Griffin, Larry Grisolano, Michael Gronstal, Lisa Grove, Marcia Hale, Jill Hanauer, Dick Harpootlian, Paul Harstad, Laura Hartigan, Doug Hattaway, Mike Henry, Karen Hicks, Leo Hindery Jr., Harold Ickes, Marcus Jadotte, John Jameson, Steve Jarding, Jonathon Jones, Jim Jordan, Gale Kaufman, Lisa Kountoupes, Celinda Lake, David Lang, Penny Lee, Chris Lehane, Jeff Link, Bob Maloney, Jim Manley, Steve Marchand, Jim Margolis, Paul Maslin, Keith Mason, Susan McCue, Gerald McEntee, Steve McMahon, Tom McMahon, Phil McNamara, David Medina, Michael Meehan, Mark Mellman, John Merrigan, Michael Monroe, Steve Murphy, Janet Napolitano, David Nassar, Marcia Nichols, John Norris, Tom Ochs, Tom O’Donnell, Jeffrey Peck, Debora Pignatelli, Tony Podesta, Jefrey Pollock, Jack Quinn, Larry Rasky, Mame Reiley, Ed Rendell, Steve Ricchetti, Will Robinson, Steve Rosenthal, David Rudd, Ryan Rudominer, John Ryan, Michael Sargeant, Stephanie Schriock, Terry Shumaker, Sean Sinclair, Phil Singer, Erik Smith, Doug Sosnik, Greg Speed, Darry Sragow, Ken Strasma, Doug Thornell, Jeffrey Trammell, Ed Turlington, Rick Wiener, James Williams, JoDee Winterhof, Brian Wolff, Jon Youngdahl, and Jim Zogby.
GOP Political Insiders Dan Allen, Stan Anderson, Gary Andres, Saulius (Saul) Anuzis, Rich Ashooh, Whit Ayres, Brett Bader, Mitch Bainwol, Brian Baker, Gary Bauer, David Beckwith, Paul Bennecke, Clark Benson, Wayne Berman, Brian Bieron, Charlie Black, Kirk Blalock, Carmine Boal, Jeff Boeyink, Ron Bonjean, Jeff Buley, Luke Byars, Nick Calio, Al Cardenas, Danny Carroll, Alex Castellanos, Ron Christie, Jim Cicconi, Jonathan Collegio, Rob Collins, Cesar Conda, Jake Corman, Scott Cottington, Jay Cranford, Greg Crist, Diane Crookham-Johnson, Fergus Cullen, Tom Davis, Mike Dennehy, Ken Duberstein, Debi Durham, Sara Fagen, Frank Fahrenkopf, John Feehery, Don Fierce, Mindy Finn, Carl Forti, Alex Gage, Bruce A. Gates, Sam Geduldig, Adam Geller, Benjamin Ginsberg, David Girard-diCarlo, Bill Greener, Jonathan Grella, Lanny Griffith, Janet Mullins Grissom, Doug Gross, Todd Harris, Steve Hart, Christopher Healy, Ralph Hellmann, Chris Henick, Terry Holt, David Iannelli, Ed Ingle, Jim Innocenzi, Clark Judge, David Keating, David Kensinger, Bob Kjellander, Ed Kutler, Chris LaCivita, Jim Lake, Steven Law, Steve Lombardo, Kevin Madden, Joel Maiola, Gary Maloney, David Marin, Mary Matalin, Dan Mattoon, Brian McCormack, Mark McKinnon, Kyle McSlarrow, Ken Mehlman, Jim Merrill, Lisa Camooso Miller, Tim Morrison, Mike Murphy, Phil Musser, Ron Nehring, Terry Nelson, Neil Newhouse, David Norcross, Ziad Ojakli, Jack Oliver, Todd Olsen, Kevin O’Neill, Connie Partoyan, Billy Piper, Van B. Poole, Tom Rath, Scott Reed, David Rehr, Tom Reynolds, Steve Roberts, Jason Roe, David Roederer, Dan Schnur, Russ Schriefer, Rich Schwarm, Brent Seaborn, Rick Shelby, Andrew Shore, Kevin Shuvalov, Don Sipple, Ken Spain, Fred Steeper, Bob Stevenson, Terry Sullivan, David Tamasi, Eric Tanenblatt, Richard Temple, Heath Thompson, Jay Timmons, Warren Tompkins, Ted Van Der Meid, Dirk Van Dongen, Jan van Lohuizen, Stewart Verdery, Dick Wadhams, John Weaver, Lezlee Westine, Dave Winston, Ginny Wolfe, Fred Wszolek, and Matthew Zablud.
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