I expect the next six weeks to be a lot like the 2009 health care town halls. Except this time the debate will not be about who is to die, and die quickly. This year's insanity will be brought to you by opponents of the Iran deal.
We know Republicans will oppose it as a voting bloc with no defections. They are not the issue. Democrats are.
Here's what will happen next. Congress gets 60 days to review the terms of the deal, then there will be a vote. That vote will be one to disapprove the deal, and President Obama will veto it.
It will take a two-thirds majority to override the veto. And that's where Democrats play the most important role ever, because this isn't about preserving Obama's legacy. It's about keeping us from war.
From war, you say? Yes, from war. Here's what happens if this deal doesn't go through.
- Our sanctions partners will not reinstitute sanctions.
- Iran will then be in a position where they're out from under sanctions and have no accountability for their nuclear program.
- They will restart their march toward a nuclear weapon with a vengeance, which will bring about a war one thousand times worse than the Iraq war was.
In short, this vote is a vote for war or peace.
Your Democratic representative and/or Senator needs to know that their vote on this deal is at least as important as their vote for the Iraq war.
Do you know any Democrat who is proud of their vote for the Iraq war? I don't. They're all ashamed, running away from it as fast as they can.
Voting against the Iran deal will be the most consequential vote to their political careers they can possibly make, and they need to know that.
We cannot let front groups and astroturf organizations hijack this debate, so I am asking -- no, begging -- each and every one of you who read this to call and write your representatives and let them know that you support the deal with Iran and they absolutely must do so as well.
If town halls erupt with Koch protesters, please be sure you're there to represent the case for peace. Better yet, proactively plan to be there to put pressure on your representatives to support the deal and choose peace over war.
Please, let's do more than talk about it on blogs. Let's call, write, and show up to let these Democrats know we expect them to stand up for our values instead of Sheldon Adelson's agenda.
Democrats who oppose this will face consequences. They need to know that.