Running for the Democratic nomination to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in 2016, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., announced on Monday that he was behind President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran over that nation’s nuclear program and drew fire from the right.
Calling it the “toughest decision of my time in Congress,” Murphy fell in line behind the Obama administration on the deal. The White House is targeting Florida in the coming days on the matter with Vice President Joe Biden heading down to South Florida later in the week to promote the deal to leaders from the Jewish community.
"Armed with nuclear weapons, Iran would pose an unacceptable threat to America and Israel,” Murphy said on Monday. “The United States must always retain the option to take military action to protect our freedom and our allies, and the time may come when we are obligated to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons by force. Before placing our country's brave men and women in uniform in harm's way, I owe all Floridians -- and especially our servicemembers -- to have tried every available option. The deal on my desk is flawed, but after searching my own soul and conscience, I have decided I will support this agreement as the best available option to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
"With the proposed nuclear deal with Iran on my desk, I have been thinking of the decision to go to war in Iraq,” Murphy added. “Over a decade ago, Congress faced a vote whether to commit America's armed forces into a conflict in the Middle East. I was 20 years old when we went to war in Iraq, and as the casualties mounted in that unnecessary and costly war -- eventually to over 4,000 brave American soldiers -- I woke up to the horrible reality of war and the consequences of the decisions Congress makes. The tragedy of the war in Iraq set me on the path to run for Congress to do my part to ensure such an avoidable war never happened again.
"Despite this deal, Iran will remain an implacable foe of America and Israel,” Murphy insisted. “Continuing the historic diplomatic effort with our coalition partners is crucial as we maintain pressure on Iran's nefarious activities, including arms deals, violations of human rights, and their sponsorship of terrorism. We must step up targeted sanctions of Iranian leaders and militias that seek to do harm to Israel and our allies. However, an Iran armed with nuclear weapons is a game-changing force that would threaten America, pose an existential threat to Israel, and destabilize the Middle East. Stopping Iran's nuclear program must be our first priority.”
Murphy offered a reminder that U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., is supporting the deal as he explained why he was backing it.
"As Senator Bill Nelson, who supports the deal, has said recently, there is 'no other available alternative.' On balance, I cannot let possibilities a decade or more in the future, however troubling, outweigh the immediate benefits of this agreement,” Murphy said. “Under the current sanctions, Iran's breakout time to obtaining a nuclear weapon is just three months; this agreement expands that to a full year and reduces Iran's stockpiles of low-enriched uranium by 98 percent.
"I believe deeply in the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel,” Murphy said in conclusion. “This debate has proven to me that America and Israel are fortunate to have so many passionate, diverse voices who all want the same things: a nuclear-free Iran, a secure Israel, and peace in our time. In the interest of all three, I will be supporting this deal and voting against a Resolution of Disapproval in September."
But even if Murphy and Nelson back it, a Quinnipiac poll released last month shows little support from Floridians. Only a quarter of Florida voters -- 25 percent -- support Obama’s deal with Iran, the poll showed, while 61 percent oppose it.
Murphy drew fire from the right for his support of the Iran deal, including from U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., who is running for the Republican nomination in the Senate race.
"Patrick Murphy's decision to support a deal that infuses the world's leading state-sponsor of terrorism with $150 billion, confers international legitimacy on Iran's expansive nuclear program, and even allows Iran to inspect its own military sites demonstrates a lack of judgment and inexperience in matters of national security,” DeSantis said on Monday. "While Murphy thinks this deal will lead to 'peace in our time,' the Iran agreement will make the Middle East more volatile, increase the likelihood of war, and undermine the security of the United States.
"It is a cruel irony that Murphy cites casualties incurred by U.S. troops in Iraq as justification for supporting a deal that lifts sanctions on Qassem Soleimani and the Quds Force, who were responsible for the deaths of many hundreds of our troops during the time many of us served there,” DeSantis added. "The fact is that Soleimani and his Quds Force will, despite American blood on their hands, receive a major boost from this agreement.
“His decision to support this deal is proof that Patrick Murphy lacks the judgment and values that Florida needs in a United States senator,” DeSantis insisted in conclusion.
State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) also piled on Murphy for supporting Obama’s deal with Iran.
“More and more we have seen that the American people do not approve and trust the White House’s Iran deal – which empowers Iran with more flexibility and economic relief without preventing them from obtaining nuclear weapons,” Ingoglia said on Monday night.
“Patrick Murphy’s support of the Iran deal demonstrates how out of touch he is with Floridians who overwhelming oppose the deal. Voters across Florida deserve a future U.S. senator that will fight against weak negotiations and stand firm against rewarding nations that sponsor terrorism.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
