The closer that congress gets to the vote on the Iran nuclear deal the more that I find myself thinking about Senator Chuck Schumer and the power that he will hold as Senate Minority Leader. He seems to be the anointed one to succeed Senator Harry Reid; Senator Reid has even endorsed him. Not so fast. Unless there is some major political strategy (that has been discussed and agreed to between Senator Schumer and Senator Reid) going on here maybe senate Democrats should take a long, hard look at Senator Schumer before they decide whether they want to make him their official leader.
From my perspective (on the outside looking in), the Iran nuclear agreement is a big deal and for Senator Schumer to be among those Democratic Senators who will vote against it is also a big deal. Compared to the nuclear deal itself, of course, it is miniscule. But to compare it directly to the nuclear deal is not my intent. Instead, we can separate it out and move it over to the pile of congressional Democrats and Republicans who will be voting for or against the Iran nuclear deal. Then (in my humble opinion and from the outside looking in perspective) it is just as big a deal.
Not only is Senator Schumer voting against the deal but if he is calling other Senators and telling them why he is voting against the deal – although he says that he is not lobbying them to vote against it, in essence, he is. As important as this deal is and as intricate a part of the Obama Administration’s foreign policy as it is, the likely future Senate Minority Leader should not be working against the White House.
With the way that things are going, President Obama badly needs the help of every influential Democrat in congress to be working with him to assure that the Iran nuclear deal passes. He especially needs the likely future Senate Minority Leader to be in his corner. Harry Reid is there and so is House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. We all know that there have been plenty of rough roads that these two leaders have traveled with the President and that they have experienced many tough times when they disagreed with him but they have always come through in the clutch!
That is what a Democrat, whether they are the Majority Leader or Minority Leader, should do. Of course there will be times when ones principles demand that they stay the course whatever it might be. Let me be clear though, I am talking about one’s principles demanding that they stay the course and not one’s need to play politics, for whatever reason, making that demand.
Among those who are most likely to replace Senator Reid when he retires, Senator Schumer is probably the most experienced. Senator Reid obviously believes that Senator Schumer deserves the job or he would not have endorsed him. But the question is not whether or not he deserves the position; the real question is, based on the responsibilities of the Minority Leader and the strong and positive relationship that they must forge and maintain with the White House, is he equipped for it?
Based on the position that he has taken on the Iran nuclear deal there are some who think that he might not be equipped for it. Even the White House hinted that he might not be when, according to The New York Times, White House press secretary, Josh Earnest said “I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if there are individual members of the Senate Democratic caucus that will consider the voting record of those who say they would like to lead the caucus.”
Senator Schumer is a well-respected Senator who is looking forward to replacing Senator Reid when he retires. He likely will replace him. But he certainly did not do himself any favors by coming out against the Iran nuclear deal. This raises questions, and rightfully so, about whether or not he is equipped to do the job. Be careful, Senator Schumer; don’t become so overconfident that it evolves into cockiness or you might find yourself like me; on the outside looking in.
Eulus Dennis