President Barack Obama met on Monday with a group of Jewish leaders at the White House in an effort to win their support for the Iran deal–and for passing that deal without approval from Congress. The details of the meeting were not posted, but The Hill reports that the Obama administration sees the outreach as a key part of its effort to prevent the Corker bill, which would require congressional approval of an Iran deal, from reaching the two-thirds majority threshold.
According to the Treaty Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2), treaties must be ratified by a two-thirds vote in the Senate. Federalist No. 75 makes clear that “treaty” includes contracts between the U.S. government and foreign governments.
The Iran deal, by the administration’s own admission, would be one of the most important agreements entered into by the U.S. government in a generation–far more important than a typical “executive agreement.”
The list of Jewish leaders at the White House includes some dubious names, such as the fringe J Street, and a number of Obama backers who represent no one but themselves.
The 90-minute meeting did not change any minds, apparently: The Hill cites a source who said: “There were some folks walking in who support and favor the deal and there were some who have deep, deep concerns about the deal. I don’t think anyone’s fundamental view was changed by the conversation.”
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