burger caret-down caret-right Shape Copy close Group 19 Group 16 Group 17 document-add Material/Icons white/Edit or Create Combined Shape Shape Group 10 Group 4 Page 1 Group 7 Fill 1 Group Group 31 Group 21 Copy Combined Shape Shape

MoveOn response to 41 Senators supporting Iran deal

MoveOn.org Political Action Executive Director Ilya Sheyman had the following statement in response to news that Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), will support the nuclear deal with Iran, bringing the number of senators supporting the agreement to 41:

“41 votes for the Iran deal means something profound: We’ve finally learned the lesson of the Iraq war. Today, the hawks lost, and the American people won.

“It’s time for Republicans to stop holding this diplomatic agreement hostage. Sen. Mitch McConnell has made it clear over the last six years that he believes 60 votes are required to pass important legislation. He should agree to Sen. Reid’s proposal of a 60-vote threshold and move to a final vote this week.

“Today’s victory is a testament to both to the merits of the agreement and to pro-deal activists’ powerful grassroots organizing. Nationwide, hundreds of thousands of MoveOn members have mobilized to ensure the historic deal with Iran won’t be sabotaged by Congress, with thousands of members turning out in force throughout August recess—showing up at town halls, contacting their representatives, and holding hundreds of demonstrations to ensure we don’t get bogged down in another costly war of choice in the Middle East.

“Yet, some war hawks in Congress continue to oppose this deal, including some Democrats. Today, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced he would not support the deal, a troubling decision to choose the path to war over hard-fought diplomacy. What’s more troubling is that Sen. Manchin has said himself that the alternative to this deal is war.

“MoveOn members continue to urge every undecided Democrat to stand for diplomacy. Every day, MoveOn members are calling congressional offices, signing petitions, and taking other actions. MoveOn is also in the midst of a six-figure, highly targeted online ad buy in key states and districts as well as in Washington, D.C. And on Thursday, MoveOn members and allies nationwide will hold candlelight vigils in support of the deal.”