New '08 Iran Rift: Obama Refuses To Sign Dem Letter To White House

Thirty senators sent a letter to the White House on Thursday warning President Bush not to take offensive military action against Iran without the consent of Congress. Noticeably absent from the list of signatories is presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL.

According to its authors, the letter was designed to clarify the ambiguity of the recent Kyl-Lieberman amendment designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. Obama has been critical of that amendment as well as the Bush administration's aggressive rhetoric towards Tehran. Yet the senator from Illinois turned down a request to sign on to the White House letter.

"I was surprised and disappointed," John Isaacs, president of the Council for a Livable World and one of the catalysts behind the letter, told the Huffington Post. "I contacted virtually every office and to me it was a no-brainer that Obama and [Sen.] Biden [whose name was also not on the list] would both sign on. Neither did."

The letter, which was spearheaded by Sen. Jim Webb, D-VA, was signed by presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, who voted for the Kyl-Lieberman provision, and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-CT, who opposed it. It reads:

"We are writing to express serious concerns with the provocative statements and actions stemming from your administration with respect to possible U.S. military action in Iran. These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy."

Sources knowledgeable with the crafting of the letter said there were two general arguments offered by those who did not sign on in support: that Congress already has the power to declare war, and that the text was too vague about defensive and/or covert action against Iran. Notably, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also declined to attach his name.

UPDATE: Responses from Obama and Biden campaigns:

"Senator Obama admires Senator Webb and his sincere and tireless efforts on this issue. But it will take more than a letter to prevent this administration from using the language contained within the Kyl-Lieberman resolution to justify military action in Iran. This requires a legislative answer and Senator Obama intends to propose one."

+++

"Sen. Biden voted against the amendment urging the designation of the Iranian Rev. Guard as a terrorist group. He strongly opposed it because he believed it could be used by this President to justify military action against Iran. He has also made clear many times his view that the President lacks the authority to use force against Iran absent authorization from Congress. He didn't need to clarify that position - he's been clear from the start," said Biden spokesperson Elizabeth Alexander.

A list of the signatories is below.

Dear President Bush:

We are writing to express serious concerns with the provocative statements and actions stemming from your administration with respect to possible U.S. military action in Iran. These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.

We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran. This includes the Senate vote on September 26, 2007 on an amendment to the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, expressing the sense of the Senate on Iran, and the recent designation of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, should in no way be interpreted as a predicate for the use of military force in Iran.

We stand ready to work with your administration to address the challenges presented by Iran in a manner that safeguards our security interests and promotes a regional diplomatic solution, but we wish to emphasize that offensive military action should not be taken against Iran without the express consent of Congress.

Sincerely,

Story continues below

1. Webb

2. Akaka

3. Baucus

4. Boxer

5. Brown

6. Byrd

7. Cantwell

8. Carper

9. Casey

10. Clinton

11. Dodd

12. Dorgan

13. Durbin

14. Feinstein

15. Harkin

16. Johnson

17. Kerry

18. Klobuchar

19. Kohl

20. Leahy

21. McCaskill

22. Mikulski

23. Murray

24. Reed

25. Rockefeller

26. Sanders

27. Stabenow

28. Tester

29. Whitehouse

30. Wyden

Comments

[PaulDonaldson]

Speaking of the race - here are the most talked about clips from the other night's debate in Philly. To see all of the clips (or most of them anyway) you can visit: http://tinyurl.com//224k67

Joe Biden Attacks Rudy Giuliani’s Qualifications
http://test.redlasso.com/service/svc/clip/playClip?fid=f3d7527d-d54a-4230-a89b-b5d9434bf56d

Dennis Kucinich Calls For Bush Impeachment, New Energy Policy
http://test.redlasso.com/service/svc/clip/playClip?fid=a23e477e-6794-4e7a-bf06-7e52800ccc7a

Hillary Clinton On Giving Drivers Licenses To Illegal Immigrants, Chris Dodd Criticizes Her For Contradicting Statement
http://test.redlasso.com/service/svc/clip/playClip?fid=f58b7685-2e86-48a7-9aa9-cc8e7f000512

John Edwards & Barack Obama Criticize Hillary Clinton For Double Talk On License Issue
http://test.redlasso.com/service/svc/clip/playClip?fid=76338aff-9869-4192-a760-41fed46d8a4f

Dennis Kucinich On Seeing An Unidentified Flying Object / UFO
http://test.redlasso.com/service/svc/clip/playClip?fid=860ea67e-cf23-4aa7-a4ea-1370338a2ef5

Hillary Clinton On National Archives - Edwards & Obama Take Issue With Answer
http://test.redlasso.com/service/svc/clip/playClip?fid=ef11c4c7-7d9a-4bbb-b03a-d5a39ce1d0e5

[godlessclif]

What we need is not a President that will do the wrong thing, then cover his ass with papers that say he did not want to do it.

[ljsfolly]

Letter= non binding resolution. Both with no teeth just a little emotional blimp on the screen of things. Like with Iraq the media isn't out there saying why invade and lookie here at what will happen if bush does it. The media has not done too much either to help the country it just does the bidding of the "Killer Chimp". I like that name by the way as his idea of war is genocide on the Iraqi people along with our own soldiers.

[enoughalready]

Dems were blamed in part for Bush going to war in Iraq because of their orginal vote. This letter is a statement to clarify that Bush does not have the consent to go to war with Iran with the vote of Congress. Seems funny you have to tell a President that but then we have seen where Bush needs to be reminded on a daily basis that we have a constitution that prohibits his royal highness from taking the war powers away from Congress. It hurt no one to sign the letter and I believe it did no one any good either. Haven't you heard - Bush is king.

Impeachment would slow him down! Just start the hearings whether the votes are there or not. The military would think twice about taking orders from a President during impeachment hearings for ignoring the constitution.

[TurnThePageGA]

Joe and Barack are absolutely correct to not sign on. Chris Dodd didnot need to also since he already voted. This is nothing but a ploy on behalf of the Democratic Front Runner who wants to have it both ways. You go Joe Biden. You would be my establishment candidate if that is what I was voting for in 2008.

OBAMA 08 Time To Turn The Page

[Nonamnesiac]

Everything has gotten so gimmicky that it's hard to figure out what contributes to stopping Bush's lawless attack-Iran thugs and what doesn't. On the one hand, a letter with 30 Senators to Bush opposing military action in Iran sounds positive. On the other hand, 70 Senators did not sign it. Even ignoring that some like Biden and Obama may not have signed even though they support the sentiment expressed in the letter, it brings us back to Kyl-Lieberman -- where 75 or so members of the Senate -- members of both parties -- expressed support for the thinly-guised "attack Iran" message of the resolution. Also, some on the Webb letter (like Hillary) also voted for Kyl-Lieberman.

Bottom line, the letter seems to demonstrate there is a bi-partisan consensus in the Senate to take military action against Iran, as only 30% of the members of the Senate signed onto Webb's letter.

Just stop funding the f--kin' wars!!!

[PuffAndStuff]

Did anyone see the story on the front-page of NYT today regarding Obama's proposed approach we should take with Iran or see/hear him (Obama) on 'Morning Joe' this morning discussing it.

What a refreshing change from the BushCo./Hillary/Neocon/PNAC approach.

I don't think the article is attached anywhere on Huffpo. I'm attaching a link for it below, "Obama envisions New Iran Approach":

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/02obama.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

[shelbinator]

Signing this letter is a pure CYA move by the position-hedging Clinton. Biden doesn't need this letter to make up for lost cred because he actually knew well enough to VOTE RIGHT the first time.

[VOTER]

We use the word, Impeachment, and are not heard.

If we send DAILY EMAILS to ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

DEMANDING IMPEACHMENT, we will cause them at

the minimum grief and we may actually succeed putting the

word back on the table. Call it an Internet Protest of

THE KILLER CHIMP AND VP.

Newspaper Headlines: Congressional Offices Flooded With Emails Demanding Bush/Cheney Impeachments.

[SaintZak]

Good for Obama, but Biden's responce should be printed in 24 point type on the front page of every paper. Sen. Biden has certainly earned my respect.

[scooperss]

That letter is as effective as a non-binding resolution. What a load............

[dantanna]

of course hillary had to sign this letter - she was for it before she was against - i hope people see how this woman has her feet one on one side of the issue and the other one on the other side. and to think i voted for her two times - i will not make that mistake again. now what is the point of this letter? have these senators not read the cosntitution? only congress has the power to declare war - oh wait i think they discarded it when they voted for the iraq resolution in 2002 and the vote on iran in 2007 which any idiot can see the language is linked to the iraq resolution of 02.

[VOTER]

PICK ONE or ALL THREE?

1 Warning Letter Sent to Bush.

2 Obama's Upcoming Lesiglative Answer.

3 Biden's Clear Call stating Bush Lacks the Authority to
Use Force Against Iran w/o Approval from Congress.

Bombard Bush with all three. Soon, one clear word will suit all patriotic members of Congress in voicing disapproval of The Killer Chimp - IMPEACHMENT!

Wrap it with a bow. It is the BEST GIFT for America and the World before the New Year, 2008!

[union79]

i agree completely with Obama's words and actions. The letter has no teeth and only plays into the disdainful view Bush has of the role of congress and the constitution.

What blows me away is the fact that H Clinton signed it after months of saying how much she learned after her vote on the Irag War resolution...that we can't trust this administration. Has she learned anything: I don't think so! Her words and actions only underscore her duplicity...which leads me to believe and fear that we are in for another four years of "slick willy". That is absolutely not what this country needs at this time. And besides she doesn't have "slick willy's" charisma or his ability to sit down with people and find common ground.

I hope she gets taken to the wood shed for this latest duplicity and that the American people are wise enough when they go to the poles to select someone with the wisdom needed in this era of gigantic problems.

[aahpat]

Obama is a political reactionary. Last month he was trapped politicically for making what seemed like a preemptive diplomatic statement and so, reacting to that, this month he will not repeat that trap. It does not matter that signing this letter is the right thing to do. All that matters is that he will avoid a perceived political trap.

Coward! Obama is a right-wing reactionary coward!