As Twitchy has reported, an open letter to Iran’s leaders signed by 47 Senate Republicans and warning that any deal struck with the Obama administration might be short-lived has inspired an angry backlash from Democrat leaders. Sen. Harry Reid accused Republicans of “undermining our Commander-in-Chief out of spite,” while President Obama himself declared it “somewhat ironic to see some members of Congress wanting to make common cause with the hardliners in Iran.”
The Washington Examiner’s Byron York is coming down on the middle of the controversy, arguing that the open letter was likely a bad idea, and yet one inspired by a president who’s known for his frequent overreach of his constitutional authority. York has tweeted several excerpts from his piece in today’s Washington Examiner, entitled “A war of Obama’s making.”
White House, Dems livid over Senate GOP letter about Iran. Before that, livid about Netanyahu speech… http://t.co/pWbpiINNcK
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
Livid? Poor Nancy Pelosi said she was “near tears” throughout Netanyahu’s speech, hearing her own president undermined right there in front of her.
Dems have a right to be angry — but not to be surprised. http://t.co/ZiVxiqWtNs
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
There's war between executive and legislative branches. Obama has shown contempt for Congress' constitutional powers… http://t.co/oIZR6vpzEP
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
Recommended
And now Congress is showing contempt for the president's constitutional powers. http://t.co/7JZcKeIfir
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
Iran, immigration, healthcare, more–Obama has pushed his executive authority beyond its limits. http://t.co/6yp4AOqw1s
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
Can anyone be surprised that Congress is stretching its own authority, too? http://t.co/YA58pRomIK
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
Short version: Time after time, Obama has told Congress to go to hell. Now Congress is telling Obama to go to hell. http://t.co/BVebNBszOS
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
It's a bad situation. Not good to bring foreign leader to Congress to campaign against US president… http://t.co/lfitzkIAAO
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
Not a good thing to circumvent president's authority to conduct foreign policy. http://t.co/aocNmtDKvT
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
But not a good thing to undermine Congress' authority to make laws, either. And to threaten more. So Congress is pushing back.
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
It's a shame it's come to this, but that's the way things work. http://t.co/DX5rPzhqcK
— Byron York (@ByronYork) March 9, 2015
@ByronYork @1964laura1 Love you Byron. Go to hell is about all we can say anymore. The language has been corrupted.
— Kathy Jacobs (@kkeejj) March 9, 2015
@ByronYork Well put. It is truly sad. But necessary, I think. And probably overdue.
— James Meredith (@NDTwinsfan) March 9, 2015