As expected, Ohio Democrats are charging full speed at Senator Rob Portman, armed with Portman’s signature on a letter to the leaders of Iran, advising them against agreeing to the nuclear deal being negotiated by the Obama administration. The letter, written by Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton and signed by 47 Republican senators including Portman, has been met with heavy criticism abroad and at home with many questioning the constitutionality of legislators not only dabbling in, but actively disrupting a sitting president’s foreign policy.
While critics of the 47 senators disagree over whether the Cotton letter represents treason against the Republic or just a spasm of inappropriate legislative trolling, few can argue that Democrats, especially those in Senate races across the country, have been handed an opportunity given public disapproval of the letter. Former Governor Ted Strickland, Portman’s most experienced opponent, jumped on that opportunity this week by calling the letter “reckless” and demanding that Portman apologize to Ohio.
On Thursday, the Ohio Democratic Party followed up on Strickland’s demands. In an email to supporters, ODP Chairman David Pepper called on people to sign another letter, this one to Portman instead of Iran, “asking him to remove his name — and Ohio’s good name — from the document that may represent the lowest point yet in the hyper-partisan, destructive atmosphere in Washington.”
The letter to Portman points out that several editorials in Ohio newspapers, including one in The Cleveland Plain Dealer and another in Portman’s hometown newspaper The Cincinnati Enquirer have said the Cotton letter was a mistake for everyone involved. The letter also notes that at least two Republicans who refused to sign the letter have openly criticized it, and also says, “To his credit, Senator McCain now admits that signing it was a mistake.”
To his credit, McCain hasn’t actually said the word “mistake” in reference to the letter. The closest he’s come has been to tell Fox News’s Greta Van Susteren that “maybe that wasn’t exactly the best way” to explain to the Iranians that Congress plays a role in treaties negotiated by the President. McCain did offer a colorful excuse for signing the letter, telling Politico that there was a snowstorm coming and everyone wanted to get out of town, adding, “I think we probably should have had more discussion about it, given the blowback that there is.”
As for Portman, he apparently wasn’t under the influence of McCain’s snowstorm when he signed the letter and has not shown any regret. According to Roll Call, as of Thursday, Portman maintains his belief that the Cotton letter will help get the U.S. a better deal out of Iran’s leaders, saying, “the letter states the obvious, which is Congress is going to have a role here, but it also reminds those negotiators at the table, on the other side of the table from us, that this has to be a verifiable, strong agreement that actually ends their nuclear weapons program.”