Mike Huckabee on Monday slammed Secretary of State John Kerry as offensive and hypocritical for his criticism of an open letter to Iran issued by 47 Republican senators.
In a scathing letter to Kerry shared with the Washington Examiner, the former Arkansas governor and likely 2016 presidential candidate said Senate Republicans were exercising their constitutional authority to provide oversight of President Obama’s foreign policy.
The letter, authored by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., cautioned Tehran that any deal with the administration to limit its nuclear weapons program must be approved by Congress in order to be legally binding.
Moreover, Huckabee said, the Cotton letter was hardly as risible as similar actions Kerry took during his political career, including the Democrat’s 28 years as a senator from Massachusetts.
“Frankly, your criticisms are hypocritical,” Huckabee wrote. “You launched yourself into the public spotlight by directly and publicly criticizing the executive branch in a Senate committee hearing 44 years ago. In 1985, you did more than just send a letter to a foreign nation — you flew to Nicaragua to negotiate with Daniel Ortega and other Sandinistas despite express opposition from the Reagan Administration.”
The Cotton letter has roiled Washington since it was first publicized a week ago. Republicans have argued that Obama’s determination to avoid consulting with Congress as he pursues what they are convinced is a bad deal that would leave Iran’s nuclear weapons capability intact left them no choice but to ratchet up the pressure. Even most Democrats in Congress have expressed concern about the proposed agreement.
But Democrats and some foreign policy professionals questioned the wisdom of Senate Republicans inserting themselves into the Iran talks in this manner, fretting that it could undermine the stature of the American government abroad. That isn’t the case with many of the Republicans who want to succeed Obama as president. They have expressed support for the letter, although some of the GOP’s potential 2016 candidates have hedged their support for the letter.
The open letter to Iran’s leaders was signed by all four senators preparing to run in 2016 — Ted Cruz of Texas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida.
Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas have said they would have signed as well had they been given the opportunity. Huckabee is another strong supporter, as he made clear in his searing letter to Kerry.
“As an American, I am embarrassed that you, Vice President Biden and other high-ranking administration officials boycotted [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s address to Congress yet never miss an opportunity to visit with Iranian leaders,” Huckabee wrote.
The field of likely Republican 2016 candidates is generally united in opposition to Obama’s Iran deal as it is shaping up, and none have ruled out canceling it should they take over as president in January of 2017. Obama, when he assumed office in 2009, nullified a deal to place missile defense installation in Eastern Europe that had been agreed to by President George W. Bush and the countries of Poland and the Czech Republic.
The field also has generally united in defending Senate Republicans in the flap over the Cotton letter, saying they would not have felt compelled to act had Obama properly consulted them or been on track to sign a better deal. Still, not all of the GOP White House hopefuls have specifically endorsed the open letter to Tehran.
Among those that have sidestepped questions about whether they would have signed the letter had it been circulated to them are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin. An email to a spokesman for Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey to ascertain his position was not returned on Monday.
The full letter is reproduced below:
March 16, 2015
Secretary of State John Kerry
United States Department of State
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Kerry:
I find your opposition to congressional oversight offensive and hypocritical and your posture towards Israel deeply disturbing.
Appearing on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” you described the letter forty-seven U.S. Senators signed and sent to Iranian officials regarding ongoing nuclear negotiations as “unconstitutional.” Congress has the constitutional responsibility to serve as a check-and-balance on the executive branch. As has been done with immigration, health care and many other issues, the Obama Administration is once again deliberately bypassing Congress and exceeding its constitutional authority.
Frankly, your criticisms are hypocritical. You launched yourself into the public spotlight by directly and publicly criticizing the executive branch in a Senate committee hearing forty-four years ago. In 1985, you did more than just send a letter to a foreign nation—you flew to Nicaragua to negotiate with Daniel Ortega and other Sandinistas despite express opposition from the Reagan Administration.
You describe the Senate letter as “unprecedented” and “wrong.” The fact is, your willingness to trust Iran and undermine Israel is what is unprecedented and wrong.
Moreover, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently came to Washington and explained how a deal with Iran would spark a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, threaten Israel’s existence and embolden terrorists around the world. Prime Minister Netanyahu is a Churchill in a world full of Chamberlains. Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East and Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism. As an American, I am embarrassed that you, Vice President Biden and other high-ranking administration officials boycotted Netanyahu’s address to Congress yet never miss an opportunity to visit with Iranian leaders.
I have the greatest respect for your long record of service to our country, beginning with combat in Vietnam. During those difficult years, you risked your life in a war that many Americans experienced only from afar. I also respect your role as Secretary of State. Hopefully, you will extend respect to those faithfully executing their oath of office in the U.S. Senate and to Prime Minister Netanyahu, who like you, want to stop terrorism worldwide.
Respectfully,
Governor Mike Huckabee
