Thousands of people descended on the west lawn of the Capitol this afternoon for a rally against the Obama administration’s deal with Iran. Attendees told the Washington Examiner they felt compelled to do whatever they could to stop the United States from going down a flawed path.
William B. Robinson said he traveled from Tennessee to attend the rally in hopes of contributing to the effort to stop Congress from giving its approval to President Obama’s deal with Iran. Robinson proudly displayed a sign reading, “Sen. Corker (R-TN) Betrayed Us All by His Deal with O’bama” and said he believed his senator was personally responsible for allowing the president to “make an end run around Congress” to secure the agreement.
Many of the attendees’ anger appeared equally divided between President Obama and Republicans in Congress. Another attendee, Ron Skow, placed the blame at the feet of the president.
“I’m concerned about my grandchildren,” Skow said while waving an American flag and a sign that read “Grandchildren matter” superimposed over a photo of a large explosion. “I’m concerned about my offspring if Iran gets a nuclear weapon.”
Appearances by GOP presidential candidates Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz appeared to attract the largest throngs of supporters at the event organized by conservative grassroots organization Tea Party Patriots.
Cruz said any vote on the agreement with Iran amounted to “the most important vote they [the congressmen] will take in their career” and added that he hoped Senate Democrats drop to their knees and pray about the deal. Trump meanwhile strayed from the topic of the deal, and promised to free the four Americans held hostage by Iran before entering the White House in 2017.
Several conservative personalities also roused the crowd, including talk show host Glenn Beck, who spoke longer than the two minutes each speaker was given to lend his voice to opposition to the Iran deal.
“They have poked this bear one to many times,” Beck told the crowd after music played signaling his time on stage had ended. “We live under the delusion of peace and prosperity. … If we fail to restore truth God will do it for us. So today let’s speak truth, God’s truth, to the powers of the earth.”
As the event grew nearer to its end, word began to percolate through the crowd that House Republicans had decided to delay a vote on the Iran deal following conservative members’ statements that they would not support any process that would make a deal possible. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, took the stage appearing triumphant.
“Congratulations, you are making a difference,” Gohmert told the crowd. “It looks like they are willing to change the song. … We can stop this, keep the faith, keep the fight.”
