The White House told reporters Thursday that the president would not apologize for comparing Republicans to Iranian hardliners.
President Obama said in a speech Wednesday pushing his deal that gives over a hundred billion dollars to the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism, Obama said that Republicans in Congress are "making common cause" with the Iranian hardliners (those joining the Iranian supreme leader in chanting "Death to America") by opposing the deal (video above).
OBAMA: Just because Iranian hardliners chant "death to America" does not mean that that’s what all Iranians believe. In fact, it's those hardliners that are more satisfied with the status quo. It’s those hardliners chanting "death to America" who've been most opposed to the deal. They're making common cause with the Republican Caucus.
Obama has continually portrayed his Republican opponents as warmongers, later suggestively noting that many of the same people opposing his deal backed the war in Iraq (which, of course, was also supported by many key Democrats, including his VP and the Democratic presidential frontrunner).
Along with several other lawmakers, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rebuked the president for using exactly the type of divisive and disingenuous rhetoric that he supposedly condemns.
"Members of both parties have serious and heartfelt concerns about the Iran deal. These Democrats and Republicans deserved serious answers today, not some outrageous attempt to equate their search for answers with supporting chants of 'Death to America,'" he said. "I imagine the Democrats who've already come out against this agreement will be especially insulted by it. This goes way over the line of civil discourse. Let me repeat my call for the President to shelve these talking points no one believes and resist these insults no one deserves so we can all aim higher —and rise to the moment together."
"The President needs to retract his bizarre and preposterous comments, and both supporters and defenders of the President’s deal with Iran should reject this offensive rhetoric," said McConnell.
But White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters flatly Thursday that no retraction is coming.
"I think it was a statement of fact," said Earnest, adding that Obama has no plans to take back or apologize for his comment.
Third-ranking Democrat Sen. Chuck Schumer announced Friday that he, like his "hardliner" Republican peers, will oppose the Iran deal, a major blow to the president's support among Congressional Democrats, though some analysts believe it will not be enough to ultimately thwart the deal.
