Lemmings in Congress

I find it inconceivable that not a single Republican lawmaker plans to vote in support of the nuclear deal with Iran. This despite the fact that a rejection of the accord would lead to a degradation of the international consensus that brought it about, as well as the isolation of the United States, which would be seen as losing its role as the world's leader.

What is the reason behind this extraordinary situation? I do not think that the interference of Israel in American national affairs is at the heart of the issue. Rather, it is the iron discipline imposed by the Republican Party on its members, who are otherwise faced with losing their seats in the next election. This discipline is backed by a hatred of President Obama that is shot through with racism.

Who can believe, with an issue as crucial and as complex as this one, that all Republican lawmakers are thinking as one man (or woman)? Is there no diversity of opinion? We are light years away from the thinking of the Founding Fathers of a group of disinterested representatives voting for the common good. Also, they did not envisage the position of lawmaker as a lifetime sinecure.