McConnell defends letter to Iran’s leadership

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) defended a controversial letter to Iranian leadership on Tuesday, comparing complaints about it to a memorable piece of dialogue from the film “Casablanca.” 

“I think everybody in America has seen the movie Casablanca… The famous line was Claude Rains said ‘gambling in Casablanca?’” McConnell told reporters. “Members of Congress speaking out in a variety of different ways… is about as unusual as gambling was in Casablanca apparently in 1941”

{mosads}During the film, Rains’s character says he is “shocked to find that gambling is going on in here” before being handed money he won from gambling. 

McConnell made the comments in response to a question about whether he had “second thoughts” about the letter.

Forty-seven Senate Republicans sent a letter earlier this month to Iranian leadership suggesting that any deal over its nuclear program could be overturned once President Obama leaves office. 

Democrats, as well as the Obama administration, have slammed Republicans for the letter, arguing it undermined the ongoing talks. Negotiators are working to reach a framework agreement on a final deal by March 24.