WASHINGTON – Talk-radio giant Rush Limbaugh called it a "direct punch" to President Obama and "historically important."

Praise is pouring in from Limbaugh and other conservatives for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech before a joint session of the U.S. Congress warning the administration and the world of the catastrophic perils of making a bad deal with Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

"This was leadership in full force. Benjamin Netanyahu was everything Barack Obama is not. Everything," added Limbaugh.

"Benjamin Netanyahu, a perfect example of a foreigner coming here to do the jobs Americans won't do. In this case, behaving like a president, which is exactly what he did."

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The conservative icon was effusive, calling the speech a "stunning" example of "moral, ethical and legal clarity."

"Benjamin Netanyahu came to the United States today in a desperate plea for the world to focus, to get serious and take notice of what is happening."

Netanyahu's message to Congress? U.S. should avoid a "very bad deal" with Iran.

"This highlights the hubris and arrogance of Obama, that speeches and words can tame tyrants.

"Well, after six years of Obama's speeches and persuasion and ego and arrogance, the world is on fire. It is less safe than when Obama arrived on the scene.

"Even though Obama only has two more years in office, he still believes that the power of his personality and his community organizer skills or whatever, that he can persuade Iran after they get the nuke not to use it."

Watch Netanyahu's speech:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had a different take.

"I was near tears throughout the prime minister’s speech – saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation."

Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., went even further, comparing Netanyahu's call for a tougher deal to a child who demands, "I want to go to Disneyland every day, eat ice cream and Coca Cola everyday and not go to school."

The Democrat called the speech "fear mongering at its ultimate" and "straight out of the Dick Cheney playbook."

Yarmuth also complained, "I resent the condescending tone he used, basically indicating that he didn't think anybody in Congress or the country understands the threat that a nuclear Iran poses.

"I resent the fact he was telling us how to negotiate."

Obama curtly dismissed the speech, insisting it contained "nothing new."

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A senior administration official appeared to defend even a weak deal, asking: "Where is the alternative? Simply demanding that Iran completely capitulate is not a plan, nor would any country support us in that position."

But not all Democrats kept in lockstep with the administration's complaints and criticisms.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called Netanyahu's speech "powerful" and sympathized with his fears that the prospective deal would lift any restrictions after a decade.

"One of the things that I've seen in my lifetime is time goes by very fast, and 10 years is not a very long time," said Feinstein.

CNN chief political analyst Gloria Borger accused the Israeli prime minister of politicizing the Holocaust by mentioning it in his speech.

Former George W. Bush presidential press secretary Ari Fleischer shot back that talking about "survival" was not political.

“Talking about the Holocaust is the history of the Jewish people,” he said.

About 60 Democrats skipped the speech, and those who did attend often declined to join the many standings ovations given the prime minister.

But praise from the right for the Israeli prime minister was overwhelming.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., lauded Netanyahu and blasted Obama.

"Despite the shameful politicization by the White House of this incredibly important address, the prime minister provided important insight as to why all peaceful nations, not just Israel and the United States, should be extremely concerned by Iran’s nuclear pursuit," he said.

"For months, President Obama has continued to cave to Iran, lifting numerous sanctions and weakening the terms of a potential nuclear agreement.

"Iranian officials have repeatedly called the United States the 'Great Satan' and just last week brazenly flaunted the country’s tests of new 'strategic weapons.'

"Any nuclear agreement brokered by this administration would hinge on the belief that the extremist leaders in Iran will stick to their word and honor their obligations – a naïve position at best."

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said, "I hope the president was listening today and will reverse course on the unfortunate leverage he has given the government of Iran over the past year to continue pursuing its nuclear weapon's capabilities."

He added: "I stand with Netanyahu’s demands today that Iran’s government must change its behaviors. This must be a non-negotiable item in any agreement the United States seeks to reach with Iran, and anything short of it will be a bad deal, not only for Israel but for the West."

Calling the speech "courageous" and "historic," Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, warned: "Concessions to Iran only empower Iran. They have a different motive than we would have, and we can't put ourselves into their minds and think that they think rationally."

King warned the administration that if Israel has to take out Iran's nuclear capacity by itself, "The United States of America had better stand with Israel every step of the way."

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., said: "Prime Minister Netanyahu’s powerful words clearly articulated the grave threat posed by a nuclear Iran. The stakes could not be higher for Israel, the United States, and our allies if Iran develops a nuclear weapon. At moments like this, party politics must take a backseat to the safety and security of our people.

"I hope President Obama will stop sending mixed messages about America’s longstanding and unwavering support for Israel and begin speaking with the same type of moral clarity that we heard today from Prime Minister Netanyahu."

As Netanyahu made clear Israel would act alone, if necessary, to stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons, Fox News political commentator Charles Krauthammer observed that the key to the speech was the prime minister had demonstrated Israel would have the support of Congress if it were to act alone.

Iran expert Clare Lopez of the Center for Security Policy told WND that Netanyahu made an important distinction between America's founding documents guaranteeing life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the Iranian constitution, which calls for death, jihad and the spread of revolution.

"I was struck by Bibi's understanding it's not just about the nuclear weapons but also the full scope of Iran's support of terror, regional aggression, and the 'gobbling up of countries' around the Persian Gulf," she said. "His demand that the regime end all of its aggression first before concluding any agreement shows me he grasps the full scope of strategic implications to allowing Iranian behavior to go unchallenged and unchecked."

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., urged Congress to "pass additional sanctions on Iran as soon as possible, and it should also ensure that any deal is submitted to Congress for a formal review.

“We must not trade away U.S. and Israeli security for vague commitments from a terrorist-sponsoring regime that has killed Americans and threatens to annihilate Israel.”

Rep. Randy Hultgren, R, Ill., recalled meeting with Netanyahu last summer and learning how "Israel’s security, the threats it continually faces from its enemies, and overall instability in the region really hit home when we could hear the distant rumble of explosions and see smoke rising on the horizon from the Syrian conflict."

He said, "Israel’s own conflict with Hamas was a mere 35 miles away. Within that environment, Israeli leaders are forced to make difficult decisions every day about what needs to be done to protect their citizens and their way of life.

"Mr. Netanyahu’s perspective then and today was key to illuminating the issue for the Congress and the nation."

The American Center for Law and Justice, or ACLJ, released a statement saying the speech provided a much-needed warning of the dangers of a nuclear Iran.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu understands first-hand the dangers posed by a nuclear Iran – the very lives of the Jewish people and the future of the nation of Israel itself hang in the balance,” said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ.

“It is disturbing that President Obama met with Muslim leaders with ties to the radical terrorist group the Muslim Brotherhood, but refuses to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu. The administration should be embarrassed by the way it has snubbed the leader of Israel – our most trusted and important ally in the Middle East," he said.

"It is both troubling and disappointing that the Obama administration chose to ignore this vital opportunity to stand with our ally in speaking out against terrorism and to assure the American people that securing a deal with Iran will not create a nuclear Iran.”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said: "I was pleased to hear Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech to Congress today, and join him in calling for peace and standing together for our mutual interests. It is important to work together to prevent a nuclear Iran, and the spread of radical Islam."

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