Christie Urges Booker To Oppose Iran Deal
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie wants New Jersey's junior U.S. senator to oppose the Iran deal.
Christie on Tuesday at Rutgers University's Chabad House urged Democrat Cory Booker and the state's congressional delegation to oppose the deal, which is aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear weapons development.
He said the delegation should stand united as it did after Superstorm Sandy against this deal. He also had a message for Booker.
"The people of the world are counting on you to be a strong, direct and powerful moral voice," Christie said. "To look our president in the eye and say, 'no Mr. President, not this time.'"
Christie said President Barack Obama has been weak, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
"It's the best he can do," Christie said. "It's not the best that America can do and that's why Congress should reject it."
Christie appeared alongside World Values Network founder Rabbi Shmuley Boteach and other Jewish leaders. Boteach and Booker are close friends.
Boteach said they want peace, but this deal will lead to war, 1010 WINS' Rebecca Granet reported.
"We're mystified," he said. "A better deal could not have been negotiated?"
Booker has yet to announce a position on the deal. A spokesperson issued a statement saying Booker will "make his decision on the Iran deal based upon what he believes is best for America's national security regardless of political pressure, lobbying, or theatrics."
"The Senator's decision will be derived from thorough and thoughtful analysis of all the facts, evidence and information as well as from consultation with a wide and diverse array of experts," the statement said.
The agreement would force Iran to curb its nuclear program in exchange for billions of dollars in relief from sanctions.
Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez opposes the Iran agreement.
"Unlike where we started these negotiations over two years ago, where our purpose was to significantly dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure we're not doing that," Menendez told WCBS 880's Steve Scott earlier this month. "We're basically mothballing that infrastructure for 10 years. Not even one centrifuge will be destroyed under this agreement."
The Republican-led Congress is in the midst of a 60-day review of the deal, and is expected to vote in September on a resolution of disapproval that President Barack Obama has vowed to veto.
Christie has repeatedly hammered the deal's terms as he campaigns for the Republican nomination for president.
He has made foreign policy a centerpiece of his campaign, which has so far failed to gain traction with voters.
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