Cory Booker’s lame Iran posturing

[DonViejo]

The ambitious Democrat defies the White House again and backs a tougher sanctions bill. He says he’s trying to help

JOAN WALSH

Maybe it’s unfair to single out freshman Sen. Cory Booker for cravenly supporting a bill that defies the Obama administration and toughens sanctions on Iran when, unbelievably, he’s only one of 59 co-sponsors, including 16 Democrats. But since Booker is politically shrewd as well as nakedly covetous of national attention, it’s inevitable that he’d come in for extra-special attention.

This New Republic piece immediately went viral on Twitter Tuesday morning, with Ploughshares president Joe Cirincione asking for a lot of us:

Joe Cirincione @Cirincione
Follow
Cory Booker Wants to Torpedo a Major Obama Achievement. What's His Endgame? via @tnr http://www.newrepublic.com/article/116204/corey-booker-democratic-senator-support-iran-sanctions …
11:10 AM - 14 Jan 2014

Of course Sen. Ted Cruz and other right-wing extremists are openly using a tougher sanctions bill to undermine the administration and accuse it of “surrendering” to Iran. Booker, rather condescendingly, paints himself as trying to help the president. An aide told the Huffington Post, “The goal isn’t to disrupt things, it’s to make Iran even more willing to make serious concessions by making them aware of what will happen if they don’t.” But the president has made clear he doesn’t want Booker’s “help,” threatening to veto the bill should it pass.

This isn’t the first time that Booker has set himself up as somehow wiser than the president. You’ll recall that back in 2012, as an Obama surrogate, he nonetheless said that the campaign’s attacks on Mitt Romney’s Bain Capital career were “nauseating” and urged Democrats to “stop attacking private equity.” He was forced by campaign officials to backtrack with what looked like a hostage video. But he was widely – and correctly – seen as trying to curry favor with wussy Wall Street donors who had their feelings hurt by Obama calling them “fat cats” and questioning Romney’s Bain work, even after the president bailed them out.

more
http://www.salon.com/2014/01/14/cory_booker%E2%80%99s_lame_iran_posturing/

[monmouth3]

1. Enjoy your one term Senator...n/t

[msongs]

2. is chris christie his political role model? they are both blustery nt

[WhiteTara]

3. Cory is himself. What a guy.

[blkmusclmachine]

4. We must start working on Booker's REPLACEMENT **NOW**

[ChangeUp106]

5. Once again

those of us who tend to be, shall we say a tad to the left of the Democratic Party, were correct. This guy was a blue dog from the beginning. Good luck finding a replacement. People love him because he shovels snow and tweets!

[summerschild]

6. Man! Didn't take Booker long to make me sick of him.

You that put him in, I understand. I rooted for him to win. Now I'd like to help him OUT.

Everybody that is bucking Obama on Iran sanctions is rooting for our last World War. Are they (all of them) really so stupid that they don't understand that?

[Drunken Irishman]

7. Booker once again trying to position himself for a run at the presidency.

Not gonna happen.