A group supporting the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear deal on Tuesday blasted Sen. Bob Menendez as a “war monger” after the New Jersey Democrat announced his opposition to the accord.
“Senator Menendez has done more in the last two years than any other Democrat to beat the drums for war with Iran,” said Zack Malitz, campaign manager at CREDO Action, in a statement.
{mosads}“Senator Menendez clearly wants the United States to go to war with Iran,” he said.
The statement was accompanied by a picture of Menendez with “Warmonger” stamped across it in orange.
Menendez’s opposition was widely expected but still represented a blow to the administration’s efforts to rally Democratic support for the deal as Congress prepares to vote on it in September.
Menendez is the second Democratic senator to oppose the deal, after Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), bringing Republicans only four Democrats away from being able to vote down the deal.
“I have looked into my own soul and my devotion to principle may once again lead me to an unpopular course, but if Iran is to acquire a nuclear bomb, it will not have my name on it,” Menendez said in lengthy remarks at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.
“It is for these reasons that I will vote to disapprove the agreement and, if called upon, would vote to override a veto,” he said.
Menendez characterized his opposition to the deal as a difficult decision, similar to his opposition against the Iraq War in 2002.
“My vote against the Iraq war was unpopular at the time, but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made,” he said.
Malitz acknowledged that the announcement wasn’t surprising but said, “that doesn’t make it any less dangerous or irresponsible.”
Malitz also mentioned corruption charges facing Menendez, who stepped down as the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and suggested the senator wanted war with Iran as a distraction.
“Is Senator Menendez so desperate to draw attention away from his indictment on corruption charges that he’s willing to help Republicans start another war of choice in the Middle East?” he added.