Sen. Schumer Keeps Mum On How He'll Vote On Iran Nuclear Deal
Updated Tuesday, July 28 11:43 a.m.
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Sen. Charles Schumer said he's feeling the pressure as he dissects the Iran nuclear deal, but he's not disclosing how he plans to vote.
"There are all kinds of questions about the deal and what happens with the deal, what happens without the deal," said Schumer.
Nearly two weeks after an Iran nuclear deal was reached, Schumer is still keeping his stance on the agreement close to the vest, though sources told CBS2 New York's senior senator plans to vote against it.
"Sen. Schumer, we're hearing from our sources that you plan to vote no on the Iran deal," CBS2's Hazel Sanchez said to the senator.
"No, I haven't made up my mind," Schumer responded. "I've spent a great deal of time studying this issue. Last week I've had 10 different meetings with people on both sides of the issue, including a classified briefing, and it's a very serious decision."
"There are all kinds of questions about the deal. What happens with the deal? What happens without the deal?" Schumer added.
Schumer is being pulled in two directions. While he is staunchly pro-Israel and has a large Jewish constituency, he's also in line to become the leader of the Democratic caucus in 2016 and the White House wants him to rally the votes to prevent a veto override, Sanchez reported.
"There's pressure on both sides, but I'm not going to to let politics, party or pressure influence me," Schumer said. "I'm just going to do the right thing as best I can see it."
Schumer will also have to contend with the unwavering opposition of the majority Republicans in the upper house.
Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee called the deal "idiotic" and making a reference to the Holocaust, said it is "marching the Israelis to the door of the oven."
President Barack Obama called Huckabee's comments ridiculous.
"The particular comments of Mr. Huckabee are ridiculous if it weren't so sad," Obama said.
Presidential candidates from both parties said they find Huckabee's comments offensive.
"Use of that kind of language -- it's just wrong. This is not the way we're going to win elections," said GOP candidate Jeb Bush.
"One can disagree with the particulars of the agreement to put a lid on the nuclear weapons program of Iran and that's fair game, but this steps over the line," said Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.
However, Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Rick Santorum both say they agree with Huckabee.
Huckabee is not backing down from his comments.
Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman has jumped out of retirement to lobby members of Congress to reject the nuclear deal.
"How can you make a deal with somebody who says they want to kill you?" the former Connecticut senator said. "Pretty impossible, in my opinion, but if it's possible it's only if they're air tight inspections, and there's no air tight inspections in this agreement."
Menendez, Booker Examining Iran Nuclear Deal
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez said he also has a lot of questions he wants answered.
"When I cast a vote, I want to makes sure that if Iran gets their hands on a nuclear bomb, my name isn't on it," Menendez said.
"Why does a country that has the third or fourth largest oil reserves in the world and the second largest natural gas reserves in the world need nuclear energy for domestic consumption?" Menendez asked.
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker said he wasn't ready to commit to voting one way or the other.
"I'm going to study this deal, talk to people on both sides of the issue and come to a conclusion," he told WCBS 880's Jim Smith.
Obama said he has not yet heard an argument from the opposition that holds up to scrutiny, but the president has already made it clear he plans to veto any congressional resolution to disapprove the deal.
