Gov. Christie Says He'll Let U.S. Allies 'Vent' About Obama If Elected
MEREDITH, N.H. (CBSNewYork/AP) — Chris Christie says that if wins the White House he'll invite the leaders of six U.S. allies to "vent" about President Barack Obama.
The New Jersey governor says he'll invite the leaders of Israel, Mexico, Canada, Great Britain, France and Germany to Camp David for separate meetings during his first months in office.
He says the first hour of each visit would be spent "venting" about how Obama treated the nation's allies during his presidency.
Christie, like his fellow Republican presidential candidates, says Obama has hurt America's standing in the world and damaged its relationship with Israel.
Christie openly criticized Obama's handling of foreign policy during a Republican national debate in December, referring to the president as a 'feckless weakling.'
When responding to a question on how the U.S. should handle a Russian violation of a no-fly zone, Christie said: "Yes we would shoot down the planes of Russian pilots, if in fact they were stupid enough to think that this president was the same feckless weakling that the president we have in the Oval office is right now."
Christie has also been vocal on his support of banning Syrian refugees from entering the country in wake of the attacks in Paris and, more recently, San Bernardino. A bill that would have cracked down on Syrian refugees entering the country was blocked by Senate Democrats on Wednesday.
Christie is one of nearly half a dozen GOP candidates fighting to emerge from New Hampshire's Feb. 9 primary as an establishment alternative to Donald Trump.
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