At GOP Debate, Christie Calls Obama 'Feckless Weakling' On Foreign Policy Issues
LAS VEGAS (CBSNewYork/CBS Philly) -- In discussing foreign policy during the Republican presidential debate Tuesday night, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called President Barack Obama a "feckless weakling" with regard to his foreign policy.
When the issue turned to a potential no-fly zone being implemented in Syria, Christie made it clear that he was ready to do what was necessary to enforce that no-fly zone, as CBS Philadelphia reported.
The hypothetical, set up for the candidates to address, was how should a Russian violation of a no-fly zone be handled by the United States.
In his remark that slammed Obama, Christie responded, "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 also took Obama, and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, to task on issues of terrorism.
"It's the new normal under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton," Christie said, claiming that with regard to ISIS, Clinton had said her strategy would be "just about the same as the president's."
But Christie also blamed GOP lawmakers for contributing to dysfunction in Washington.
"If you listen to the folks up here, you'd think they weren't even there; that they had nothing to do with this. That's the difference between being a governor and a legislator," Christie said. "When something doesn't work in New Jersey they look at me."
Christie also defended his call to ban Syrian refugees – even orphans under the age of 5 – from entering the country. He said FBI Director James Comey had made clear that the refugees could not be adequately vetted, and thus, security concerns demanded that their entry be halted.
