Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) advised his Democratic colleagues Monday to embrace "statesmanship, not partisanship" in their nuclear deal vote, saying a vote to approve the deal will dog them forever.
"I've been very clear with my Democratic colleagues: this is a vote that you will live with the rest of your life and the rest of your career and a decade from now," Rubio said on "Fox & Friends."
"When Iran has a long-range rocket that can reach the United States, you'll have to explain why you voted to make that possible," Rubio said.
An international ban on Iran’s development of ballistic missiles—weapons that can be fitted with a nuclear payload and launched at countries like the U.S. and Israel—will be lifted after eight years as part of the deal negotiated by President Obama.
Rubio encouraged supporters of the deal to follow the example of Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.), who last week joined a growing group of Democratic lawmakers opposed to the deal. The coalition of lawmakers in favor of the deal is so far composed entirely of Democrats.
"He's doing the right thing," Rubio said of Schumer. "Even though we may disagree on a lot of issues we need to recognize that someone is taking a decision based on statesmanship, not partisanship. I hope it will lead to other members doing the same."
Rubio said that Schumer "plans to be around in eight years or ten years" when Iran is possesses weapons that can reach the U.S., and he "doesn't want to have to explain to people why he voted for" the deal. "I think more of his colleagues should follow his lead," Rubio said.
The White House and liberal activists were furious over Schumer’s defection. Activists have gone so far as to accuse Schumer, who is Jewish, of lobbying for Israel instead of the United States.