Christie To Jersey: Drop Dead
Christie To Jersey: Drop Dead
WASHINGTON, DC—Less than 24 hours after Chris Christie endorsed Tea Party radical Steve Lonegan for the U.S. Senate and only days after he vetoed a gun safety package that he in part proposed, the Democratic Governors Association today released a new graphic calling Chris Christie out for leaving the people of New Jersey behind in favor of his personal presidential ambition. Christie’s decision to ignore New Jersey is reminiscent of yet another iconic newspaper front page.
The graphic builds on Christie’s long record of right-wing extremism, including his veto of marriage equality, veto of a minimum wage hike, and his defunding of women’s health centers. Further proving his disdain for the people of New Jersey, Christie has spent one of four days of the last year out of state.
A link to the graphic can be found HERE.
BACKGROUND:
CHRISTIE ENDORSED “FAR-RIGHT” STEVE LONEGAN TO “ASSURE HIS CONSERVATIVE BASE”
Christie Endorsed “Far-Right Senate Candidate, Steve Lonegan” To “Assure His Conservative Base That He Hasn’t Forgotten About Them.” “In a short speech at the sweltering, cramped headquarters of the Hunterdon County GOP Tuesday afternoon, Chris Christie endorsed his party’s outspoken far-right Senate candidate, Steve Lonegan — and tried to assure his conservative base that he hasn’t forgotten about them.” [Buzzfeed, 08/20/13]
CHRISTIE VETOED GUN LEGISLATION, AFTER BEING LOBBIED BY FORMER REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, FOR 2016 ANGLING – HE EVEN VETOED LEGISLATION HE SUGGESTED JUST MONTHS EARLIER
Asbury Park Press Editorial: Christie Vetoed Three Gun Control Pieces After Being Lobbied By Gun-Rights Group In NH Against New Laws, And A Former NJ Republican Governor Who Were Supportive, “Demonstrating Once Again He Is More Interested In Angling For The 2016 Republican Nomination For President Than In Keeping The Residents Of New Jersey Safe.” “On Friday, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed three of four pieces of gun control legislation, demonstrating once again he is more interested in angling for the 2016 Republican nomination for president than in keeping the residents of New Jersey safe, including those in the capital. The vetoes came after a gun-rights group in the presidential primary state of New Hampshire had warned Christie that signing the bills passed by the New Jersey Legislature could have negative consequences if he runs for president in 2016. At the same time, Christie ignored the advice of two former Republican New Jersey governors to sign all four gun bills. His vetoes and the stated reasons behind them are based on faulty reasoning and the hope that the right wing of the Republican Party will accept his prior apostasy on guns.” [Editorial, Asbury Park Press, 8/19/13]
Philadelphia Inquirer: “Despite Proposing A Ban On Purchases Of The Barrett .50-Caliber Gun And Similar Weapons In April, Christie Vetoed A Bill That Would Have Done Just That.” “Gov. Christie rejected three major pieces of gun-control legislation Friday that Democrats passed following last year’s fatal school shootings in Connecticut. Despite proposing a ban on purchases of the Barrett .50-caliber gun and similar weapons in April, Christie vetoed a bill that would have done just that.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/18/13]
CHRISTIE HAS SPENT ONE OF EVERY FOUR DAYS OVER THE PAST YEAR OUT OF STATE
Christie Was Out Of State Over The Past Year 24 Percent Of The Time, Or 91 Days. “According to an analysis by Democrats, since last August Mr. Christie was outside of New Jersey for all or part of 91 days, or roughly 24 percent of the time. Mr. Christie emphasized that much of that out-of-state travel was for nonpolitical trips.” [New York Times, 8/17/13]
CHRISTIE HAS USED HIS POWER TO KEEP REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS FROM OVERRIDING HIS MARRIAGE EQUALITY VETO
Christie “Staked Out Conservative Territory” And “Held His Ground” On Gay Marriage, And Called The Supreme Court’s Ruling On DOMA A “Bad” Decision. “Mr. Christie has staked out conservative territory on the issue and held his ground. He has criticized the Supreme Court’s recent rejection of the Defense of Marriage Act, calling the decision to extend federal benefits to same-sex married couples ‘bad.’” [Wall Street Journal, 7/2/13]
National Journal’s Matthew Cooper: “If Christie Plans On Running For President In 2016, He May Have To Spend Some Of His Hard-Earned Political Capital Opposing Gay Marriage.” “But gay marriage will be a trickier test for the governor. His home state may support gay marriage but the activists who pick Republican presidential nominees surely do not. And he hasn’t done any favors for them lately. If Christie plans on running for president in 2016, he may have to spend some of his hard-earned political capital opposing gay marriage – even though it could hurt his standing back home.” [Matthew Cooper National Journal, 7/2/13]
New York Times: Republicans Confessed They Fear Voting Against The Governor On Marriage Equality. “Democrats need three more votes to override Mr. Christie’s veto, which means they need cooperation from Republican lawmakers. But several Republicans have said privately that while they support same-sex marriage, they fear voting against the governor, who is famous for enforcing party discipline.” [New York Times, 7/2/13]
CHRISTIE CALLED FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION, ON A WEDNESDAY IN OCTOBER, TO AVOID SHARING A BALLOT WITH A POPULAR MAYOR, DESPITE DEPRESSING TURNOUT AND A COST $12 MILLION
Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler: Christie’s Decision-Making By Calling A Special Election Were Driven By Presidential Ambitions. “Under fire from newspaper editorials for scheduling a special election to fill the Senate seat of the late Frank Lautenberg (D), Gov. Chris Christie (R) used an appearance on a late-night comedy show to offer a defense of his actions. In Christie’s telling, he had the choice of “whether to pick a handpicked replacement or let the people vote on their new senator,” and so he opted for a special election. “The decisions that need to be made in Washington are too great to be determined by an appointee for 18 months,” he said. The clip has gotten the most notice for a segment in which Fallon’s house band, The Roots, refer to Christie’s apparent interest in running for president in 2016 by singing, ‘Baby, you were born to run.’ But Christie’s presidential aspirations actually have a lot to do with his decision-making — something he left out of his claim that the decision was ‘not about playing politics.’” [Glenn Kessler, Washington Post, 6/14/13]
New York Times Editorial Board: Christie “Scoffed At Putting A Price Tag” On The Special Election, Even Though It “Will Cost New Jersey’s Battered State Budget About $24 Million.” “The special primary and election will cost New Jersey’s battered state budget about $24 million. The governor, who has highlighted his budget-cutting image in this campaign, scoffed at putting a price tag on such worries. He explained that “we’re not going to be penny-wise and pound-foolish” when it comes to this Senate seat. New Jersey voters would do well to suggest that he remember that phrase the next time he rejects a minimum-wage increase or tax break for low-income residents.” [Editorial, New York Times, 06/04/13]
Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial: Christie’s Choice “Is Certain To Reduce Total Participation In Both Elections.” “At an estimated cost of almost $12 million per election, Christie is spending about half a million taxpayer dollars for every day of added elected representation in the Senate. Worse, the move is certain to reduce total participation in both elections, diminishing the supposed democratic benefits.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 06/06/13]
…BUT COULDN’T FIND $7.5 MILLION FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH, WHICH HE VETOED AGAIN THIS SUMMER
Star-Ledger Editorial: A Christie Argument The State Cannot Afford A Program Was Hypocritical After Christie’s Decision To “Blow” Millions For “Utterly Selfish Reasons” “On The Special Election — Just Three Weeks Before His General Election.” The Star-Ledger wrote about Christie’s $7.5 million in cuts to women’s health. “We can’t afford it? Please. Nobody can forget the millions more he just decided to blow on the special election — just three weeks before his general election — to fill the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s seat. Christie doesn’t want to share the same ballot as Democratic favorite Cory Booker, the Newark mayor who could increase his party’s turnout, because Christie wants to win by an even bigger margin to enhance his image for the 2016 presidential campaign. So he’s spending $12 million for utterly selfish reasons.” [Editorial, The Star-Ledger, 6/18/13]
Star-Ledger Editorial: Christie De-Funded $7.5 M From Family Planning Clinics, And Vetoed 5 Attempts To Refund It, That Led To A 24% Drop In Patients Since 2009, Six Clinics Closing While Others Cut Back Hours, And 30 Percent Less Criminal Breast Exams. “A group of female legislators is again asking Gov. Chris Christie to restore $7.5 million for women’s health that he cut from the state budget. Perfect timing. If the governor vetoes this funding — for the fifth time — what will his argument be now? … As a result, family planning clinics saw at least 33,000 fewer patients last year than in 2009 — a 24 percent drop. The number of clinical breast exams fell more than 30 percent. Six clinics closed, and others had to cut back on hours or increase waiting periods. Fewer regular checkups mean higher health care costs in the future.” [Editorial, The Star-Ledger, 6/18/13]
Star-Ledger Editorial: Christie Was “Pandering To Conservatives At The Expense Of Women’s Health” By Continually Voting Women’s Health. “A group of female legislators is again asking Gov. Chris Christie to restore $7.5 million for women’s health that he cut from the state budget. Perfect timing. If the governor vetoes this funding — for the fifth time — what will his argument be now? …But this was always about ideology, not economics. The money goes to clinics that also perform abortions, though it can’t be used for abortions. So Christie is pandering to conservatives at the expense of women’s health.” [Editorial, The Star-Ledger, 6/18/13]
CHRISTIE ALLIES PICKED A FEDERALLY PAID SANDY TOURISM CONTRACT, THAT FEATURED CHRISTIE, DESPITE COSTING NEARLY TWICE AS MUCH AS THE OTHER BID
New Jersey Agreed To A $4.7 Million Contract For the Stronger Than The Storm Ad Campaign, Funded With Federal Disaster Aid Relief, With MWW, Which Was $2.2 Million Higher Than The Second Best Bidder. “. The ads are part of this season’s $25 million state tourism campaign funded by the federal disaster aid package approved by Congress after superstorm Sandy. Under terms of a state contract, subsequent campaigns for 2014 and 2015 will be subject to the availability of additional funding. East Rutherford-based MWW and a subcontractor are billing the state $4.7 million for employee compensation and markups to run this year’s campaign, according to information obtained through a public records request by the Asbury Park Press… The lucrative payday for the MWW team is $2.2 million higher than what was sought by the Sigma Group, based in Oradell, Bergen County.” [Asbury Park Press, 8/2/13]
Asbury Park Press Editorial: “What Is Clear Is That By Putting Christie’s Mug On The Air In The TV Spots, As MWW Proposed And Sigma, Perhaps Fatally, Did Not, The Governor Gets More Exposure During A Gubernatorial Election Year.” “New Jersey is definitely stronger than the storm. But it apparently isn’t any stronger than Gov. Chris Christie’s ego and state politics as usual. How else to explain the “Stronger Than The Storm” TV commercials, starring Christie and his family, that are providing a windfall of nearly $5 million in taxpayer dollars for a politically active public relations agency — more than $2 million higher than what the runner-up firm planned to charge…What is clear is that by putting Christie’s mug on the air in the TV spots, as MWW proposed and Sigma, perhaps fatally, did not, the governor gets more exposure during a gubernatorial election year.” [Editorial, Asbury Park Press, 8/6/13]
Asbury Park Press Editorial: “And Because The Commercials Introduce Him To Voters In Other States, He Gets Exposure In Advance Of A Possible 2016 Presidential Campaign.” [Editorial, Asbury Park Press, 8/6/13]
CHRISTIE – “HIS EYES ON 2016” – ATTACKED OBAMA WHICH ONE PAPER WARNED COULD THREATEN FEDERAL SUPPORT
Asbury Park Press’s Editorial: Christie Was Threatening Continued Federal Support For Sandy Rebuild Effort By Attacking Obama. “Was it really necessary to alienate the president of the United States, who twice visited the Jersey Shore in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, most recently on May 27? At that time, Christie offered nothing but praise for Obama’s leadership. ‘We all came together because New Jersey is more important and our citizens’ lives are more important than any kind of politics at all,’ Christie said, with Obama by his side. Only days before Christie lambasted the president, the federal government announced FEMA would reimburse 90 percent of the Sandy recovery aid, up from 75 percent. That had local governments cheering for the estimated $262 million more in aid coming here. How long will that kind of help continue if Christie keeps barking and sniping?” [Editorial, Asbury Park Press, 7/1/13]
Asbury Park Press’s Editorial: “Gov. Chris Christie Has His Eyes On 2016.” “Gov. Chris Christie has his eyes on 2016. He believes the hype that he could be the savior of the Republican brand.” [Editorial, Asbury Park Press, 7/1/13]
CHRISTIE WON’T TAKES SIDES ON HOT BUTTON ISSUES, IMPORTANT TO NEW JERSEY’S HISPANICS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS, OUT OF FEAR OF OFFENDING CONSERVATIVES
Christie Said He Was Disappointed In Congressman King’s Comments Comparing DREAM Students To Drug Runners, But Would Not Rule Out Campaigning For Steve King In The Future. “Gov. Chris Christie said today he was ‘very disappointed’ in U.S. Rep. Steve King for saying illegal immigrants have ‘calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert,’ but that he would not rule out raising campaign funds for the Iowa Republican in the future… But he said King had not asked him to appear on his behalf recently. ‘If he asks, I’ll make that judgment at that time,’ Christie said. In an interview with the website Newsmax a few weeks ago, King made disparaging remarks about immigrants who came to this country illegally that again have politicians on both sides of the aisle calling for his ouster. ‘For every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds — and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert,’ King told Newsmax.” [Star-Ledger, 7/30/13]
Star-Ledger Editorial: Christie Has Said “Absolutely Nothing” And Had Not Had Time To Read The VRA, An Example Of Him “Trying To Have It Both Ways” By Courting Minority Democrats While “Still Sending Signals To The Right Side Of The Aisle.” “And he had this to say on the high court’s decision on the Voting Rights Act: Absolutely nothing. On one of the most important developments in civil rights in decades, you won’t hear a peep out of our voluble governor. The 5-4 ruling gutted the Voting Rights Act, leaving it up to a divided Congress to come up with a new formula for deciding which states and election jurisdictions need to have preclearance before instituting voter ID laws or putting redistricting maps in place. It sent shock waves through the civil rights community… Christie has told reporters more than once in the last month that he hasn’t had time to read the high court decision on the Voting Rights Act. Baloney. That’s simply Christie trying to have it both ways: Collecting the support of Democrats and black pastors, but still sending signals to the right side of the aisle. It’s a shameless hedging of bets.” [Editorial, Star-Ledger, 7/30/13]