Christie 2012 buzz is back — again — though whether it’s for real this time remains to be seen. Indeed, it would be shocking if Christie reversed a year of emphatic denials and got in the race at this late stage. He toldNational Review Online in February that he didn’t feel ready — personally or professionally — to be president, and we took him at his word. If he’s reconsidering, it’s likely not because he thinks his chances have become better. Christie has always believed he could win, and his major victories over tax-and-spend Democrats and embedded union interests, along with his compelling personal style, make him an attractive candidate for an electorate focused on leadership and the economy. But Christie has also surely seen the conservative backlash against the likes of Texas governor Rick Perry over issues like immigration and mandated HPV vaccinations, and knows that as the governor of a blue northeastern state, he will give opposition researchers even more room to get to his right and paint him as a RINO. Here are five:
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‘Not a Fan’ of Gay Marriage, But . . . Although Christie told Meet the Press’s David Gregory that he was “not a fan” of gay marriage and “wouldn’t sign a bill . . . like the one that was [recently passed] in New York,” he also said the state would “continue to pursue civil unions” for homosexual couples. This support, though tepid, puts him in the lonely company of . . . Jon Huntsman and Gary Johnson among the GOP field.
The Assault on Assault Weapons During a 1995 GOP primary for a general-assembly seat, Christie — albeit as part of a ticket — distributed campaign flyers calling his opponents’ support for repeal of the federal assault-weapons ban “radical” and “crazy.” To this day, Christie opposes any effort to pass concealed carry in the state, and although he opposed a bill signed by his Democratic predecessor that limited New Jerseyans to one handgun purchase a month, his attorney general, Paula Dow, actively defended the law in court. Christie told Sean Hannity that New Jersey has a “handgun problem” and that he supports “commonsense laws that will allow people to protect themselves” while also protecting police officers.
Sharia and ‘the Crazies’ When some conservatives raised questions about Christie’s judicial appointment of Sohail Mohammed — an attorney who had spoken out against the prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation and Sami al-Arian, both of which would later be convicted for materially supporting jihadists — Christie called the criticisms “crap” and said he was “tired of dealing with the crazies.” While U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Christie also reportedly visited the Passaic mosque of imam Mohammed Qatanani, a Sohail Mohammed client who was later deported (though that decision was ultimately reversed) for lying to immigration authorities about his 1993 arrest by Israeli police — and his confession to having been a member of Hamas.
‘Illegal Immigration Is Not a Crime’ Christie stepped in it in 2008, when as a U.S. attorney and prospective gubernatorial candidate he told a largely Latino town-hall meeting that “being in this country without proper documentation is not a crime.” Christie explained that being in the country illegally is merely an “administrative” matter for federal border-enforcement officers, and only becomes a crime if a person re-enters the country after having been deported. While Christie was technically correct on the law — unlawful presence in the U.S. is merely grounds for deportation and not subject to felony penalties — he left out that undocumented entry to the U.S. is treated as a criminal matter. Moreover, his statements are likely to be seen by the GOP base as pandering, and put him in the same hot water in which Rick Perry has recently found himself. Christie also went on record saying state-based immigration-enforcement laws like Arizona’s are not the right approach. “This is a federal problem, it’s gotta have a federal fix,” said Christie. “I’m not really comfortable with state law enforcement having a big role.”
Solyndra on the Jersey Shore?
Though he now receives a score of “C−” from Environment New Jersey, the New Jersey Environmental Federation endorsed candidate Christie in 2009; it was the first time that group had endorsed a Republican for governor in nearly 30 years. To be sure, New Jersey’s industrial past and present make its environmental politics complex and unique. On the one hand, Governor Christie has pulled out of a regional emissions scheme and recently proposed to cut solar subsidies. And most of his “environmentalist” positions would likely be noncontroversial at the national level, relating to things such as aggressive cleanup of toxic sites and technological improvements to New Jersey’s nuclear plants that would reduce their negative impact on local waterways. But the governor has also taken stances likely to irk the conservative electorate, such as opposing offshore natural-gas ports for the state while at the same time championing offshore wind farms.
— Daniel Foster is news editor of National Review Online.
I was really excited about Chris Christie when he first made his entrance onto the political stage of New Jersey, but his negatives keep piling up. Two things stand out for me: his appointment of Sohail Mohammed to be a judge and his disregard for the Second Amendment. (He says he's worried about cops; well, how come he's not worried about law-abiding citizens who are threatened by non-law-abiding who don't abide by control laws?) So, I for one am quite pleased that he has decided not to run.
Sohail Mohammed: He's a traitor...AND SO WAS JOHN ADAMS FOR DEFENDING THE BRITISH!!! (If you can't tell sarcasm when you see it...)
Illegal immigration not a crime: Boo for pandering, but since he's not saying to NOT toss out illegals (or whatever you call them), no real policy issue here.
The Environment: Consult a map. New Jersey's next to New York, not Alabama. You're right, it isn't much on the national stage.
Still, I think that he's wise not to run. The next four years aren't going to be all that much better than things are right now, economically speaking. Who wants to be blamed for that?
One more problem - the poor guy is grossly obese. This makes him;
1. Less electable.
2. More likely to die in office.
3. A dreadful role model for a chubby nation.
It's clear with the Christie furor that conservatives would rather wither on the vine searching for the perfect candidate than try to win with a potentially good one. Every candidate has a weakness or two or six.
Really? Gay marriage is that big of a deal when the entire financial system in North America and Europe is about to tank. C'mon, we've got bigger fish to fry than that.
The Tea party began as fiscal conservatives, but somehow this movement has been dislodged by the extreme social cons, who still want to legislate morality. I'm sorry but Iran is developing a bomb and we have to debate evolution. Are you kidding me? We'll know who to thank for four more years of this Obamanation.
With all the front-runners opposed to civil unions, there is no way the social conservatives are going to get behind a Christie who supports them. Not happening.
Not to mention that his Attorney General, Paula Dow, is a liberal Democrat. In addition to above, she has continued the Corzine administration's vilification of physicians, making the climate for medicine in NJ extremely hostile and by extension health care increasingly costly. www.friendsofdrdara.com
Overall, as a NJ resident, I'm thrilled to have him running the ship, but Christie has some "maverick" streaks in him that could frustrate conservatives.
Not to mention that his Attorney General, Paula Dow, is a liberal Democrat. In addition to above, she has continued the Corzine administration's vilification of physicians, making the climate for medicine in NJ extremely hostile and by extension health care increasingly costly. www.friendsofdrdara.com
Overall, as a NJ resident, I'm thrilled to have him running the ship, but Christie has some "maverick" streaks in him that could frustrate conservatives.
The gay issue along with abortion needs to take a back seat. On fiscal issues I'm with the republicans 100%. Just stay out of my life and what I do. The worst thing to happen to the republican party was getting in bed with the born again crowd.
Wow, a hit job full of innuendo on hot button issues. That didn't take long at all, did it?
Let's take your issues one at a time:
1. Civil unions. It's really your position that we shouldn't have civil unions? If so, you are against the Constitution. Against the freakin' Preamble, for crying out loud.
2. Do you know New Jersey? Have you heard the expression "All politics is local"? Do you seriously think that opposing concealed-carry or assasult weapons means that you negate the 2nd amendment? If so, as the Beatles sang, you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow.
3. Stop with the ad hominen innuendo. You really think this genuine tough guy is going to be soft on Islamists or terrorism? You're just making a fool of yourself by asserting that. Is it possible that Christie knew this guy in a way that you simply don't, and having the benefit of a personal relationship and personal knowledge, knew that this guy was simply being slandered by people like you? I'm not saying that happened, Im just asking, sincerely, is that possible?
4. Dude, this guy was a US attorney. I think he knows law. This is one of the least understood things. Illegal immigrantion is NOT a criminal offense! You can break the law for a CIVIL offense.
5. Where on earth is there anything in your paragraph to suggest that Christie's adminstration has underwritten anything even remotely close to Solyndra? You just slapped that name on a paragraph, juxtaposed it with "Jersey" and hung the slander around Christie's neck.
Well, that's your dirty five, Mr. Foster. Lies and misrepresentations at best. Slander is more like it.
Gosh, Mr. Foster, how much did you get for this hit job, and who paid you?
That's the worst of it? The very worst positions he had to take to win office in a blue state? Hmmmmmmm.
The libertarian strain of Republicans (a not insignificant minority) will be fine with civil unions. The rest better get behind Rick Santorum in a big way, or resign themselves to Perry or Romney. (An affectionate nod here to Herman Cain, whom I expect to flame out over foreign policy weakness. If John Bolton or someone wants to get the Hermanator up to speed PRONTO, I'll concede another option)
Christie was part of some combined budget legislature ticket in 1995 that staked out a bad position on the 2nd Amendment that he's been walking back and finessing ever since?
He made some goodwill visit to a mosque and the imam later turned out to be a bad guy?
As a lawyer, he gave a lawyerly opinion about immigration law?
He's got a mixed record on a bunch of environmental issues no one in the other 49 states ever heard of?
Doesn't sound like any deal killers to me. I'd just as soon get him up on the stage and let him field the nastiest questions anyone can craft on those topics. I'll bet he knocks most of them out of the park, and at least neutralizes the others.
The animating topics of this election are going to be the economy, spending, debt and taxation, which Gov. Christie would absolutely slaughter Barack Obama on in a debate. I'll bet more Republicans are looking for someone who is fluent on those topics than ideological purity up and down the list. We know he'd tack right in a nomination fight, while leaving himself some centrist bona fides for the general.
My biggest complaint about Christie wasn't mentioned: His weight. He's gotten to an age where obese men can and do have sudden heart attacks. I'd feel a lot better if he'd used the past six months spending some quality time with a nutritionist and personal trainer. If he should get in and win the nomination, he'd better choose right on the Veep.
I read RedState too, and I love Erick, Moe and the gang. But last time I checked the bylaws of the RNC, they didn't outsource the nomination to RedState.
Real people who don't spend nearly the time we do on political blogs are going to cast real ballots for the nomination.
Christie's stances will go over like the proverbial turd in a punchbowl. It's not going to happen. Even the optics are bad.. you'll have Obama sinking three pointers with Duke, while Christie is sweating butter at picnics. Lastly, he clearly doesn't relish this once in a lifetime chance. Obama is going to beat in a landslide once conservatives congeal around their candidate. But it is going to take hard work and serious perseverance. He doesn't want to do it.
Either Perry or Romney is the next POTUS, unless a third candidate who doesn't have their negatives swoops in. I can't even imagine who that would be.
Christie actually cuts budgets. He stuck his neck out & line-item-vetoed a significant portion of New Jersey's budget. By cut, I don't mean reduce the rate of increase of spending, which is what Washington calls a cut, but real dollar reductions in spending. I'd like to see a "social conservative" who has actually done what Christie has, as opposed to just talking about it. The country is going over a cliff of debt, but there are still people who will vote for FISCAL RINOs, so long as they give lip service to key social issues. Gimme a break.
I'm as sick of Perry and Romney as the next guy and would love somebody to save us but Christie isn't the one. We missed our chance, in my opinion, when Paul Ryan ruled himself out. By running this field of candidates, at this time, we have missed a chance to revitalize the movement and the country. Oh yeah and forget about any chance at all to repeal Obamacare. Whichever one of these Republicans gets elected will just help the Democrats dress it up.
When fellow conservatives were cheering Christie taking on unions and entrenched liberal economic and tax policies - even posting on blogs the inevitable "Christie for President!", I would reply, Wait until you find out about his more liberal social beliefs - you'll be calling him a 'RINO' (a term I'm growing to dislike from over misuse)". I like Christie - as governor of New Jersey - thank you.
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