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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

2012 Chris Christie, Who Accused President Obama of Not Leading Back in August, Now Is a Big Fan of President Obama's Leadership

Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 6:03 AM

Here's what Chris Christie said about President Obama during his keynote speech at the 2012 Republican National Convention:

I know we can be the men and women our country calls on us to be tonight. I believe in America and her history, and there's only one thing missing now. Leadership. It takes leadership that you don't get from reading a poll. You see, Mr. President, real leaders do not follow polls. Real leaders change polls.

That speech was all about leadership, in fact. Christie used some form of the word "lead" more than 20 times during his speech. He also said, "Leadership delivers. Leadership counts. Leadership matters." And his point was that President Obama just doesn't lead. Now, as Charles points out, Christie has openly praised Obama's "leadership," citing the "great job" he's done and thanking him for his work. It's kind of sad that a Republican praising a Democrat for doing his job is huge news, but that's the climate we live in.

I think Christie is being genuine, here. I honestly believe he thinks President Obama is doing a great job. But I also think he'll be voting for Mitt Romney next week, too. This move was sincere, but it was also political. (Despite what some would have you think, those two things—sincerity and politics—aren't mutually exclusive.) Christie is going to run for a second term as governor of New Jersey, presumably against Cory Booker, next year. And he definitely has designs on the presidency after that. He's been portrayed as a teabaggy leader for so long now that he needs to score some bipartisan bona fides before the election—otherwise, he'd be too easy to paint as a Republican caricature. But this kind of bipartisanship does carry a high price in the Republican party of 2012: Here's a comment on a YouTube video of Christie praising Obama earlier today:

Christie is a closeted liberal piece of scum. Mitt 2012!

I think the election is starting back up again, you guys. Not even six days left!

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Comments (18) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Wow, that is big news. He's breaking ranks. It's sad that his party will turn on him for supporting the president. Very unpatriotic.

Posted by treefort on October 31, 2012 at 6:14 AM

This really isn't a surprise - If Mr. Christie really has designs on the White House in 2016, and there's every reason to believe that he does, then he needs Romney to lose. Period. He can't come right out and say it of course, that would be breaking ranks, but a wonderful opportunity landed in his lap. Here he can praise the President, slap Romney, and seem like a standup guy who's only looking out for the people of his State (not to mention it helps in his upcoming reelection run)

I guarantee you'll see this in a general election ad in 2016.

Posted by jcsmith2 on October 31, 2012 at 7:12 AM

@2: Agreed, but expecting a politician not to play politics is like expecting a fish not to swim. It just won't happen. A political maneuver or not, Christie's right on this one.

Posted by NateMan on October 31, 2012 at 7:20 AM

Remember, the most imporant thing a politician can do during and after a major disaster is to try and game the event to be a political gain. Christie is working hard to get some political points right now.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on October 31, 2012 at 7:20 AM

"Not even six days left!"

Thank goodness it will be over soon so these quarter-hourly posts from the Democratic National Committee may go down to half hour frequency.

Posted by dirac on October 31, 2012 at 7:21 AM

Wouldn't trust Christie as far as I could throw him!

Posted by 1971 on October 31, 2012 at 7:23 AM

RedCross.org

Posted by Pope Peabrain on October 31, 2012 at 7:43 AM

Maybe he just likes being a high profile governor. Big fish, small pond with very little international problems.

Posted by internet_jen on October 31, 2012 at 7:54 AM

It was a calculated move that dropped into his lap and he took full advantage. I really do think it's genuine, but he was all to glad to twist that knife. He can't run in 2016 if Romney's president and he can't stay parked as governor until 2020.

I don't agree with Christie and would do everything I can to not have become president, but one thing I will admit is what you see is what you get.

Posted by kmq1 on October 31, 2012 at 8:04 AM

Christie is doing the right thing for the state of New Jersey. But people will not forget how he bashed the President for Mitt Romney. You can't have it both ways. You can't be a Tea Party/Republican scumbag and talk big talk about dismantling the government and then be first in the line for the handout (while giving the President a blow job). I am a New Yorker and many, many of my friends have lived their lives in New Jersey. We're not stupid. Whether Christie is thrown off the bus by his Tea Party/Republican thugs or not is irrelevant. You can't have it both ways. People here see him clearly and he won't last. He is a disgusting, political pig.

Posted by xina on October 31, 2012 at 8:06 AM

@5 - you should hang out in redstate.com and then we won't have to listen to your willful ignorance of our highly polarized two party system either.

Posted by Pridge Wessea on October 31, 2012 at 8:38 AM

Let's not forget the self-aggrandizement angle...

Governor Christie framed the great job the president is doing in terms of how President Obama is calling, offering support, making himself available and deferring to the governor.

Posted by Enough About Me; How Great Does The President Think I Am on October 31, 2012 at 8:50 AM

Fuck Chris Christie. Read his whole speech from the Republican Convention. He told the world that I, as a Democrat...

"...need to be coddled by big government..."
"...believe seniors will always put themselves ahead of their grandchildren..."
...believe in pitting unions against teachers, educators against parents, and lobbyists against children..."

The man is a prick.

Posted by DOUG.

on October 31, 2012 at 9:19 AM

Christie is an asshole, but I think he's doing the right thing with the hurricane response. New Jersey is going to need federal help to get put back together. He's put aside politics for a few days to lead like a governor needs to, the President has put aside politics for a few days to lead like a President needs to. Good. The focus needs to be on the actual response to the hurricane. If this bothers Red State and the right wingers, they can fuck right off.

Posted by rainbird on October 31, 2012 at 9:47 AM

Your posting YouTube comments now? You should just post pictures of the sewer systems in Republican suburbs.

Posted by tkc on October 31, 2012 at 10:03 AM

Christie and the President need each other now, and they're both behaving well (Obama especially by not grinding Christie's convention words into his face). I don't care how political it is on either of their parts as long as it helps Obama win.

Posted by sarah70 on October 31, 2012 at 10:47 AM

If he's positioning for 2016, he's got a lot of work to do. He looks like shit, and America isn't ready for a morbidly obese president.

Not since Taft got stuck in a bathtub.

Posted by Max Solomon on October 31, 2012 at 11:00 AM

Let's see...

1. Hurricane strikes.

2. Person in charge of state where hurricane hit hard asks person in charge of country for help.

3. Person in charge of country gives help.

4. All the talking heads go apeshit over But what does this MEAN?!? You, know... politically?!?"

What a stupid world we live in.

Posted by Urgutha Forka on October 31, 2012 at 11:10 AM