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Subscribe to RSSORLANDO -- Jokingly introduced as the "shy and retiring" Chris Christie by Republican Governor's Association chairman Bob McDonnell, the New Jersey governor and prominent Mitt Romney endorser once again showed he was anything but -- slamming President Obama and defending the man he is supporting for the Republican presidential nomination.
"Every time there was an opportunity to provide real leadership where the things would be difficult to do, where it's not a guaranteed layup or a guaranteed photo op, he walks," Christie said of the president. "Real leadership is not what you see in the White house right now. As I've said before, I think it’s a sad day in our country's history to see a bystander in the Oval Office, and that's what we have."
Christie was among 27 Republican governors to attend the RGA's meeting here this week, but his position as perhaps Mitt Romney's most prominent supporter -- and one of only a handful of governors to endorse any presidential candidate -- made him the center of attention today.
"He's the one guy who has performed consistently," Christie said, when asked about a perceived lack of enthusiasm in the GOP base for his favored candidate. "If you define enthusiasm as being at 30% one day and 8% two weeks later. I call that schizophrenia, not enthusiasm. What Gov. Romney has shown over time is that he has a strong and steady core of supporters. I believe that that type of steadiness and that type of consistency is going to lead to him being our party's nominee."
The New Jersey governor, who briefly considered making his own run for the White House, weighed in on several strategic elements of Romney's campaign, including how the former Massachusetts governor should deal with the surging Newt Gingrich. His advice? Don't engage.
"If Gov. Romney engaged every person who had a temporary rise in the polls, that's all he'd be doing," Christie said. "Gov. Romney's job is to lay out his hopeful, optimistic vision for the future of this country and his critique of the last four years, not to engage every person who has, like I said, a temporary rise in the polls."
The outspoken Christie also took a question from a reporter about Romney's demonstrated preference for not taking questions from reporters.
"Everybody has got their own style, and I certainly am not going to try to make anybody something that they're not. Because if they acted that way, it wouldn't come across legitimate or genuine. I am who I am. People ask me questions and I try to answer then as directly and as quickly as possible, and I just think that's the better way to go when you're in public life," Christie said. "Because if you avoid the questions, they're eventually going to catch up to you anyway, so why not answer them and get them out of the way and move on to what you want to talk about."
Despite the vast majority of Republican governors attending this event remaining unaligned in the presidential race thus far, Christie said he was not actively recruiting new endorsers for the Romney campaign.
"I think my role as an endorser is to help Governor Romney in whatever way he asks me to. I'm not sitting around, you know, as a recruiter. I've got other things to do. I'm the vice chairman of this organization." Christie said. "Everybody knows that I'm with Mitt and if in fact they have some questions they'd like to get clarification on or encouragement, it's not like I'm not visible around here. They can talk to me, but I'm not sitting here with my Mitt button on trying to bring everybody into the fold."
Christie did disclose one of those things Gov. Romney asked him to do -- he'll be campaigning in Iowa on Romney's behalf next week, yet another sign that Romney is playing to win in the Hawkeye State.
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So an Independent is someone who "does not have the courage of his convictions?" Is it possible that Independents have not yet seen any politician of either party adequately demonstrate that he/she shares the same convictions as those held by the Independent? Is it lacking in courage for a voter to wait to support a candidate until he/she finds a leader who espouses the same convictions that are important to that voter? Does it take courage to blindly follow a politicial leader even if one does not agree with some of that leader's positions?
In 2008, Independents voted for Obama to show they weren't racists.
In 2012, Independents will vote against Obama to show they're not idiots.
Our Economy will start turning around the morning after the 2012 election when Barak & Michelle start making plans to return to Chicago.... The End Of An ERROR.
Christie, just another of a long line of Republican blowhards spouting lies about our President with out facts.
LMAO Chris Christie is more of an imbecile than I thought the fat slug is. Trying to get Obama to react to him? What a complete idiot. President Obama will not fall into your ignorant trap you dumb fat ignorant moron. Just because some New Jersey Democrats went for it when you attacked them you move way out of your league when you try to get the President to play by your rules Governor. I am certain teh President did get a chuckle out of your rant.
In addition it is a good no make that a great thing that you chose not to run as apparently you have not a clue as to who does what in DC. The President has no job with the House or Senate and to think otherwise is sheer ignorance. If President Obama involved himself in the work of the House and Senate you would be screaming foul very very loudly and telling him to stay in the Whitehouse. Sorry fatman no sale.
Got a lot of hate going on there, don't we Ray?
Governor Christie is feeling the heat from his constitutes and he has to get some press coverage. I think the problems with Scott Walker , who can count the days he has left as Governor of Wisconsin and Governor Kasich of Ohio, who is back pedaling so fast on his agenda, that the tires on his trike are burning up; have got the big man worried.
Let me tell you something about Chistie Kreme. I live in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey and between our buffoon governor and the gop town council there, those republicans haven't been able to keep their hands out of my pockets!! The last two years since Crispie was elected my family has been crushed by two of the largest property tax increases ever - fact! This guy can't get out of NJ fast enough as far as I'm concerned. As far as being president, he' would make a great president..........of Hostess Inc. Twinkie anyone?
All that need be said is where NJ ranks among the rest of the states in an article on here this very day.... What are they paying you for Governor CHristie?
37. New Jersey
> State debt per capita: $6,551 (6th highest)
> Pct. without health insurance: 13.2% (21st lowest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 9.5% (4th lowest)
> Unemployment: 9.2% (15th highest)
Despite having the second highest median household in the country, New Jersey performs poorly in a number of areas. Most notably, the state has the sixth highest state debt per capita. Its credit rating was also downgraded from AA to AA- in February 2011 due to concerns over its massive retirement obligations.
Read more: Best and Worst Run States in America — An Analysis Of All 50 - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2011/11/28/best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-an-analysis-of-all-50/#ixzz1fJSJ0KEF
When it comes to individual members of the U.S. Military they prefer independent thinkers like Ron Paul and leaders like President Obama.
They give more money to Paul and Obama INDIVIDUALLY than the rest of the GOP clown pack COMBINED.
Obama State run media is at it again. No one can disagree with him. If you do you are attacking him.
Все дураков без осуждения. MSNBC засасывает.
President Obama will win a 2nd term. He never said change would be easy or come quickly. We as Americans have always been the country of I want it now, and I can't wait and its about me me me.
We didn't get in this mess overnight and it will not be fixed in actually 3 1/2 years of governing. I am with the President, this time that we are facing should be teaching people about patience and holding on, not selling out. The man can't do it alone, so instead of whinning about what he hasn't done, look in the mirror and see what havent you done.
Do you realize, starting with the 110th Congress that the Democrats have held the majority in Washington since 2007, either by controlling both houses of Congress or one house of congress and the Presidential office? Are you saying that even though the Democrats have been in control for almost 5 years that they were still unable to do anything about the downward spiral the nation is in? Are you saying even though they held the majority they could not stop Bush? Are you saying the Democratic party is that inept? During that 5 years the national debt has went up 5 Trillion dollars.
Hello Heidi, well I looked in the mirror and the only thing that I haven't done is vote for Obama and I don't plan to change. Besides, at least I can look myself in the mirror and not be ashamed of my country. VOTE CONSERVATIVE 2012
You're lucky the one percent is around. They pay 40% of all income taxes. that covers most of the bottom 50% that pay NO income taxes.