Washington, DC – Correct the Record today released “GOP vs. Christie,” a compilation of commentary by Republicans across the country who are distancing from and abandoning Chris Christie as the GW bridge scandal continues to grow.
Correct the Record spokeswoman Adrienne Elrod said,
“Where is the Republican defense of Chris Christie? As Chairman of the Republican Governor’s Association and a 2016 GOP primary contender, Republicans have put Christie at the forefront of their national leadership. Will Republicans rally around Christie or leave him under the bus? Will the internal, Tea-Party-driven civil war within the Republican Party drive the Party’s direction on Christie? Will opportunistic GOP politicians try to take advantage of Christie’s scandal?”
GOP vs. Christie
GOP operative: “I recalled how similar the governor’s conduct during the re-election campaign was to that of President Nixon.” “In New Jersey, candidates for the state Legislature often team up to run on a ticket together. In 1995, a young lawyer named Chris Christie made his third run for public office, joining forces with a legislative aide, Richard Merkt, to challenge a Republican incumbent for the state Assembly. After e-mails released Wednesday confirmed that top Christie aides caused a traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge, Merkt reached out to offer his thoughts on Bridgegate. His takeaway? It is positively Nixonian. ‘You know, reading the reports about the GW bridge fiasco, I recalled how similar the governor’s conduct during the re-election campaign was to that of President Nixon during his victorious re-election campaign in 1972,’ he said.” [New York Magazine, 1/9/14]
Daily Caller column: “Christie ought to be greatly concerned about emails; …strikes at the heart of his argument for higher office.” “Bridges are metaphors. In the 90s, Bill Clinton juxtaposed Bob Dole’s ‘bridge to the past’ with his vision for a ‘bridge to the future.’ They’re also easily understandable as scandals. Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens’ career was effectively ended by scandals, including his support of a ‘bridge to nowhere.’ This is why New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie ought to be greatly concerned about emails which reveal that a top aide conspired with Port Authority executives to intentionally shut down lanes to the George Washington Bridge as an attempted payback for a political enemy. For a governor who’s entire raison d’être is based on putting New Jersey citizens first (even if it means throwing the GOP presidential nominee under the bus right before the election), this strikes at the heart of his argument for higher office.” [“Chris Christie’s bridge to nowhere,” Daily Caller, 1/8/14]
Rush Limbaugh: “The point of the story is that Christie will do payback.” “The news is that Christie was paying back the mayor of Fort Lee for not endorsing him by closing those on-ramps and making real hassles for people in New Jersey from Fort Lee in that area getting on the George Washington Bridge to get into Manhattan. The point of the story is that Christie will do payback. If you don’t give him what he wants, he’ll pay you back. So they’re taking it all the way back, Republican convention, Romney didn’t pick Christie, Christie got even with a dullard keynote speech and then embracing Obama.” [Rush Limbaugh, 1/8/14]
Former GOP governor: “If mistakes were made, admit it. If he doesn’t, it’s going to be like water torture.”“Former New Jersey governor Tom Kean Sr., a longtime associate of Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), tells The Washington Post that he hopes Christie will move swiftly to provide answers about e-mails and text messages suggesting Christie’s appointees retaliated against a Democratic mayor by creating a traffic jam. ‘My advice to him: get it all out now,’ Kean said, in a phone interview from his office in New Jersey. ‘He cannot let some committee, or the press, pull out these problems piece by piece. Let’s get the whole story on the table. If mistakes were made, admit it. If he doesn’t, it’s going to be like water torture.’ Kean, a Republican, says many Christie allies and top GOP donors privately fretted on Wednesday that the governor and his team stayed quiet as the uproar unfolded. ‘People are a bit stunned,’ Kean said. ‘During past controversies, his advisers were always quick to provide his circle with talking points. Well, today those talking points never came. We’ve heard nothing.’” [Washington Post, 1/8/14]
Former GOP governor said Christie allies and top GOP donors privately fretted on Wednesday. “Former New Jersey governor Tom Kean Sr., a longtime associate of Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.), tells The Washington Post that he hopes Christie will move swiftly to provide answers about e-mails and text messages suggesting Christie’s appointees retaliated against a Democratic mayor by creating a traffic jam. ‘My advice to him: get it all out now,’ Kean said, in a phone interview from his office in New Jersey. ‘He cannot let some committee, or the press, pull out these problems piece by piece. Let’s get the whole story on the table. If mistakes were made, admit it. If he doesn’t, it’s going to be like water torture.’ Kean, a Republican, says many Christie allies and top GOP donors privately fretted on Wednesday that the governor and his team stayed quiet as the uproar unfolded. ‘People are a bit stunned,’ Kean said. ‘During past controversies, his advisers were always quick to provide his circle with talking points. Well, today those talking points never came. We’ve heard nothing.’” [Washington Post, 1/8/14
The Federalist: “8 Reasons Why Chris Christie’s Traffic Scandal Could Cause Big Trouble in 2016.” “Earlier today, NorthJersey.com broke a story that several top aides to Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) conspired to create massive traffic jams in order to punish a town whose mayor failed to endorse Christie’s re-election bid…. While TrafficGate might appear at first glance to be nothing more than a local crime story, it could have big implications for a future Christie presidential campaign. Here are 8 reasons why the story could cause big trouble for Christie in 2016. [“8 Reasons Why Chris Christie’s Traffic Scandal Could Cause Big Trouble in 2016,” The Federalist, 1/8/14]
Daily Caller: “‘Resign now’: S.E. Cupp tells Christie to leave office if directly involved in bridge scandal”[Daily Caller, 1/8/14]
Ann [email protected]
He’s a narcissist. RT@mikememoli Hardest part to figure in @GovChristie GWB-gate is political retribution @ a race that was never in doubt.
[email protected]
For @GovChristie this may have been a bridge too far #GWB#ChrisChristie#shamefulhttp://nj-ne.ws/som68
Michelle [email protected]
Chris Christie’s staff shares Obama admin’s penchant for petty tyranny. #SpiteHouse politics, NJ-style==>
KateNocera @KateNocera
Rep. Frank LoBiondo ran from @GingerGibson and I when she tried to ask about Christie.
Ann Coulter @AnnCoulter
WINNING! Chris Christie aide: “Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee.” http://nyti.ms/1gDNu0K
Matthew Boyle @mboyle1
The Christie episode today shows that non-conservative Republicans, like Democrats, are prone to improper use of the power of government
Ben Shapiro @benshapiro
Christie’s actions here may be impeachable, not just indicative of inappropriateness of a 2016 run.
Erick Erickson @EWErickson
Several congressional & gubernatorial staffs have told me Christie’s staffers r the biggest a**holes they’ve ever dealt with. Apparently so.
Erick Erickson @EWErickson
One Chief of Staff of a Governor once told me that a Christie staffer lectured the COS’s own Governor.
Erick Erickson @EWErickson
Another staffer in another state says they had easier time getting celebrities to come for events than Christie. The riders were simpler.
Erick [email protected]
Obama set the tone for his staff and IRS. Christie did the same in New Jersey.
Mark R. Levin @marklevinshow
The continuing Christie disaster http://fb.me/13LW3dk3N
Correct the Record is a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend potential Democratic presidential candidates from right-wing, baseless attacks, while at the same time holding Republican candidates accountable for attempts to reinvent themselves and their records.
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