Court Clerk: "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?"
Gov. Christie: "I call 'em as I see 'em. Ain't that the truth?"
Today the New York Times published an article with the headline Christie’s Talk Is Blunt, but Not Always Straight .
I'll quote from that article shortly, but before I do, I should add that its author, Richar Perez -Pena, is not the first, nor the only, journalist who has wondered about Mr. Christie's casual relationship with the truth. The closer one looks at Chritie's statements AND the measured responses of those who were in a position to know more of the facts in each situation, the more obvious it seems that the Gov doesn't hesitate to spin any story or act towards a favorable reflection on his behavior or decisions.
Consider these examples:
And in December, Mr. Christie was at Disney World during a blizzard that paralyzed the state. He refused to apologize, saying he had kept in touch with the acting governor, Mr. Sweeney — but Mr. Sweeney said they never spoke.
“two types, those who receive benefits and those who pay for them.”
Don't state employees pay taxes too?
New York Times Magazine Profile
Recently the New York Times Magazine published a lengthy profile of Mr. Christie. What was particularly telling was that the article generated over one thousand published comments from readers, so feeling it was too laudatory while others felt it was an attack on the Governor. But these comments also amplify the facts behind some of his assertions:
Comment Highlights from NYTimes Magazine Profile
This article elicited well over 1000 comments from readers, some feeling it was a puff piece, laudatory of the Governor, while others thought it was a hatchet job. But what was particularly enlightening were the thoughtful remarks by individuals who had actual firsthand knowledge of many of the events in question. Then there is a similar article from a New Jersey journalist, also questionning several of Christie's budget cutting claims:
Much of the $11 BILLION BUDGET gap Christie closed was done by skipping a $3.1 billion pension payment.
Christie also reduced tax relief. Property tax rebates were cut by 75 percent in fiscal year 2011, meaning that ultimately, homeowners had a higher tax bill.
CHRISTIE: State workers got a 7 percent salary increase this year.
THE FACTS: They did in July 2010. But that's because they deferred for 18 months a 3.5 percent raise in 2009 as part of a deal with former Gov. Jon Corzine that guaranteed no layoffs. The 7 percent Christie cites combines the 3.5 percent raises over two years.
CHRISTIE: Says he increased K-12 aid by 3 percent the 2012 budget, or $250 million.
THE FACTS: That's true. What he doesn't mention is that he cut education funding by $820 million in the 2011 budget year, which ends in June. So by comparison, the state spent $8.5 billion in direct school aid in the 2010 budget year ($1 billion was federal stimulus money). It spent $7.9 billion in 2011. Christie proposes spending $8.1 billion in 2012. So spending is up, but not at the same level as before he took office, when federal money was available.
New Jersey’s public-sector unions routinely pressure the State Legislature to give them what they fail to win in contract talks. Most government workers pay nothing for health insurance. Concessions by school employees would have prevented any cuts in school programs last year.
Statements like those are at the core of Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign to cut state spending by getting tougher on unions. They are not, however, accurate.
AEI Speech and No Lost Sleep
And of course many will recall Christie's coming out party in Washington, DC, earlier this year when he made a speech at the American Enterprise Institute with the title “It's Time to Do Big Things”
And Governor Corzine very famously invited the press into his office, now my office, and there was cot in the office. I can tell you it's not normally there. And he said to them," I'm going to be sleeping in this cot, right over here, until this crisis is averted." So I knew these were the same fellas who had been in the legislature when he was there now threatening to do the same thing.
So I decided to call them down early on and advise them that the place was under new management. And what I said to them was listen, if you want to pass an income tax increase that's fine, I'm going to veto it. And if you want to close down the government because of that, that's fine. But I want to tell you something-I'm not moving any cot into this office to sleep in here.
If you close down the government I'm getting into those black SUV's with the troopers and going to the governor's residence I'm going to go upstairs, I'm going to open a beer, I'm going order a pizza, I'm going to watch the Mets. And when you decide to reopen the government give me a call and I'll come back. But don't think I'm sleeping on some cot take a look at me you think I'm sleeping on a cot- not happening.
Then I read this report from someone who was covering the legislature during those weeks:
Brilliant, or Dumberer?
And there was his infamous trip to Illinois in an attempt to lure business to the Garden State:
Text Press Release on Illinois Business relocation:
New Jersey has extraordinary advantages:
Well-educated, diverse talent pool.
Funny, back in New Jersey, it seems that all he ever does is rail against what he then labels as a
Booed by 7000 Firefighters
Another of Mr. Christie's bragging statements is that he went to the New Jersey Firefighter's Convention where he was booed by over 7000 in attendance.
But consider this line in that same article:
“Booing the state's governors has become a tradition for firefighters at the annual convention,” and then read the comments from one who was in attendance:
Comment: Rich Kocsis
"With thousands of firefighters booing him from the Wildwood Convention Center bleachers Friday".... THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN but it makes a great opening sentence for this propaganda called media. sure he was booed by union FF's, a few dozen...maybe a hundred or so but there were 7,004 in attendance and why doesn't the "media" report how the governor changed the heckled boos into overwhelming cheers by the end of the speech. this type of reporting is just fueling a fire that doesn't serve to anybody's interest. as Christie said on friday, if his plan to save their pensions work, he expects them to thank him in the future. if not, he's take the heat. one thing is certain, under the current system, there will be no money to pay any unionized worker in this state.
Read all the articles and decide for yourself.
But apparently it would seem that as was often said in those politically incorrect Westerns from my youth, “Fat Man speak with forked tongue.”
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