New, just released ads from the Corzine campaign are at the bottom!!
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Even while he leads Governor Corzine in the early polls, Chris Christie still has a stunning 45% - 50% "no opinion" rating when it comes to his personal approval ratings. And with that, it will be very interesting for many New Jerseyans to find out just what Chris Christie is all about.
Sure, we have dissected his many conflicts of interest, his numerous scandals, his hypocrisy in calling for reform and changes in NJ while he (along with his cronies) says and does precisely the same things that he says he will change and even his lies. But nothing says more about a person than what they themselves say about their own views and positions.
With that, here are a few things that Chris Christie has said about himself - things that will probably surprise more than a few people in NJ when it comes to just what they would and would not get if Chris Christie were to win in November.
First, a video:
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On the budget
Talking to Jim Lehrer about what budget cuts he would make to cover all of his proposed tax cuts:
LEHRER: "A number of people want me to follow up again on the back and forth we had about what you would actually cut, because they said you never gave a specific answer to what you would cut, even if you wouldn't do the same spending policies as Governor Corzine."
CHRISTIE: "Well listen, I think again, that you know, I know people love to continue to press on that, but the fact of the matter is that Governor Corzine has a responsibility for putting together this budget and my responsibility is to critique what he's done."
Talking recently in a debate with Steve Lonegan, Christie talks about his career and gives a window of understanding into his grasp of concepts needed to help lift NJ's economy:
"I went to Law School because I really couldn't do math or science."
And in this time of need, what did Christie say about the state workforce after indicating that he would reject funding to help unemployed workers?
Christie would not declare how many of the state's 80,000 employees could lose their jobs under his budget-cutting efforts because he does not have the exact budget information at hand.
But, he said, "One thousand is too few. But could it be 10,000, 20,000? It is too hard to say."
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On the Federal stimulus bill
Talking to Sean Hannity about the stimulus bill - $2 billion of which is going to NJ, Christie talks about what he would do with the money:
HANNITY: What do you think of some of these governors who aren't taking some stimulus money? Governor Palin, Sanford, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry. What do you think of that?
CHRISTIE: I think it makes sense. If they're going to put strings on that money, then they're going to tie your hands and make you expand programs. And not be able to have the freedom of choice that people elected you for. Then you shouldn't take the money.
That includes $60 million for law enforcement, over $11 million for programs that deal with violence against women and domestic violence, and an expansion of unemployment benefits to help unemployed workers. And that also means 100,000 jobs to NJ that Christie will turn away.
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On same sex marriage
From his own website:
If a bill legalizing same sex marriage came to my desk as Governor, I would veto it. If the law were changed by judicial fiat, I would be in favor of a constitutional amendment on the ballot so that voters, not judges, would decide this important social question.
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On Environmental protection
When it comes to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection, Christie's own website says that:
"he wants to trim government spending, and that his first target would be the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Christopher Christie, the former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey, says the DEP is too big and is "killing business" with permit delays and indiscriminate fines.
He says he would lay off DEP workers and strip the agency of its fish and wildlife oversight.
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And now, two new ads from today - this one gives more contrast between Christie's positions and Corzine's:
Here is another that reinforces his positions and words:
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So listen to what Chris Christie says about himself.
- Not good at math, hasn't come up with any real budget numbers;
- Doesn't think that he has to come up with a budget and that he only needs to criticize Corzine;
- Would reject $2 billion of federal stimulus money that would beef up law enforcement and create 100,000 jobs;
- Would cut 10,000 or 20,000 in state jobs;
- Would deny unemployment benefits expansion (fully reimbursed by Federal Government) at a time when families need it most;
- Policies would lead to increased employer payroll tax costs;
- Would gut environmental protection laws and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection;
- Would veto a marriage equality bill and fight for a Constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.
Is this the kind of person that New Jersey can afford to have as Governor?
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To get involved, check out the just-launched, all-new JonCorzine09.com, and consider getting involved in the campaign.