NEW YORK — Returning to the national television circuit, Gov. Chris Christie this morning praised President Obama’s speech yesterday in Tucson, where he addressed the nation on the assassination attempt on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords that left six people dead and 13 others wounded. “I thought it was excellent. I thought he did exactly what a leader should do...
Gov. Christie toned down his disagreement with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani over whether he should have stayed in New Jersey during the Dec. 26 blizzard on "Good Morning America" today. NEW YORK — Returning to the national television circuit, Gov. Chris Christie this morning praised President Obama’s speech yesterday in Tucson, where he addressed the nation on the assassination attempt on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords that left six people dead and 13 others wounded.
“I thought it was excellent. I thought he did exactly what a leader should do at a moment like this,” Christie told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America."
Christie said he had “no idea” why former Alaska Gov. and Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin, defending herself yesterday against accusations about violent political rhetoric, accused the media of “blood libel” – a centuries-old anti-Semitic accusation that Jews killed Christian babies to use their blood to make matzo.
“I don’t know. I have no idea. But what I would say is I don't think anybody really believes Gov. Palin was really trying to make someone get hurt or bring violence on. And I think she should have just said that and left it at that,” he said.
Christie also toned down his disagreement with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani over whether he should have stayed in New Jersey during the Dec. 26 blizzard. Giuliani had said Christie should have said, to which Christie yesterday said Giuliani was “wrong” and he would not “bow” to his “political correctness.”
“I know you’ll find it shocking that two strong-willed Italian guys from the northeast disagree on something,” he said. “I have great respect for the mayor.”
In an interview an hour later on Imus in the Morning, radio host Don Imus needled Christie again for his absence during the blizzard, leading to a jocular spat between the two.
“Jesus Christ. What are you doing? I thought we were friends,” joked Christie. “Now you’re really pissing me off, you know that. So be careful.”
Christie explained to Imus that Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno was also out of state on a family cruise through the Panama Canal arranged by her ailing father, and told Imus it shows “what an incredibly compassionate and caring boss I am” to let her go on the trip despite his own plans.
