NEW YORK — President Barack Obama must reform entitlements, not just "lay back" and criticize Republicans' proposals, Gov. Chris Christie said today at a speech at the Waldorf Astoria, harshly criticizing the president. Speaking before the Committee of 100, a non-profit organization representing Chinese-Americans' business interests, Christie cited Obama's "bumper sticker re-election" and spent several minutes of the speech...
Gov. Chris Christie spoke today at the Waldorf Astoria.NEW YORK — President Barack Obama must reform entitlements, not just "lay back" and criticize Republicans' proposals, Gov. Chris Christie said today at a speech at the Waldorf Astoria, harshly criticizing the president.
Speaking before the Committee of 100, a non-profit organization representing Chinese-Americans' business interests, Christie cited Obama's "bumper sticker re-election" and spent several minutes of the speech talking about broad fiscal and economic issues, tying the talk back to New Jersey by saying the state is setting an example for the rest of the country.
"I'm not enamored with having a master political strategist in the White House, I'd rather have a leader in the White House," Christie said.
Christie repeated his disappointment in President Obama's State of the Union speech, calling high speed rail systems and electric cars "the candy of American politics, the goodies that you give out to people."
Speaking with a more serious tone than he adopts at his town hall meetings, the governor cited borrowing, social security, Medicare and Medicaid as areas in need of reform by the federal government.
He touted the business accomplishments of his administration, repeating New Jersey is an example for the rest of the country. He highlighted raising the Bayonne Bridge, New Jersey's ports, and his administration's cutbacks on spending and regulations as major accomplishments.
Christie called New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo "my separated at birth twin brother," and said the two governors "are following startlingly similar fiscal paths," including saying no to millionaire's taxes.
"America's economic future, America's business future, America's trade future is depending on getting these issues right," Christie said. "If we do not get these issues right, it will severely inhibit, if not destroy, our ability to be a viable trading partner."
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