We all know that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is the single reason that the state doesn’t have marriage equality. Now we also know that Christie doesn’t think marriage equality is a human rights issue.
During a campaign visit to a diner in Edison, NJ, Christie got into a surprisingly (for him) civil discussion with a voter who pressed him on his opposition to same-sex marriage. What was meant to be a routine event turned out to be a window into Christie’s ongoing waffling on gay issues.
It all began when Bert Bueno, a straight woman, asked Christie to explain his opposition to marriage equality. “Lots of different people have different views on this,” Christie said. “I think marriage should be between a man and a woman.” Christie also reiterated his stand that the issue be put to the voters and not “decided by politicians in Trenton.” (So much for a representative form of government.)
To her credit, Bueno wasn’t buying “How could you as the leader of the state speak and have such a point of view that really is in opposition to many, many people?” Bueno asked.
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“Whenever you have an opinion that’s in opposition to many, many people … ” Christie started to reply.
“But this is different than gun control or taxes,” Bueno interjected.
“No, I don’t think it is different,” the governor said.
“It’s a human rights issue,” Bueno insisted.
“Says you,” Christie responded.
And there you have it: for Christie, marriage equality is not a human rights issue.
Christie tried to prove he’s really gay friendly by pointing out he signed a measure to ban conversion therapy. He also added, “I have relatives who are gay, I have friends who are gay. It all boils down, in Christie’s view, to “a difference of opinion.” It also boils down to Christie’s presidential ambitions, which are as outsized as the governor himself.
Geoff B
Y’know, every time I try to defend this guy…….. Ugh, you win Christie haters, I’m done. I don’t know what’s more offensive, that he’s so easilly dismissive of the idea that this is a human rights issue, or the fact that he pulled the “some of my best friends are…..”crap. I line up with Repubs on a lot of issues, but bigotry is a dealbreaker for me. My conscience has to override everything else. I have to be able to live with myself first. My wallet must come second.
Caleb in SC
@Geoff B: Good for you on your change of heart! I wish more people would stop voting with their wallets. If more people voted with their conscience, we may well one day be rid of the GOP.
Harley
I can never understand how middle class citizens can vote for republicans with their debunked “trickle-down economics” BS. It’s never worked. Nixon tried it. Reagan tried it. W tried it. It only made the middle class weaker while catapulting the wealth to the 1%. Clinton left a budget surplus and a balanced budget, a booming economy, and a strong and growing middle class. W destroyed it. I vote my wallet. I vote democratic. My stocks skyrocketed under Clinton, my stocks tanked with W. While I’ve seen some improvement in my stock portfolio under President Obama, I have yet to regain what I had in 2000 when W was elected. I guess Fox News has really programmed many in the middle class into believing that republicans are good and Dems are bad, when the opposite is true. Much like what the nazis did to German citizens in the 30s.
Cam
You have to love it, The Supreme Court stated that Marriage IS a rights issue. (Loving v. Va.) So Christie is such a bigot that he will impose his view over the U.S. Supreme Court.
So I’m wondering, will he also be announcing that since he doesn’t feel marriage is a right, that he disagrees with the Loving V. Va decision since it was made by the court and not be a straight vote?
2eo
I like how he’s supposedly talking about human rights yet he’s still motioning for the pieces of KFC he was eating the last 3 decades.
StephK
In Christie’s narcissism, he is a hero to the Grand Old Party and to those who matter to him…those religious conservatives of flyover country whose support he needs for his 2016 delusions. His calls for a referendum appeals to the low-information voters who boost his poll numbers while he empties further their wallets with a 20% property tax increase.It is so amazing that he would link his legacy with that of Gov. George Wallace when any day now S.C.O.N.J. will affirm marriage equality in the Garden State.He is such a shameless, short sighted opportunist. However,Karma is an awesome bitch goddess who will fix him.
Dxley
I wish he could choke on all the fat he has and die. “marriage should be between a man and a woman”? What’s the point if 50% of those marriages end in divorce? I believe marriage is between two adults who love and care about each other. To be easily accepted by society; you should be male, white, straight, christian. This is bullshit because we can’t all be alike – I think he should focus more and losing his weight and let people be who they are. He doesn’t have to like it, I didn’t believe he was homophobic until he started with the “I have relatives who are gay” shit. It’s just how these people defend themselves.
HirsuteOne
Since New Jersey doesn’t have a statewide initiative and referendum process, is Christie Kreme alluding to a vote on a state constitutional amendment proposed by the legislature? That’s the only way I can think of this being put “on the ballot”.
The Supreme Court of New Jersey already ruled in 2006 (Lewis v. Harris) that the state was unequal and unconstitutional in their administration of marriage. Does Gov. Christie Kreme think they’ve suddenly changed their mind? He’s just puffing hot disco fries scented air.
Caliban
“Says you.”
That tells you about all you need to know about Chris Christie’s attitude and manners right there. Were the anti-miscegenation laws not a “civil rights issue”? What would have happened if slavery, interracial marriage, and the ending of segregation had been put to a popular vote? This is EXACTLY why we have the form of government we do, deliberately created to prevent mob rule deciding the rights of minorities.
Darling Nikki
@Caliban
All I can say is AMEN! For a privileged white hetero christian male in the U.S, a vote sounds fair, SINCE the system is stacked in HIS favor. If it were up to him, we’d still count non-whites as 3/5th a person and the only people who would be eligible to vote would be white male land owners.
What a CREEP!!!!
Spike
Just keep talking fat boy. This is the only legit moderate the repubs have for the 2016 Presidential election, all the rest are ape sheet crazy t.baggerz, having him continue talking down on marriage equality when the rest of the country has tired of the topic and states are moving fast to establish, this all works to the Democrats advantage as it involves Hillary 2016.
trelin
What’s awful is how much of a strong-hold he has on New Jersey. He’s basically ruined the public school system, and shit directly on teachers. He’s even gone as to offer stipends for parents to choose a private school education for their children instead of bolstering the public education system by supporting our teachers. He wants to add even more standardized testing to schools without giving any thought to the different learning types of children.
The reason people like him so much is because he’s come out as a bully to all the sides that oppose him and how he handled the 2nd biggest hurricane-related disaster in the books with some poise and a navy blue fleece jacket.
It’s sad because Barbara Bueno really doesn’t have a chance. Christie has brainwashed almost every NJ resident into believing that he’s done a decent job.
uruz422
Just for the record the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN founding principles, which the US, under Eleanor Roosevelt, helped write and by being part of the UN says they acknowledge and agree with, says:
Article 16.
(1) Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
(2) Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
(3) The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.
DarkZephyr
@uruz422: And it doesn’t say “men and women except homosexual ones”.
Daniel-Reader
Creepy when someone joins the list of politicians in history who dismiss other people’s human rights.
jeffinsydney
Whoa!
I actually thought CC was going to be the moderate voice that might save the Republican Party.
Wrong again, me and him……………..
bmwblonde
Christie is oblivious, unconscious, opportunistic, NOT VERY BRIGHT, and has humongous self-esteem issues as evidenced by his totally out-of-balance BODY. Pathetic, but not worth column-inches.
Lane103
Sadly Christie and Jeb B will be the likely Republican candidates and a good portion of Americans will vote for them…additionally,.the republicans will continue to try to suppress votes..
The only saving grace is if the Democratic Party can convince corporate America they are better for business..
Sorry to say it but money buys the election…thanks to the Supreme Court.
Eiswirth
Gov. Blob is trying to appeal to the tea party base of his party: the criminally stupid who are currently trying to destroy the world’s economy and blame Obama for it. He’s swimming with the slugs. It’s easy for these morons to say it’s not a human rights issue, because by subtracting the human element one doesn’t have to deal with reality. He knows he’ll never be president so he’s bound and determined to make others miserable too, while the campaign dollars from the Koch brothers and their ilk keep rolling in.
Cam
The funny thing is, by trying to appeal to the Tea Party wing of the party he has doomed his chances for National Office.
He needs them to make it through the primary, but by appealing to them he has no chance in the General elections.
Unless things change we are seeing the end of the GOP as we know it, it will either split or collapse and be replaced or go into a period of permanent small regional party status while another party grows to replace it on a national level.
EGO
As more Americans become educated/informed that the LGBT community is part of our society and not a threat, they will support equality. We have come a long ways and who knows, maybe Christie will find out he is Christina! :>)
Teleny
Christy is Evil.