Recently, Gov. Chris Christie sidestepped taking a stance against gay marriage by saying he’d veto the measure, but not necessarily because he’s anti-marriage-equality: He just wants New Jersey voters to make the decision, not lawmakers.Openly gay legislator Reed Gusciora thought that route was similar to wanting to put segregation to a vote in the South. Gusciora even issued a release last week comparing Christie to segregationist politicans: “Govs. Lester Maddox and George Wallace would have found an ally in Chris Christie over efforts by the Justice Department to end segregation in the South.”
Now Christie is firing back, calling Gusciora a “numbnuts” and telling reporters to “call B.S.” on press releases like Gusciora’s.
“The political climate in the South didn’t give them the option to have a referendum back then,” Christie said, adding later: “They wished they would have had the option, but the political climate did not permit it, meaning they would not win.”
Christie is right that the climate for gay rights is better than civil rights in the ’50s and ’60s (about 52% of NJ voters support gay marriage), but that doesn’t mean that lawmakers shouldn’t do their job and advance today’s civil-rights issues when they see fit.
How about we take this to the next level?
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He’s accusing his opponents of playing politics here, but he’s doing the same: If he doesn’t support marriage equality himself, he should use that as his reasoning to veto gay marriage, not pretend to support the right of voters to decide on civil-rights issues.
Christie has also said that Bruce Harris, the openly gay African-American whom he appointed to the state Supreme Court, should not rule on gay-rights issues. “If confirmed to the court,” Christie said, “[Harris] would recuse himself from that matter because he did not want there to be the appearance of bias on his part on that issue.”
dvlaries
Has anybody called Christie “a fat ass pig?”
Marie Cohn
Projection: Fatso hasn’t seen, much less felt, his nuts since the Reagan Administration.
Wies
YES! heterosexuals and cisgenders know what we need and are not biased at all!
Mike UK
has anyone told this lard arse that hes got a face only a mother could love!!!
dvlaries
I just looked up Mr. Gusciora with Google Image. It certainly appears that at least Reed can see his nuts without needing a mirror.
v
“If confirmed to the court,” Christie said, “[Harris] would recuse himself from that matter because he did not want there to be the appearance of bias on his part on that issue.”
Well then, I guess he better recuse himself from all matters regarding racial bias, profiling, etc. Oh, and way to go Christie, stating that Supreme court justices you appoint are incapable of interpreting the law fairly due to personal bias. Christie is a disaster. Please let him continue to self immolate, I just can’t handle the thought of himm in national office.
Jim Hlavac
Well, if Bruce Harris being gay is a reason to recuse himself for a “Matter that affects everyone” I’d guess that all the judges should recuse themselves, since it “affects everyone.” And I’d suppose too, then, that all the voters should recuse themselves, since they too, by Christie’s reasoning, have a direct interest in the matter of gay marriage. Certainly all the gay voters too, should recuse themselves from voting on any proffered amendment. Indeed, given his statement that gay marriage is so important that it affects everyone, there would seem to be no one in the entire state without a bias and pre-conceived notion as well as a vested interest on the issue. Indeed, Christie himself should recuse himself from a vote or veto on the matter since he is just as “affected” and “interested” directly as Bruce Harris is. And Christie has already said that the Legislature shouldn’t vote on the issue. Egad & Geez, what a conundrum, not a person in New Jersey should vote on the matter. Perhaps the voters & judges of New York can do the honors.
christopher di spirito
Fatso needs to meet Jenny Craig. He might like eating her.
Charlie
What I find fascinating is that conservatives are always reminding us that the USA is a “Republic” not a “Democracy” and going on and on about how that protects us form mob rule but whenever gay marriage come up they want to “let the people decide.” The people DID decide. They decided when they ELECTED the representatives who are voting in favor of gay marriage.
JAW
As much as I hate Chris, and he sadly is my governor, Queerty mis-quoted him…
here is the full text…
The governor, 49, said today that Harris told him that he has advocated for gay marriage personally and as a politician.
“If confirmed to the court, he would recuse himself from that matter because he did not want there to be the appearance of bias on his part on that issue,” Christie told reporters. “My perspective on that issue was to put it aside because he’s not going to rule on that.”
Any Judge that has stated publicly that he favors a certain outcome to the case, most likely would not be impartial. The only area he said that he would recuse himself on was marriage.
Kylew
Good news/opinion piece.
michael
Wow could he possibly make a fatter ass out of himself….
Cam
“”“If confirmed to the court,” Christie said, “[Harris] would recuse himself from that matter because he did not want there to be the appearance of bias on his part on that issue.”””
________________-
Funny, I don’t recall the justices appointed by republicans recusing themselves for Bush v. Gore.
I also don’t recall that O’Connor or Marshall recused themselves whenever an issue involving women or minorities came up.
Christies attitudes are frighteningly segregative and dangerous. He is proposing that people should only judge issues that have no connection to them. By this logic you could force any judge to step down from any case.
Sarah
I’d like to address something which I’ve found disturbing in the comments to many Christie stories. It seems that some find it acceptable to use weight related slurs against him.
This isn’t the way to attack him. The people calling him fat, a lard, fat ass, etc.. Are no different than the people using slurs against LGBTQ individuals. It’s bigoted and unacceptable.
In fact, kids are bullied just as much over their weight as they are because of their sexual orientation or gender status. I know I was! I was horribly bullied because of my weight when I was a kid. So many kids suffer because of it just as LGBTQ kids do.
So don’t used bigoted language to attack Christie, call him what he is. He’s a bigot, he’s a coward, a political hack. But don’t attack him because of his weight, it’s no different than his bigotry against us.
Signed,
A BBW Lesbian
JAW
@Cam:
Cam… This issue is different then the ones that you mentioned… In your cases, the judges did not actively work for or against the issue to be presented in front of them… indeed all of those judges were already in place before the issues happened
Bruce Harris… Has stated that he has ALREADY been working to get the law passed. Because of that, he would need to recuse himself. Harris was upfront and announced it himself… not Christie
JAW
@Sarah:
I agree with you about the name calling about his weight. But calling him a bigot, coward, political hack, is no different…
His children also have to deal with all of the nasty name calling… Hearing your parent abused for what he believes is wrong.
you may see him as bigot etc… others see him as fat… he can change both of them if he works at it.
Zach
Honestly, I have to say “way to go” Gov. Christie. Amazing how there’s a clear and obvious path to marriage equality in NJ, and the NJ Democrats would rather piss and moan than allow passage. It’s great that these legislators apparently have a hard on for the 60s, but I’d rather not rot for another 2 to possibly 6 years waiting from them to finally legalize gay marriage. How about the NJ Democrats just shut the hell up and just let gays get married?
Steve
In the mean time, gays in NJ do have the option of driving to NY, or perhaps soon to MD.
When you do, be sure to write a nice letter to Gov Christie, and be sure to mention how much money you spent in the other state.
This doesn’t just apply to weddings. Whenever you have an opportunity to choose a site for any event, be sure to write Christie a nice letter. Be sure to mention how much money you spent, and explain why you did _not_ choose NJ.
One letter is not likely to change his mind, of course. A few hundred might help him to get a clue.
Robert in NYC
Well then, Christie, all heterosexual judges should recuse themselves from hetero divorce proceedings and have only gay judges adjudicating, ditto custody hearings involving children. What an asshat. Typical republican numbnuts himself.
Friend of Christie's
Okay, I know I’m going out on a limb here by defending the man referred to above by Queertytrons as “fat ass, asshat, fatso, fat-ass pig,” etc etc, but name calling? Really?! That’s all you got? You hopelessly ideological people don’t understand human nature: You’re obviously trying to preemptively knock him down because he’s on the rise, and yet you don’t realize that the only effect your schoolyard tactics of bullying him (yeah that’s right, I used the “B” word) is to turn voters against you nasty name-callers and embrace the big guy who can prove he’s a leader.
Aren’t you glad the right didn’t use name-calling regarding Obama’s ethnicity in the 2008 election? Those people would have appeared almost as ugly and hateful as you chubby-hating Christie-bashers.
As for the marriage issue, I’ll listen to your complaints about one governor when I see an equal amount of rage directed at ALL governors who haven’t signed off on gay marriage, Democrat or Republican.
Cam
@JAW: said…
“Cam… This issue is different then the ones that you mentioned… In your cases, the judges did not actively work for or against the issue to be presented in front of them… indeed all of those judges were already in place before the issues happened”
__________________-
Actually they aren’t different. A black justice could be said to be effected by a any case having an effect on minorities, additionally Scalia and Thomas have both advocated for conservative positions and supported groups advocating cases before them.
Scott
Isn’t the judiciary independent of the other branches of government? Aren’t Christie’s words worthless? Can he remove a state supreme court judge?
Mrs. Robinson
Everybody knows that when you are morbidly fat you are clogging your arteries. That would include the arteries that supply oxygen to the brain. Thus, Christie’s lack of intelligence is not surprising. Most likely his lard filled arteries are to blame.
JAW
@Cam:
Your theory is a bit flawed. With your theory the judges would pretty much recuse themselves form most all cases. The male members would have to recuse themselves that would hurt males. They would also have to recuse themselves from cases that were good for men. You could also say the same if they voted against. women’s rights issues. The list goes on.
This case is different because Harris has already made clear how he feels about the particular issue of Same Sex marriage, He has Not mentioned any other issues concerning GLBT issues.
It is fairly common for a justice of most state and the US supreme court to recuse themselves from issues where they feel they have a bias one way or another.
christopher di spirito
Gov. Fatso, call 1-800 GET THIN. They can help.
Friend of Christie's
@Mrs. Robinson:
@christopher di spirito:
Might I suggest you forward your highly offensive remarks to liberal icons Rosie O’Donnell and Michael Moore. You know who I mean, those specimens of physical perfection whom all of us strive to look like. Or—wait a second—that would be grossly hypocritical of you, and we all know that liberals are immune from hypocrisy (in their own minds, to be sure). So on second thought, I think I’ll forward this thread to their websites so they can see how you really feel about their appearance.
If all you’ve got against Christie are bigoted fatty comments, you and your “cause” are doomed. So unless you’re prepared to have every physical shortcoming of every liberal put under a microscope, you need to back off. Or grow up, whichever comes first.
Gay Bacon
Fatso needs some Gay Bacon in his life 😉
Gay Bacon
That was a fat joke in case you, the reader, were wondering.
GOD (gay old dude)
@Friend of Christie’s: Well put, Christie’s friend.
@christopher di spirito: Your insult “Gov Fatso” inspired me to get just as creative. Here goes:
Barack Obama = President Dumbo ears (who thinks there are 57 states)
Nancy Pelosi = Speaker Botox
Jerry Brown = Governor Baldy
Barney Frank = Congressman Fatso, Liar, Boy-lover, Fraud, Druggie . . . where to stop?
Marion Barry = Mayor Cokehead
And the list goes on and on, so before you go around calling someone fat because you’re threatened by his rise in politics, take a look at your own party and imagine the damage that could be done to it if the right were as inclined to resort to name-calling as you are. Fortunately for you, however, the right has soooo much more class than the vermin who frequent liberal opinion websites.
Pocket Otter
Bring on the heft! Christie 2016! Yeah!
rf
@Scott: Yes, Christie can remove NJ Supreme Court justices and he already did–it was the first time in 60 years that a justice was removed and he did it to send a message to the other 4 who’s appointments also come up during his first term as governor to scare them into conservatism. His words were after he announced the firing:
“It is a fulfillment of my promise to turn the court away from its history of using legal precedent to set social and tax policies in our state – a role which belongs squarely with the legislative and executive branches of state government”
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/breaking-news/index.ssf/2010/05/gov_chris_christie_ousting_sta.html
JAW
@rf:
To Clarify your statement… Christie, CANNOT remove a sitting judge. What He can do is NOT renominate a sitting judge, after his/her first term on the court. As terms come up for first term justices, he has not renominated them. After a justice starts a second term, he is given Tenure until retirement age, so does not need to be renominated.
The joys of the laws in Jerzey
christopher di spirito
@GOD (gay old dude): You silly, old Republican ass kisser. Did you really think you could win this round? Please, old man.
Republican Governor George Ryan – 4/17/2006: racketeering and bribery
Republican Governor Bob Taft – 8/18/2005: 5 counts failure to report gifts from Lobbyists
Republican Governor John Rowland – 12/24/2004: Bribery
Republican Governor Sonny Perdue: Campaign ethics violations
NH GOP Chair Chuck McGee: conspiracy to make harrasing phone calls to block people from voting.
Republican James Tobin (NE Regional Dir., Bush campaign) – 12/15/05: conspiracy to commit telephone harassment: aiding and abetting of telephone harassment
Republican Shaun Hansen (GOP Marketing aide): conspiracy to commit telephone harassment and aiding and abetting telephone harassment
Republican Aide Scott Falwell: racketeering, mail fraud and obstruction of justice
Republican Aide Alexandra Prokos: Perjury
Republican Aide Jim Ellis: 13 counts of unlawful acceptance of a corporate political contribution, money laundering
Republican Aide John Colyandro: money laundering
Republican Brian Hicks: Bribery
Republican Chief of Staff Peter Ellef: Bribery
Republican Roger G. Stillwell (Interior Department): – bribed by Abramoff
Republican Lobbyist Jack Abramoff: defrauding of American Indian tribes and corruption of public officials
Republican Tony Rudy (lobbyist and aide to Tom Delay): conspiracy
Republican Representative Bob Ney: Conspiricy to defraud the United States and making false statements
Republican Neil Volz (lobbyist and aide to Bob Ney): bribery and corruption
Republican William Heaton(Bob Ney’s chief of staff): Conspiricy
Republican Representative Randy “Duke” Cunningham: conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud, and tax evasion
Republican David Hossein Safavian: Lying, obstruction of Justice
Republican Chief of Staff Lewis “Scooter” Libby: two counts of perjury, one of obstruction of justice, and one of making false statements to federal investigators
Republican Tom Noe: Laundered money for the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign, theft, corruption, party chairman and Bush Pioneer fundraiser
Republican Gov Ernie Fletcher: 13 aides indicted
Republican Micheal Scanlon (lobbyist and aide to Tom DeLay): Bribery
GOP Deputy Secretary Steven Griles: bribery, perjury, obstrcting a congressional investigation.
Republican Congressional aide Mark Zachares: bribery
Monica Goodling (White House liaison for Alberto Gonzales): Hired federal prosecuters based upon party affiliation.
Republican Tom Delay: Conspiring to violate Texas state election law, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Reprimanded by House Ethics Committee
Republican Senator Ben Stevens: bribery, corruption
Republican Governor and RNC Chairman Haley Barbour: Laundered money from foreign governments into presidential elections. Used non-profit organizations for illegal purposes.
Republican Representive Mark Foley: Pedophilia
Republican Representive Mark Reynolds: Covered up for Mark Foley
Republican Representive Dennis Hastert: Covered up for Mark Foley
Republican Governor Mitt Romney: Made false statements to bondholders
Republican Governor/Ex Representative Jim Gibbons: Bribery
Republican Attorney General Gonzales: Fired US Attorneys for prosecuting Republicans, interfering in federal investigations, obstruction of justice, lying to Congress, perjury, witness tampering.
Republican Paul J. McNulty (Deputy Attorney General): Interfering in federal investigations, obstruction of justice, lying to Congress, perjury
Republican Senator Pete Domenici: Used influence to get a US Attorney fired
Republican Representative Heather Wilson: Used influence to get a US Attorney fired
Republican Representative Tom Feeney: bribery
Republican Representative Richard George Renzi: bribery, conflict on interest.
Republican Representative Jerry Lewis: Accepted gifts from Lobbyists, bribery, honest services fraud, dispensation of special favors
Republican Representative John Doolittle: Accepted money from Jack Abramoff in exchange for favors.
Republican Representative Rick Renzi: bribery, sponsored legislation that dealt hundreds of millions of dollars to his father’s business.
Republican Representative Tim Murphy: Ethics violations regarding use of Congressional staff for campaign purposes.
Republican Representative Gary Miller: Illegal land deals, tax fraud
Republican Representative Ken Calvert: Steered federal money to projects near his private real estate developments.
Republican Representative Don Young: bribery
When it comes to slim and corruption, the Republicans wrote the book.
GOD (gay old dude)
@christopher di spirito: That is one hell of a list. Man, you must have a boring life to have done all that research and typing, and I’d love to respond with a likewise list of Democratic corruption, but I have a life to attend to. But I digress. Your final line, ironically, states, “When it comes to slim, the Republicans wrote the book.” So, now you’re claim is that Christie isn’t fat, but slim? And all Republicans are slim? That’s so nice of you—I’ll pass it along to all my Republican friends (and you know the gay ones will be especially flattered).
B
Re No 34: Are we to assume that it takes a Republican to “hang his hat” on a typo?
Patsy Stoned
Friend of Christie, I love how you are clutching your pearls at random people calling Christie names in a story about how Christie, a State Gov, CALLED SOMEONE A NAME. Maybe you should get in touch with your “friend” and scold him like you are doing to the people on this message board.
As for Christie, it appears mob rule is fine, as long as the mob isn’t voting on HIS rights.
Sky
What kind of stupid people would elect a fat ass governor like this…sounds like folks from New Jersey need to get a clue and no elect religious, pious, Fat ASS douche bags like this to a place of power. He can’t separate church and state in his mind. He would be a great governor down South he fits right into their stupid backwards 200 years ago mentality but I thought New Jersey would be more progressive than this!! Get a Clue and Vote this Douche Bag out of a Job. He is a Slob and a Bigot.