Christie’s Talk Is Blunt, but Not Always Straight

[no_hypocrisy]

New Jersey’s public-sector unions routinely pressure the State Legislature to give them what they fail to win in contract talks. Most government workers pay nothing for health insurance. Concessions by school employees would have prevented any cuts in school programs last year.

Statements like those are at the core of Gov. Chris Christie’s campaign to cut state spending by getting tougher on unions. They are not, however, accurate.

In fact, on the occasions when the Legislature granted the unions new benefits, it was for pensions, which were not subject to collective bargaining — and it has not happened in eight years. In reality, state employees have paid 1.5 percent of their salaries toward health insurance since 2007, in addition to co-payments and deductibles, and since last spring, many local government workers, including teachers, do as well. The few dozen school districts where employees agreed to concessions last year still saw layoffs and cuts in academic programs.

“Clearly there has been a pattern of the governor playing fast and loose with the details,” said Brigid Harrison, a political science professor at Montclair State University. “But so far, he’s been adept at getting the public to believe what he says.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/nyregion/10christie.html?_r=1&hp

[annabanana]

1. Just like all the other bullies who made it to adulthood without any

ethical or moral understanding of why they can't always get their way...

[OHdem10]

2. If Democrats do not stand up to bullies, the bullies continue to win.

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. He was a prosecutor and they are inherently bullies. He is used to...

playing fast and loose with the truth trying to influence juries emotionally and he is doing the same to the taxpayers. The end game is winning, not how it was won.

[Laxman]

5. He wasn't really a prosecutor!

Christie was a failed insurance defense lawyer and a really bad local politician. He actually got sued for libel by other republicans for statements made during a campaign and ended up paying damages to them in a settlement. His brother made a ton of money on Wall Street, his wife works for a Wall Street bond firm and he turned these connections into his own wealth. He then went out and raised big bucks for Bush. (he was a bush "Ranger") His fund-raising prowess got him his gig as US Attorney. He had no real trial experience. He had zero criminal law background. He just raised a lot of money for the idiot.He then used his office to engage in a witch hunt for crooked politicians and other prosecutions that would raise his public profile. Many using techniques that were ethically questionable. It was all to set himself up for his rise to power. Real prosecutors are not bullies. They do some very difficult work in administering the criminal justice system, mostly in anonymity. I know. I was a prosecutor and I worked with some really fine and empathetic people who just did their jobs. Christie is a creep who used his power to advance his position in life and gain power, plain and simple. He is a bully and a fake tough guy who needs to meet his comeuppance sometime in the near future.

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. Did not know that. n/t

[spanone]

4. wow. color me shocked. the media darling lies!!!!