(CNN) - Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie insisted Sunday that he was not criticizing former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin when he told The New York Times that she "rightfully has been criticized" for consistently following a script.
"It wasn't a criticism of her. It was an observation," Christie said on "Fox News Sunday." "If you avoid those unscripted moments, I don't think the American people will trust their instincts about whether you would make a good president or not."
Christie said voters learn the most about how candidates will govern through the campaign process "when you're not being handled or told what to say but you have to react to situations like this."
The former 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee and potential 2012 candidate said she was the subject of a "blood libel" by those who suggested her comments and actions contributed to the shooting of Democratic Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
From CNN Politics
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The Alaskan Air Head is a disgrace to any sensible American citizen.
It appears that Christie is fiddling around with the truth.
When The Alaskan Air Head's vacuous persona fades from the headlines the better off this country will be.
Some advice to anyone who wants their opinion be honestly considered: Stop using words like "libtard" and "repugnantcan". As soon as you show your immature spewings, nobody takes what you say as honest opinion, but as the rantings of a spoiled child who can't think of anything viable to say. Grow up!
Every time someone calls this woman out, it seems like two two days later they always issue a "clarification" that is really an "I didn't mean it." Why bother? The woman is unelectable and most people know that. The senior GOP people should be finding a way to get rid her, she cost them the Senate in the midterms and she will cost them a chance at the White House in 2012 if she keeps it up. America may be frustrated with Washington politics, but they aren't crazy or stupid enough to elect someone like Palin or her other wingnuts like O'Donnell.
2012?
All one needs to do is read the comments here to understand that America is doomed. I also agree with Old Man River, above...
And welcome to GOP primary season 2012. Christie's just testing the waters right now.
Now the partisan conformist can't retreat quickly enough. Obviously he does not have the courage to stand behind what he says, and criticize what needs criticizing.
To Old Man River: ub so RIGHT! When I see non-thinking name-calling in a post, I don't even bother. Sadly, what I think such posts indicate (because there are so many) is that most people have no patience or capacity to think past their surface reactions. & I think who we often elect for our officials is indicative of that...too bad for us all.
Geez, and now Christie is afraid of Plain?
What is she, the head blackmailer in-charge? Somebody says something about her then they immediately start backpedaling.
There is no there, there. Unless she is blackmailing these people there is no reason for them to take back or soften their words all the time.
She is not qualified to be the mayor of Petticoat Junction, so why is everyone scared of her?
Christie never liked, nor respected, Palin. He is simply trying to force her to interact more with the media, in irder to eliminate her quickly from the potential candidates that he has to face.
Flip and Flop
That's some pretty courageous back pedaling there Christie. Mustn't offend the prom queen.
"It wasn't a criticism of her. It was an observation." WOW. This is how dumb people in office think that you are. (You can't criticize without observing.)
As long as Republicans defend Sarah Palin, I'll vote for anyone except them.
Palin "rightfully has been criticized" but "It wasn't a criticism of her. It was an observation," Christie said. Well, the "rightfully" part was not just an observation but indicated agreement. If you agree that someone should be criticized isn't that also being critical of that person? How does that work? These wacky Repulicans–“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”
Even Christi, who's now known as a straight shooter, has to do the Kabookie Dance when talking about Palin.. it's like she's some VoodDoo Godess, capable of wicked spells...
While I admire Governor Christie for his principles and intestinal fortitude, I think he's wrong here. Sarah Palin has every right to defend herself against the radical left media and politicians that attack her 24/7/365.
Every event she ever attends is pre scripted with Q&As already coregraphed. She get's into real trouble when someone asks something like" What does she read?" You know one of those trick questions...Or another trick question" Do you believe in the Bush Doctrine?" She's really not too smart but smart enough toavoid those trick questions now.
So he's not criticizing her, he's just saying she's too stupid to be President?
No one knows whether anyone will be a good President or not. We know next to nothing about how candidates really feel about anything. All we ever see, is media orchestrated commentary, 95% of which, is pure BS, and we all KNOW it is BS, from the git-go.
No one REALLY wants us to know anything real about any candidate for office......and they actually do everything they can to only expose us to what they WANT us to think, and none of that necessarily has any relationship to reality. It is pure salesmanship, and nothing else.
The entire political process is a complete and total sham. Or, put in another way, a complete and total con game.
OMIF (Open mouth, insert foot) Sometimes added explanation of previous quote need not go further.
"What trick, what device, what starting-hole, canst
thou now find out to hide thee from this open and
apparent shame?"
From Henry IV (II, IV, 251-253)
I don't see this as backing off. His original comment was to the effect that people have criticized her for never going off script, and that he believed that there was legitimate grounds for that criticism. That is not criticism, it is exactly what he said it was, and observation about the criticism she has received. After standing his ground with the NJEA, which no politician in the 30+ years I've lived in Jersey has had the stones to do, Christie has certainly earned the benefit of any doubt in this situation. I have voted for Dems more often than not in the past, but this man will have my support for whatever office he decides to run for because I will never have to listen to what he says and then try to figure out what he really means like I do with every other politician.
Folks, I just watched part of Palin's "blood libel" speech (on Reliable Sources). Unless she memorized the whole thing (which, since they weren't even her words, she is incapable of) - SHE IS READING OFF A TELEPROMPTER! Unless someone near the camera is holding up large pieces of paper with the speech - she is reading off something! Not that there's anything wrong with that, but.....
Palin would make a horrible president and everyone knows it. She is the most unqualified person I can think of in recent history who has even toyed with the idea. The republcian side is just afraid to admit it because she is their scapegoat and they are using her for own advantage and will then kick her to the curb when the time is right. Most of America has already kicked her to the curb where she rightfully belongs.
I am a life long GOP member and the Governor has it right on. The party elders will NEVER support Palin on the GOP ticket in 2012. If that were to happen I would vote for the other party for the very FIRST time!!