Washington (CNN) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared to set his sights on President Obama Thursday night at a dinner sponsored by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, saying, "We're done with soaring rhetoric."
The Republican governor with a tough-guy reputation never mentioned the president by name but added, "Soaring rhetoric feels good for a little while, but if there's no follow-through, all that's left is the same problems except bigger because we put them off."
Christie's comments were reported by the National Journal.
But Christie, who has quickly become a rising star in the GOP, directed fire at "demagoguery" on both sides of the isle.
"Both parties have within them members who are afraid to step out and afraid to tell the truth because they've seen the demagoguery of the past and what happened to people who got in way of that demagoguery," he said. "It usually was not positive for political future.
Christie, who has drawn praise in conservative circles for his willingness to call for austere budget cuts in New Jersey, added Americans need to accept the idea that "the party is over."
"When you're in this deep a hole, of course you stop digging, but the other part is you need to climb out. And it's always hard, and often not pleasant."
This isn't a good angle for him. Obama's accomplished more than any other president in his first 2 years. Perhaps it would have worked in 07-08, but today, whether you agree with his policies or not, there's just too large a track record to dismiss it as rhetoric.
Christie is full of bull.
Well, if he wants a reduction in the "soaring rhetoric," then he needs to stop being such a bully. He needs to understand that some words can expire. He hasn't listed to and speeches by FDR, Churchill, JFK or MLK Jr. just to name a few.
Rhetoric...did the Republicans do anything to help pass healthcare or financial reform? It's funny (and highly inaccurate spin) to hear representatives of the "Party of No" saying the President is the one with only soaring rhetoric. Vision is the President's job, it's up to the Congress to actually propose the detailed legislation. They'd rather just blame someone else. Hopefully they can work together towards our budget problems, calling it "soaring rhetoric" is not productive.
So says a one term governor who would kill jobs for lack of public infrastructure rather than issue bonds. What a joke.
Christie should pay attention to the disaster that is New Jersey and leave the role of government to the men & women who know what they are doing – HE DOES NOT!
"afraid to tell the truth because they've seen the demagoguery of the past and what happened to people who got in way of that demagoguery," he said. "It usually was not positive for political future."
As a taxpayer and voter, I couldn't care less about their political future. DO THE RIGHT THING for the American people. That's all that matters.
We're done with soaring rhetoric but hateful, divisive, misleading, and untruthful rhetoric is just fine. We want our voters to be as angry, fearful, and misinformed as possible so they'll vote continue against their own self interest.
There would be a lot more follow through if there wasn't so much obstruction. People should go visit congress.gov and see the number of bills that died in the Senate last year due to the Party of No. It's pretty sad.
These comments from Gov. Christie are just laughable since he is refusing to deal with our own state's budget problems and just today has asked for a handout of over $324 million from the federal governemnt so he could help balance the budget. He is also purposely bankrupting the state employee pension fund by refusing to make the state's contractually obligated payments.
Gee, Chris ... I guess you're done with all that "soaring rhetoric" about stimulus money that kept your state from going bankrupt last year. God forbid, you should close those tax loopholes for the rich and pay your own way.
Thanks for the insights, Tough Guy.
He'll say anything for a ham biscuit!