A brash Christie takes on OWS, shares Romney's personal side
West Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie displayed his trademark call-'em-like-he-sees-'em manner Wednesday, veering from brash to emotional at a public rally for Mitt Romney.
The popular Republican politician endorsed Romney in October after an extended flirtation with party heavyweights as he considered his own run for the White House.
Minutes into Christie's speech at the Kum & Go headquarters in West Des Moines, he was interrupted by protesters from the Occupy Iowa Caucus movement who had scattered throughout the audience and began to chant.
Christie matched up his famous gruffness against the vocal group, some of whom were wearing Romney stickers and were standing onstage behind the governor.
"You're so angry, aren't you," he said as the activists angrily chanted. "Work it all out.... You know what, we're used to dealing with jokers like this in New Jersey all the time."
Some supporters tangled with the protesters, who continued to chant, "Put people first!" as they were escorted from the building by police.
"I hope you all enjoyed it," Christie told the audience. "They'll be working at the Marriott down the street. Please remember to tip your waiters and waitresses, all right?"
After the protesters were gone, Christie said blame for the Occupy Wall Street movement's anger lay with President Barack Obama.
"They represent an anger in our country that Barack Obama has caused because he is a typical, cynical, Chicago ward politician who runs for office and promises everything and then comes to office and disappoints," he said.
Minutes later, Christie turned warmly personal after a voter asked him to share a personal story about Romney.
Christie told the audience when Romney had come to solicit his support in October, the former Massachusetts governor had made a special effort to connect with Christie's four children.
Christie said watching Romney convinced him of the politician's "extraordinary heart."
"I saw him interacting with my kids in a way that was not showing off for me - natural," Christie said. "It was a really powerful moment for me."
Some voters were clearly nursing a soft spot for Christie, who decided not to run for president in October. At times Wednesday he sounded like he was running for something, as he talked about his beliefs and said he felt a close kinship to Iowans.
"New Jersey and Iowa are a lot more alike than people would think," he told the audience. "You're all very direct. There's not a lot of baloney coming from Iowans."
"I will always just be who I am, and I will tell you exactly who I am," he added.
One voter asked Christie if he would consider being Romney's vice president. Christie gave his now standard reply, telling the audience not to bet on it but said he wouldn't preemptively decline something he had not been asked.
Christie was also asked about whether he would have accepted a debate invitation from real estate mogul Donald Trump.
"I'd have a hard time saying no because Donald would just never speak to me again," Christie said, who called Trump an old friend.
But he said he thought Romney was smart to focus on meeting with people in early voting states instead.
On his way out the door, Christie told a reporter he was not concerned by polls that showed Newt Gingrich surging in Iowa. A CNN/ORC poll released Wednesday showed Gingrich leading Romney in the state, 33% to 20%.
"Lots of people have surged in the polls out here. I wasn't concerned about Michele Bachmann or Herman Cain or Rick Perry, either," Christie said. "Mitt Romney is the steady, mature leader we need for our party and for our country."
Oh, please, someone make him VP and get him out of NJ. Pleeeeeease
Christie is mocking people who wait tables??? Everyone can't be as good as him!! Some people actually work and earn there money to feed their families....and depend on tips, I don't think it wise to make fun of the working class.
Sorry fatboy, spin it all you want, the OWS Movement is angry at the lies that were fed to them about how GOP championed trickle-down economics would benefit everyone, when in fact it has only made the rich richer, and the middle class poorer.
"They represent an anger in our country that Barack Obama has caused because he is a typical, cynical, Chicago ward politician who runs for office and promises everything and then comes to office and disappoints," he said.
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I don't know about other Chicago politicians, but Christie sure summed it up well about Obama. His 2008 campaign was such a far cry from his performance in office I can't imagine that anyone will listen to him this time around. He said he had all the answers for fixing the economy and to put people back to work. It's clear now he knew nothing about economics. Nothing. He said he was going to fix America's reputation around the world and bring the evil countries into line with diplomacy and intelligent relations. How's that working with Iran and Syria now? They became emboldened like we have never seen before. If Obama thinks he had a tough start, the next President has twice as much to fix and he's got to do it with $5 trillion more debt and 4% more people 'officially' unemployed.
Romney 2012!
Could you imagine having a vice-president like Christie who can't wipe His own backside because He's too fat? Headline: Secret Service new job duties include wiping Christie's backside.
Mitt and Ann Romney are a class act! Do you OWN research and you'll see that they are hardworking, loyal, and dedicated to each other and to their children. They are everything the United States used to stand for.
Gov. Christie: Please don't tarnish your reputation for honesty by calling Obama a typical, cynical Chicago ward politician.
He certainly has flaws, but he is certainly not that. And you cheapen your own image by repeating such Limbaugh simplistic distortions.
Give up the Christie on Romney manlove... Instead, feel the NEWTMENTUM!
There was never anything to Mitt Romney other than his "inevitability". Now that this is gone, there's nothing left other than an empty suit, perfectly coiffed hair, and his magic mormon undergarments.
Chris Christie is a good man and true Rock Star within the GOP!
Christie will be President one day!
I have the question of what is Christie doing in Iowa. Doesn't he have a job that is in NJ? I guess that he doesn't care and could be jockeying for the VP slot. It also shows that Christie is like Romney and doesn't understand that those not making 100 of thousands of dollars. If they really had a clue, then they would be saying what Romney plans on doing to get manufacturing moved back here in the US. Just cutting taxes and regulations (still very vague on that for my taste) won't bring back those jobs. It is more than that.
Wow Romney interacted with his kids once and now he should be president....???? Can't say no to Trump because he would never talk to Christie again?? That's a bad thing??? I can see why republicans wanted him to run... the man is Soooo in touch,give me a break, give us all a break from this load of bull!!
Did the Mr.Christie say what I think he said about the protestors? Why do I feel that I am back in the Vietnam era when a whole bunch of people knew something was wrong, and yet the establishment described the protestors in the same way? Mr. Christie, it must be nice to be in your position of power, but most are not, and do not appreciate statements like the ones you are described here as making.
Christy go back to new jersey and try to fix that messed up economy. You keep yapping about Obama is making the occupied folks angry. Where were you when the tea bggers raised their angry voice. The tea baggers didn't even gave Obama a chance to do nothing when he took over the mess their party caused. They immediately attacked him a fed weeks after he took office. The economy was shrinking at 9 percent for crying out loud. That's not great recession level, that's depression level. Yet these folks didn't even gave him a chance to start fixing the problem and demogog him at every turn. Thank yah we didn't go into a great depression and came out of the depression growing the economy and adding private sector jobs for the last 22 months, even though he sacrificed his whole democratic congress to do this. Yet these repubs keep yapping about leadership
deficiency. I wonder how many repubs will be willing to sacrifice their congress to accomplish this. I guest they wouldn't be talking about leadership then huh.
I am SO tired of this political "heavyweight" and his "Dis is New Joisey" act. He should be on the cast of "Jersey Shore" with his tired shtick.
Christie is the poster boy for why OWS exists and keeps getting stronger. Christie is a scuzzy politician who sneaks out of the state without telling anyone so he can fellate the Koch brothers at their big secret meeting. He pals around with idiots like Trump and Romney. And he expects a limo to carry his lard-butt a few yards from the state helicopter to his son's game. Look at an old political cartoon of what a corrupt "fat-cat" politician looks like and it will look like Christie. A lot.
Someone who'd call Donald Trump an old friend would have to be a 100% goof.
"Brash" Republican pols are using their "honesty" as a cover for rudeness and bullying. We have a governor here in Maine who says something totally outrageous, punctuates it with a "hearty" har har har and then leaves his apologist (singular) to insist he's being refreshingly honest.
It's tiring. It's not what I expect from someone who is not on his 6th long neck beer. It's time for Chris Christie to stop pretending he's the guy on the end stool in the belief that it appeals to anyone not on his 6th beer.
Real funny, fat boy. You should've become a comedian instead of a politician. I doubt Lardo here even knows what Romney stands for. Heck, I doubt Romney even knows what Romney stands for.
Chirstie, is there something wrong with working at Marriott? Just not your constituency, right. Gotta be in the 1% b4 the GOP will represent you!
Right, it's all Obama's fault, because we all know that fiscal policy in America started on January 20th of 2009 and there was no problem with our finances before that.
Gotta love right-wing selective amnesia
Brash is hardly the word I would use for him. Bully comes closer. What a whack job. He may have had a few good ideas (mostly bad) but he's just a big bully.
christie, don't you know that Romney shipped jobs overseas...today we are seeing every damn dirty stuff is Made in China/India, or Pakistan, or Bangladesh....folks, do not buy foreign made....this is your gift for me....on christmas....I am doing the same, you do the same...