Chris Christie Criticizes Rick Perry’s Comments On Gays
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie doesn’t exactly agree with Rick Perry’s belief that being gay is like being an alcoholic:
(CNN) - Gov. Chris Christie said Friday he disagrees with Gov. Rick Perry’s recent comments comparing homosexuality to alcoholism.
“I disagree with them. I don’t believe that’s an apt analogy and not one that should be made because I think it’s wrong,” the New Jersey Republican told reporters Friday in San Francisco.
As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Christie was in California campaigning for gubernatorial nominee Neel Kashkari. He was asked whether the RGA should condemn Perry’s remarks, which were made earlier this week in San Francisco.
“You know, every governor and public official has to speak for themselves on these issues,” Christie said. “I just spoke for myself.”
At an address to the Commonwealth of California Club this week, Perry was asked whether he thought homosexuality was a disorder.
“I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that – and I look at the homosexual issue the same way,” the Texas Republican said.
Perry, like Christie, is considering a presidential bid in 2016. The two aren’t known for being the best of friends.
Perry’s Texas Republicans, of course, also recently adopted a platform endorsing so-called “reparative therapy” that is aimed at ‘curing’ people of being gay or lesbian. Several years ago, Christie signed into a law a bill that makes such therapy illegal in New Jersey for children under 18. If these two guys do both end up running in 2016, we could see some interesting conflicts on social issues during the Republican debates.
Chris Christie is right on this one, of course, but Perry’s got a better finger on the pulse of right wing voters.
Also, this I liked from Christie:
A wise, wise man.
“So I disagree with you, but not enough to publicly rebuke you.”
It’s a nice dodge, and I can’t fault him for using it. I just don’t think it works.
@Tillman: He’s very deft, I’ll give him that. He can tell you to go to hell while making you smile – not usually the light touch you associate with someone from NJ. I still think he’s toast as far as Presidential asperations.
They may be Republicans but they have different constituencies. Christie’s constituency doesn’t go in for the bigoted gay baiting that animates Perry’s constituency. Unfortunately, in the Republican Party, Perry’s constituency predominates at least numerically, so…
Look at how agile Christie is compared to Clinton’s recent interview difficulties. I have to say, I worry about Hillary. I like her, she’s smart, she’s right on the big issues, but she is not Bill. She’s more George H.W. Bush (the elder) – tone deaf, too wonkish to connect with voters, too up in high level politics.
She needs to do what she did when she ran for Senate and get out among the people. A Hillary listening tour is called for. She’s rusty, and it would put an end to health and age worries.
I hate complacency about Hillary. Christie could be trouble for her, so could Bush 3. I don’t like the idea of assuming the GOP will nominate a clown.
@michael reynolds: I agree, but nominating a clown is the odds-on favorite at the moment.
@michael reynolds:
She’s great on paper but a horrible campaigner. In the last 2 weeks, she’s stumbled on gay marriage saying she evolved over time and did herself no favors with her flat broke comment.
I don’t even think her candidacy is inevitable anymore especially with the bag of @%@ Obama is going to leave her.