For Republicans, Christie's warm words for Obama may be unforgivable
ANALYSIS - Conservatives haven't forgiven their one-time hero, Gov. Chris Christie, for his pre-election praise of President Obama, and may never trust him again...
The machinations over how to replace the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D) of New Jersey have illustrated a new dynamic in the Republican Party: conservatives still haven’t forgiven their one-time hero, Gov. Chris Christie, for his pre-election praise of President Obama, and may never trust him again.
Republicans considered Christie’s warm words toward President Obama last fall a selfish, disloyal act, arguing he was lauding Obama for helping New Jersey with Hurricane Sandy to curry favor with Obama voters who Christie would need to win in 2013, even if the governor was at the same time hurting Mitt Romney’s chances to win the 2012 election.
And now, Christie, like other Republicans, such as former Florida Gov. Charlie Christ and ex-senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, is facing the consequences for saying positive things about Obama.
His every move is now viewed skeptically by conservatives, who wonder if he is in fact one of them. And this week, when Christie opted to hold a special election in October to replace Lautenberg instead of appointing a Republican to serve until November 2014, influential GOP figures again slammed the governor.
“I’m not predicting it officially here, but I will not be surprised, if when 2016 rolls around and Governor Christie is seeking the presidency, I won’t surprised if he seeks the Democrat Party nomination,” Rush Limbaugh said this week.
Limbaugh’s comments illustrate the sharp plunge in enthusiasm for Christie among the party’s most conservatives. In late 2011, as Romney and other Republican candidates struggled to inspire party activists, leading GOP figures longed for Christie to run.
Christie had always held rather moderate views, a political necessity for a Republican to be elected in a state like New Jersey. But conservatives appreciated his brash criticism of Democratic causes, such as teacher unions and his at times pointed rhetoric against Obama.
Then, came October 2012, when Christie talked about his “great partnership” with the administration after the hurricane and lauded the “outstanding” job done by the president.
Now, Christie is not getting the benefit of the doubt from conservatives. Most blue state Republicans, with re-election on their minds, occasionally back Democratic causes, such as when U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (D-Penn.) supported gun control earlier this year, with little conservative blowback.
Christie’s decision not to appoint a Republican to the Senate seat and instead hold a special election was the right political move for the governor and New Jersey Republicans.
The criticism Christie is taking reflects the lingering anger from last fall, when he violated what is effectively a central tenet of today’s Republican Party: thou shalt not praise President Obama.
Follow Perry Bacon on Twitter at @perrybaconjr
