How Chris Christie, A Master of Political Arts, Contradicts and Confounds.... by Matt Katz
WNYC reporter Matt Katz has been covering New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for the past 5 years.
His latest book is a biography about Christie called:
"American Governor: Chris Christie's Bridge To Redemption"
Source:
New Jersey Spotlight
January 21, 2016
In 1994, 31-year-old Chris Christie sat in his living room to film his first ever campaign ad.
His son, Andrew, sat on his wife's lap, sipping a bottle.
"Hi, my name is Chris Christie and I got into this race for a better future for my family and yours," Christie said.
Showing an early flair for insulting language, Christie cited a newspaper editorial in describing the incumbents he was running against as "fumbling and bumbling."
"And now they're being investigated by the Morris County Prosecutor."
Actually, they weren't.
Christie's campaign for a seat on the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders was based on ethics reform.
But in the process, he was committing an ethical blunder himself.
He ended up getting sued for defamation.
Christie's political style is the potent force behind his presidential candidacy.
He is a master tactician and exceptional in front of the microphone; but his methods are full of contradictions.
Christie made his career as an ethical crusader -- first running for Freeholder on an ethics platform, then making his name as U.S. Attorney by charging more than 100 politicians with corruption.
Yet his career would ultimately be marked by a series of humiliating alleged scandals, notably "Bridgegate," in the last week of his first term (as Governor).
And while Christie built a national name for aggressively using the bully pulpit -- like calling a law student and former Navy SEAL an "idiot" -- what's less known about Christie is behind the scenes, Christie often opted for the hug instead of the shiv, even among Democrats.
More:
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/01/21/how-christie-a-master-of-political-arts-contradicts-and-confounds
Listen to today's "Fresh Air" (NPR) interview with Matt Katz;
http://www.npr.org/2016/01/25/464244684/deconstructing-gov-chris-christies-bridge-to-redemption
"Report: Christie asked Gov. Cuomo to tell Port Authority executive director to F-k off"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141318804