Chris Christie, the Republican Governor of New Jersey, who is currently two years into his first term, has been touted by Republicans as the one great hope for the party in 2012. Even as Republican leaders from Iowa have flown to New Jersey to convince the governor to run for the presidency in 2012, he has outright refused to run stating that his commitment was with New Jersey. This does not, however, rule out a possible run for the presidency in 2016 and beyond for Governor Christie.
While Republicans nationally have been expose to the governor’s fiscal battles within the state of New Jersey against the corrupt, socialist teachers’ unions, they have not been exposed to his other policies, which include harsh gun control laws, restricting driving rights (Kyleigh’s Law), derailing a medical marijuana bill which had already been signed by the former governor, and having the state regulate Atlantic City’s thriving casino scene. Chris Christie also took steps towards removing Republican State Senator Mike Doherty from his committee position because Doherty rightfully believed that Christie’s budget plan did not cut enough spending.
Tea Party Republicans, who are more libertarian in their views, differ from other Republican in their support for medical marijuana laws and the deregulation of casinos, but all Republicans stand together in support of the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms. Chris Christie, on the other hand, doesn’t.
Chris Christie not only “supports New Jersey’s strict gun laws” (a statement found on his very own campaign website in 2009), but he ardently supported Bill Clinton’s “Assault” Rifle Ban. He supported Bill Clinton’s ban on rifles so much that he attacked his opponents in a 1995 campaign for elected office because they wanted to repeal it! Here is a flyer Chris Christie’s campaign released:
If Chris Christie does choose to run in for President in 2016, he will either have to backtrack on his support for gun bans or he’ll have to convince Republicans that gun control is a good idea. The latter being impossible, Christie will most likely flipflop on the issue if he chooses to seek the Presidency.
