New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is back in the news and not for his closing of the George Washington Bridge. No, he's back in the news due to a speech he gave at the Conservative Political Action Conference, where he riled the base but garnered a chuckle out of me for stating the following:
"I've got asked the question last year. Governor you're very popular in a blue state. How can you export that to the rest of the country, given the intolerance on social issues in your party?' And I said, well, let me ask you a question. You said the Republicans are intolerant. I'll just tell you this: At our national convention, we've had people like Tom Ridge and Colin Powell and Condi Rice speak at our national conventions. Even though I don't agree with their position on abortion. Tell me, sir, the last pro-life Democrat who was allowed to speak at a Democratic convention? By the way, don't strain yourself, because there's never been one. They're the party of intolerance, not us."
First off, his claim is false. In just 1992, Senators John Breaux (Louisiana), Howell Heflin (Alabama), and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley all spoke at a Democratic convention, whom all consider themselves to be "pro-life." Former House Democratic Whip David Bonior (Michigan) has spoken at several such conventions since then. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nevada) has as well. If we were going by Politifact's truth-o-meter, Christie would receive a "pants on fire" grade for his comment.
Secondly, given the two parties' recent track records, I find Christie's quote to not only be false from an accuracy standpoint, but to be downright laughable.
The Republican Party is the party of tolerance, eh? Okay... At least one Republican politician (often times a majority of them) has (have) said the following (or something like it) in recent months and years:
GOPer: "You're pro-choice?!? Baby-killer!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "We should have the right to refuse to serve or employ gay people!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "The Republican Party really doesn't want black people to vote."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "If you're gay, you're going to hell."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "Something would be wrong with having a woman president."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "English is the only language that should be spoken in this country!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "People on welfare are lazy; it's as simple as that."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "They should not be able to build a mosque there!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "You can't both be a Christian and a Democrat! That's just not possible!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
Jimmy LaSalvia, founder of the gay conservative advocacy group GOProud, said this upon leaving the Republican Party earlier this year:
"I thought that the anti-gay forces and frankly the forces of intolerance in the party would diminish, and honestly, I've come to the conclusion that the Republican Party is the only place in America where they're left."
Mr. Christie, what do you have to say to that?
"They're the party of intolerance, not us."
Right... If he truly believes that, in addition to the George Washington Bridge scandal, expect to hear about a drug scandal in the near future...
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/03/06/3371401/christie-abortion-convention/
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/21667-the-gops-coke-freak-out
"I've got asked the question last year. Governor you're very popular in a blue state. How can you export that to the rest of the country, given the intolerance on social issues in your party?' And I said, well, let me ask you a question. You said the Republicans are intolerant. I'll just tell you this: At our national convention, we've had people like Tom Ridge and Colin Powell and Condi Rice speak at our national conventions. Even though I don't agree with their position on abortion. Tell me, sir, the last pro-life Democrat who was allowed to speak at a Democratic convention? By the way, don't strain yourself, because there's never been one. They're the party of intolerance, not us."
First off, his claim is false. In just 1992, Senators John Breaux (Louisiana), Howell Heflin (Alabama), and Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley all spoke at a Democratic convention, whom all consider themselves to be "pro-life." Former House Democratic Whip David Bonior (Michigan) has spoken at several such conventions since then. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (Nevada) has as well. If we were going by Politifact's truth-o-meter, Christie would receive a "pants on fire" grade for his comment.
Secondly, given the two parties' recent track records, I find Christie's quote to not only be false from an accuracy standpoint, but to be downright laughable.
The Republican Party is the party of tolerance, eh? Okay... At least one Republican politician (often times a majority of them) has (have) said the following (or something like it) in recent months and years:
GOPer: "You're pro-choice?!? Baby-killer!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "We should have the right to refuse to serve or employ gay people!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "The Republican Party really doesn't want black people to vote."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "If you're gay, you're going to hell."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "Something would be wrong with having a woman president."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "English is the only language that should be spoken in this country!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "People on welfare are lazy; it's as simple as that."
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "They should not be able to build a mosque there!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
GOPer: "You can't both be a Christian and a Democrat! That's just not possible!"
Christie: "They're the party of intolerance, not us."
Jimmy LaSalvia, founder of the gay conservative advocacy group GOProud, said this upon leaving the Republican Party earlier this year:
"I thought that the anti-gay forces and frankly the forces of intolerance in the party would diminish, and honestly, I've come to the conclusion that the Republican Party is the only place in America where they're left."
Mr. Christie, what do you have to say to that?
"They're the party of intolerance, not us."
Right... If he truly believes that, in addition to the George Washington Bridge scandal, expect to hear about a drug scandal in the near future...
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/03/06/3371401/christie-abortion-convention/
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/21667-the-gops-coke-freak-out
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