Day 13: Christie’s Values Clock Keeps Ticking

Day 13: Christie’s Values Clock Keeps Ticking

 
TRENTON – Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan today continued his call for Right Wing Conservative Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie to get the “technical” glitches worked out from his values. The AP reported on June 18 that the Christie for Governor website took down the “Shared Values” section that declared Christie’s clearly defined positions against a woman’s right to choose and gay marriage for “technical reasons”.  The Democratic State Committee’s “Christie’s Values Clock”—now in its 13th day on the website—keeps track of how long it will take for the Conservative standard bearer to re-discover his values.
 
“Christie has said he is ‘devoted to taking action’ to curtail a woman’s right to choose,” said Cryan. “The missing “Shared Values” page was in more in line with those intentions than what is available now on the website after the primary. The replacement F.A.Q section moves further away from Christie’s right wing values with watered-down language that drops several key facts. The ‘Christie’s Values Clock’ is now into its 13th day and will stay up until Christie’s campaign re-discovers his values for him.”
 
The way Christie’s right wing conservative values have been showcased on the Christie for Governor website has changed dramatically since the deletion of the “Shared Values” page for “technical” reasons. A Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.) section—accessible by a small button on the side of the Christie for Governor home page—excludes much of the strong rhetoric about Christie’s opposition to a woman’s right to choose. The “Shared Values” page existed as its own unique page and was displayed prominently in the issues section alongside Christie’s positions on major issues including Jobs and the Economy, Spending and Education.
 
The F.A.Q section also deletes any references to Christie’s endorsements from anti-choice leaders Congressman Chris Smith, former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler, State Senator Gerald Cardinale and State Assemblyman Jay Webber. Webber, who is now Christie’s handpicked GOP State Chairman, has said that Christie won’t let the economic crisis distract him from pushing a right wing agenda on social issues.
 
Christie favors several restrictions on a woman’s right to choose, including a 24-hour waiting period, parental notification and a ban on a late-term procedure. The F.A.Q. section removes any mention of Christie’s support for a ban on the late-term procedure.

Reporters Michael Aron of NJN and Michael Symons of Gannett New Jersey have joined the call for Christie to restore his right wing conservative values to his website. In a discussion of Christie’s right wing conservative values on Reporters’ Roundtable on NJN, which aired Friday, June 26, Symons said the Christie’s Values Clock “reminds people that [Christie] holds some social opinions that aren’t, you know, overwhelmingly the viewpoint of the New Jersey public and that he’s sorta trying to hide that from you.” Host Michael Aron replied, “So maybe he should put them back up and get rid of one of those two.” “Sure. Exactly,” said Symons.

Other leading Right Wing Conservatives in New Jersey like Steve Lonegan and Rick Shaftan have previously expressed concern that Christie would back away from his right wing value set, but Christie’s campaign has attempted to counter these suggestions, telling PolitickerNJ yesterday that Christie “is who he is, and no losing opponent, campaign manager or poll is going to change that.”
 
“The ‘Shared Values’ page was in keeping with the staunch anti-choice agenda that is at the center of Christie’s campaign, but the FAQ section is a far cry from where Christie really stands on the issues important to New Jersey voters,” said Cryan.  “Since it looks like it’s going to take a while to get the “technical” glitches worked out, Christie’s campaign should, in the meantime, add ‘Where are Christie’s values?’ to the list of frequently asked questions.”

To view the “Christie’s Values Clock” or add it to your blog or website, please visit: www.njdems.org.