DAY 15: CHRISTIE'S VALUES CLOCK KEEPS TICKING

Day 15: 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 15th day on the website—keeps track of how long it will take for the Conservative standard bearer to re-discover his values.

“Just days before Christie’s far right values disappeared from his website, Christie was campaigning with failed Presidential candidate and ‘conservative’s conservative’ Mitt Romney,” said Cryan. “Like Christie, Romney shares a loyalty with George W. Bush and a fervor for taking away a woman’s right to choose.  The ‘Christie’s Values Clock’ is now into its 15th day and will stay up until Christie’s campaign re-discovers his values for him.”

Christie has made his staunch anti-choice agenda a centerpiece of his campaign. He has vowed to push for restrictions on a woman’s right to choose if elected governor, something he has done in the past, and has even declared his support for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion.

Christie brought the ultraconservative Romney to New Jersey to campaign with him twice within a matter of weeks. In an appearance on May 28 in Haddonfield days before the Republican primary, the failed Presidential candidate who once proclaimed himself the “conservative’s conservative” hailed Christie’s candidacy as an opportunity for New Jersey to “try conservative.” Like Christie, Romney is an ardent George Bush supporter who railed against Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to choose on the campaign trail. He returned to New Jersey on June 11 to kick off Christie’s general election campaign.

Christie’s zealous right wing rhetoric has lost much of its intensity since the deletion of the “Shared Values” page and the removal of the link to the “Shared Values” page from the issues section. While all of the other issues, including Christie’s positions on the economy and education, remain on that page, Christie’s position on choice has been pushed to a less-accessible Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.) section. The abbreviated response moves significantly away from the right wing conservative values espoused on the “Shared Values” page, eliminating several key details and facts, including endorsements from anti-choice leaders.

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.

“Within two weeks—14 days—Christie had time to bring George Bush conservative Mitt Romney to New Jersey not once, but twice,” said Cryan. “’Technical’ glitches didn’t stop Christie from campaigning with people like Romney who share his extreme right wing agenda.”

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

 

What did Jon Corzine do in two weeks?

 
While Christie has been searching for his missing values, Jon Corzine showed what you can do in two weeks if you put your mind to it.
 
The Governor . . .
 
•    Was joined by Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius to Announce $286 Million for NJ Familycare

•    Kicked off the Summer of Service Initiative with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan

•    Took a significant step towards energy independence with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar when they released leases for three off-shore wind developers

•    Submitted New Jersey’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan for $14.4 Million in Federal Funding

•    Announced that Middlesex and Mercer Counties were added to a regional federal anti-drug task force

•    Saw Supreme Court Justice Barry Albin get confirmed by the Senate.

•    Was named one of the “top 10” Green Governors in the country

•    Filed an executive reorganization plan that will facilitate construction of a third four-year allopathic medical school in New Jersey.

•    Signed a budget that makes the right choices by prioritizing education, health care and seniors at the same time it provides unprecedented relief from property taxes to all New Jerseyans and direct tax rebates to 1 million working families.

•    Signed legislation to eliminate non-operating school districts

•    Received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish greenhouse gas emissions standards for motor vehicles as part of a federal effort to stop climate change

•    Saw the Communications Workers of America ratify a historic agreement between the State and the union that will allow the state to continue to provide vital public services without disruption while achieving over $300 million in cost savings and avert major layoffs.

•    Announced that another 62,000 households in New Jersey will be receiving the NJ FamilyCare Express Lane applications they requested on their state tax forms.

•    Announced that President Obama will be joining him at a rally.

•    Submitted a motion to intervene in support of a lawsuit filed by Senator Ray Lesniak with the Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association and three horse racing groups that will seek to have a federal law banning sports betting in New Jersey and 45 other states declared unconstitutional.

•    Named a new Acting MVC Administrator

•    Attended carnivals, festivals, parades and even celebrated New Jersey’s birthday!

You can get a lot done in two weeks if you really put your mind to it.