Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is reportedly considering a run for the GOP 2024 nomination, which sees him trying to distinguish himself from the two men up on top of the GOP shortlist, Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Christie has reversed his public support of Trump. A former supporter of the former president, Christie now says that Trump is “someone who has had an affair with a porn star, paid her off $130,000 to cover it up… That’s not the character of somebody who I think should be President of the United States.”
Christie knew the outline of the Donald Trump-Stormy Daniels saga back when Christie did support Trump, so the only conclusion to draw is that, in Christie’s view, the character requirements to be President of the United States have changed.
DeSantis, according to Christie, doesn’t have the character to be POTUS either — but not because he’s had a lot of questionable experience with porn stars. DeSantis’s problem is that he’s practically a liberal and does anti-conservative things, especially in how he’s conducting himself in his much-publicized battle with Disney.
BREAKING: Former Republican Governor, Chris Christie has just spoken out against Ron DeSantis and his attacks on Disney World:
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) April 18, 2023
“I don’t think Ron DeSantis is a conservative, based on his actions towards Disney. I mean, where are we headed now, that if you express disagreement… pic.twitter.com/tig5dz3ysw
Christie says that in playing the role of thought police, and trying to tell people what they can and cannot say, DeSantis is not a true “conservative.” He’s really practicing — and enforcing — political correctness.
“Where are we headed here now,” Christie asks, “that if you express disagreement in this country the government is allowed to punish you? To me, that’s what I always thought liberals did.”
Christie asserts that Disney can exercise free speech if it wants, and go about its business, as long as it keeps paying its taxes.
[Note: The Disney feud started when the company objected to DeSantis’s “anti-woke” legislation aimed at prohibiting classroom instruction and discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in some elementary school grades, legislation commonly known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.]
DeSantis, who doubtless considers himself an arch-conservative, may be surprised to hear Christie’s insinuation. Fascism, which Christie stops short of saying, has historically been a bad look for U.S. politicians.
Character is a tricky issue. Christie recently said he believes, despite his own disapproval, that Trump probably shouldn’t be prosecuted in a New York court for his hush money business, but instead “should be prosecuted in the court of public opinion for it, and he should be held to account that way for it.”
DeSantis has also hit the character issue about Trump, who holds the top spot according to polls, subtly implying that the porn star thing isn’t POTUS-worthy, saying “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair… I can’t speak to that.”
“I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair … I can’t speak to that.”
— The Recount (@therecount) March 20, 2023
— Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) on a possible arrest of Donald Trump, before he hits Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg for “pursuing a political agenda” pic.twitter.com/5Pyewzybb2
