New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on
Thursday accused President Barack Obama of trying to have it “both
ways” on gay marriage.
Christie has been criticized for
vetoing a gay marriage bill the day after it was approved by
lawmakers.
Analysts have suggested that Christie,
a rising star in the Republican party, was motivated by election year
politics in rejecting the bill.
During a Thursday appearance on MSNBC's
Morning Joe, the governor defended this actions.
“[T]he Democrats in my state are
criticizing me, saying my feet are firmly planted on the wrong side
of justice,” Christie said. “I said yesterday, 'Yeah, my feet
are firmly planted right next to President Obama.' And they don't
criticize him.”
Former Tennessee Congressman Harold
Ford, Jr. noted that Obama applauded passage of a gay marriage bill
in New York.
“So, he applauds other people's
courage, but doesn't have any of his own,” Christie responded.
Jonathan Capehart of the Washington
Post also challenged Christie's assertion that he is in step with
Obama on the issue.
“[T]he key difference between you and
the president is while you support putting the civil rights of a
minority up for a public referendum, the president is certainly not
in favor of that ...” Capehart said.
“Has he said that, Jonathan?”
Christie interrupted. “The president is silent on this like he's
silent on every issue that's difficult for him. … Let's have the
President of the United States show some courage, come on this
program, look into the camera, like I'm looking into the camera, and
state his position. He won't because he wants to have it both ways.
I'm not looking to have it both ways, I vetoed the bill. … This is
the type of cowardice that we don't want.” (The video is embedded
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