Gov. Chris Christie at a press conference in Oceanport on Saturday, where he called a reporter an "idiot."There are plenty of ways to dismiss an unwelcome question at a press conference. This would be the least vice-presidential among them:
On Saturday, a reporter tried to ask Gov. Chris Christie an off-topic question about today's special joint session of the Legislature. The governor had told everyone he only wanted to talk about a water treatment emergency. And, as usual, Christie jumped straight to insults.
"Did I say on topic? Are you stupid?" he snapped. When the reporter tried to ask another question, Christie called him an "idiot" and stormed off. Press conference over.
So add this guy, Chris Harris from The Record, to the long list of people Christie has attacked with schoolyard insults: lawmakers, teachers, a former Navy SEAL. Even as he flirts with a vice-presidential run, Christie just can't shake the Jersey roughneck act.
Republicans love to spin these volatile moments into the stuff that makes a great leader. "That man really is something, you know that?" Mitt Romney recently said of Christie. "I was hoping someone in here would start to heckle him so I could watch him go to town here. But you know better, don't ya? What an extraordinary leader."
Extraordinary is one way to put it. It would be extraordinary, if Christie threw this kind of fit in our country's second highest office. Also embarrassing. Can you imagine him standing behind a podium at the White House, and calling anyone who rankles him, "stupid," "idiot," "numb-nuts," "jerk" or an "arrogant S.O.B"?
A reporter who actually was unprofessional recently heckled President Obama during his remarks on immigration. For a look at how this can be handled firmly --but professionally -- watch the video.
Meanwhile, here in Jersey, Christie signs laws against bullying while serving a prime example of the problem. You understand the confusion of Peter, a little boy in glasses who stood up and asked the governor the following question at a town hall meeting in Edison:
"I understand the bullying law that you passed," Peter said, "but I don't understand what to do if a person in authority is bullying me."
With a straight face, the governor told him: "No one in this state should be subjected to that. It's not right."
Not right on a school bus, anyway. Save it for the press conference, kids.