Some Pundits Think Critics Are Being Unfair to Gov. Christie

Gov.’s critics said to “strain the bounds of civil political dialogue” and “make stuff up”

Wish I could say I got a laugh out of  Asbury Park Press columnist John Schoonejongen’s column today:  Dems go overboard on Christie attacks – because that’s what it deserved.

But, I’m in no laughing mood lately and the last thing that Gov. Christie needs is pundits with a platform scolding his critics – Christie is a well equipped YouTube attack dog himself and is surrounded by media flacks like Drewniak.

Schoonejongen accuses Gubernatorial candidate Senator Barbara Buono of  a “fevered response” (I think Buono is hot too!) and attacks Democrats and un-named “liberal bloggers” of “making stuff up” and “parsing his statements in ways that strain the bounds of civil political dialogue.”

I’ll self affiliate in this case with the “liberal blogger” camp and take umbrage – I don’t care about the “civil dialogue” hit, but am offended because I don’t “make stuff up” and none of the critics Mr. Schoonejongen doesn’t name did so either.

By definition, “parsing words” can never be “making stuff up”.

Note that Schoonejongen has not held the Governor’s own statements – the objects of the criticism – to those same standards, and the media rarely has.

So, being the direct SOB that I am lately, I just sent Mr. Schoonejongen this note:

John – just read your piece on Christie’s Paterson remarks et al.

“strain the bounds of civil political dialogue” and “making stuff up” are curious double standards selectively applied to Christie critics late in the game, no?

How about applying those same standards to the Gov.? If the media did, maybe the Gov.’s public approval rating wouldn’t be 72%.

BTW, the most egregious thing Christie said in Paterson got absolutely no mention by Democrats or media.

It was the part where Christie highlighted his own family’s move out of Newark, in a favorable way and without reflection, regret, or caveat.

The Gov. praised “white flight”.

Now, that’s closer to George Wallace than a diverse and progressive state like NJ.

Wolfe