Chris Christie is on the cover of Time magazine this week. Chris Christie does not like the cover image. Chris Christie is not happy.
The Governor thinks the photo and the headline are offensive. “I’m reporting Time magazine to the, like, anti-Italian defamation league. I mean, look at that thing,” he said on Imus in the Morning. “It says ‘boss’ underneath. I mean come on.” Christie’s mother is Italian American.
On Tuesday, Christie gave his State of the State speech. He spoke primarily of Hurricane Sandy, asking for more federal relief funds, praising those who helped with the recovery, and touting his administration’s accomplishments in rebuilding. Critics noted that the speech gave glaringly few details on any proposals for the coming year, and made no mention of gun control.
What did you think of his speech? Do you think the Time magazine cover is offensive?
It doesn’t matter what I think. If HE is offended by it, that is what matters. THE BOSS can be taken in a lot of different ways.
As for the speech, yes, I am curious to hear his views about gun control.
http://www.politifact.com/new-jersey/statements/2013/jan/10/chris-christie/chris-christie-says-taxes-fees-raised-115-times-8-/
I thought Bruce Springsteen was The Boss in NJ?
Looks like a dermatologist took the picture.
Is he saying he looks like Tony Soprano?
John: Or a medical examiner.
God Forbid …I did not vote for this guy but I like hime better than Corzine.
This guy has a 70% approval rating in Blue Jersey. Foxnooz is mad at him. GOP Gubners avoided him at their last convention. Teahatters are calling him a closet Democrat (gasp!) and worse things. All in all, not bad.
Offensive? Jeez are (possibly) unflattering pictures now deemed “Offensive”? Is the Photographer a “bully”?
And forgive me, but (some) Italian-Americans (like Black folks) can’t have it both ways: loving some of the mob-related imagery (the Soprano’s was HUGE in NJ remember), but then pull out the “offensive card” when a mag calls our “I have a Sicilian Mother…” Governor THE BOSS.
Sorry.
The race/ethnic card is played too often by too many, which then makes it hard for folks to distinguish when other are being truly discriminated against.
He whines about fat jokes, but makes no sustained effort to diet. He whines about teachers, but continues to act like a schoolyard bully. He whines about gays, but vetoes gay rights legislation. He’s cultivated his in-your-face image, but whines to the Italian-American association when he sees it reflected on magazine covers. He is what he is — for better and for worse. The media reflects all this. At least Time resisted the temptation to do a real caricature , and cleaned up his zits.
Did not watch the State of the State, but did watch the interview w Steve Adubato. Great interview. And I didn’t vote for him either, but would given the opportunity.
Chris Christie in his own words while stumping for Mitt Romney right before the 2012 Iowa caucuses :
“New Jersey is watching you too. We’re watching you really closely and, listen, I want to tell you something really clearly. I’m in a good mood this morning. I’m feeling happy and upbeat. I love being with Mitt and Ann. But let me tell you, you people disappoint me on Tuesday, you don’t do what you’re supposed do to on Tuesday for Mitt Romney, I will be back. Jersey style, people, I will be back.”
So yeah, what Geoff said. Christie riffs off the stereotype when it suits him.
And it strikes me that Italian-Americans do more to perpetuate these stereotypes more than anybody, given how many willing participate(d) in the likes of “The Sopranos”, “Jersey Shore”, “Real Housewives”, et. al. ad nauseum.
Why does Time almost do unflattering pictures of republicans? I think back to Sarah Palin’s running shorts photo — it’s just so obvious how biased these people are! I thought Christie was GREAT on steve adubato the other night DESPITE what an annoying intervier adubato is! I found him uncomfortable to watch. Christie is just so smooth and natural – just let the audience ask him questions! I agree when he said the problem with the republican party is lack of a GREAT candidate — I for one, think Christie is the great candidate the GOP needs in 2016 (with a minority running mate)
Because Republican are ugly! Jeez…
And Obama can sing too? Did you know that? And play basketball. And those jeans—-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqbjjphxmTs
This is not a fat joke – but his running mate for 2016 needs to be someone we’d vote for as President. He’s not going to make 8 years of White House stress. Look at the wear and tear of our last 2 Presidents and Obama’s hair that gets whiter by the day.
I heard the interview on the Imus show. Twice. The first day he was on and today during a Best of Imus. My take on it was he said it tongue-in-cheek. When the big guy is upset there’s no question about it. Listen to the interview before posting. It sounds completely different than this story makes it out to be.
“And Obama can sing too? Did you know that? And play basketball. And those jeans—”
—but how does he smell, prof?
No way Christie gets anyway near the nomination in ’16. Not good ‘ol boy enough. He doesn’t even have a ranch in Texas he can pretend to take care of.
Plus, they’re never going to forget the momentum he gave Obama after Sandy.
VP maybe, which is probably better anyway. The VP is usually sent out during the campaign to do the more impolitic “attacking.”
He looks pretty bad ass. Which is the image he’s trying to cultivate.
Yeah, cme is right! No one makes fun of Dems!
If they did, we’d have to listen to stuff like Obama has big ears! (Or purple lips, as was said on this site repeatedly by, well, you know who…..).
Or Clinton had a big nose! Hillary wears pant suits and has a fat ass! Carter had buck teeth! Ted Kennedy was fat! Biden has hair plugs! Pelosi loves botox!
Yeah, get off the Reps back, you mean old media!
“But the larger and more important questions are whether Chris Christie of New Jersey is the model for the post-Romney Republican Party and whether a center-right, pragmatic, straight-talking politician like Christie can remake the party in his own image.”
The article itself is basic newsweekly mishmash. The cover is the best part.
Didn’t hear the interview, but kbanda makes a good point that it his complaint may well have been made toungue in cheek. The inyourface portrait style is very common on magazine covers as an attention grabber that contracts from the more familiar candid photojournalist photos that we are bombarded with every day. Princess Kate’s comparably controversial portrait is less glum, but not that different in style.
In a twofer, we get to see how “Dems never get ridiculed by other Dems” AND “the media gives Obama a pass”:
http://www.asiasociety.org/files/the-new-yorker-muslim-obama-cover-big.jpg
Well, the Governor strikes me as much better looking than either Corzine or James Gandolfini. Even with his current (at least I hope it’s only “current”) heft.
And he’s surely no more whale-like than Teddy Kennedy was for many years.
He’s the Ralph Kramden of the political set.
I suspect Christie is aglow over the cover.
I think he’s more embarrassed.Him being a real fan of the real boss…..Bruce
Someone said he cried when he was finally introduced to Springsteen.
Bruce period, end of sentence.
Just listened to the Imus interview…they were goofin’ and riffin’ on the Time cover.
When he went to Iowa to stump for Mitt in Dec 2011, he threatened the good people there..from nj.com Dec 31,2011..”But at a campaign stop in Des Moines Friday morning, Christie let loose on Iowa Republicans with all the attitude they’ve come to expect from the birthplace of “The Sopranos.”
“If you don’t do what you’re supposed to do for Mitt Romney on Tuesday,” Christie said, defiant in only a suit jacket against the biting cold and wind-whipped rain, “I will be back, Jersey-style, people. I will be back.”
‘Nuff said on that issue!
C’mon, guys, let’s not overrate Springsteen and his importance, okay? From all reports, for example, in person he’s distinctly inarticulate and mumbly, which is never something you can accuse Christie of being. (There’s probably good reason access to him for press interviews always seems so tightly controlled.)
And Christie, if it comes to that, is much more a, well, “man of the people” sort. He does not reside in a decorator’s version of paradise for Ralph Lauren freaks in Colts Neck. Nor do his children pursue an expensive, non-plebeian sport like equestrian events. And I especially can’t ever imagine him sending one of his own kids to Bard College.
(Of course, if we were really to choose our favorite artists based on how Jersey-ish they seem in real life, we’d probably all switch our allegiance to either Frankie Valli or a few members of the Rascals. Perhaps even to Joey Dee!)
“C’mon, guys, let’s not overrate Springsteen and his importance, okay”
—no, let’s continue to do that only for the governor…
“Man of the people”!
Is he as “heroic” as The Bold John Boehner, I wonder.
The Gov sent his kids to Delbarton, at over 20K per year for high school. And I’m sure that if they want to go to Bard and they get in, he’ll send them there.
Or will they only be “plebian” enough for you (a Columbia grad, so you say) if they attend William Paterson?
There is no end to the hogwash you produce.
Cath, I recall seeing Bruce breeze through a very articulate hour live on Charlie Rose. He can get quite intellectual when in the right environment.
Still, the Gov loves him some Bruce.
Oh dear! “Men of the people” who want to send their “kids of the people” to Delbarton have to pony up 30K rather than 20K. My bad!
Just regular folks kind of scratch. Not like that elitist Springsteen, that’s for sure.
But you know, you get a daily hot lunch at Delbarton for your 30K! And you stay in shape avoiding the monks, apparently.
Oh snap! I didn’t know Frankie Valli was a Jersey boy. It’s just too good to be true…
I believe he was what we used to call a in the day a “Nicky Newark”.
Frankie was a cornball, but he got a lot of feeling into those notes.