When later told of the photos showing the governor clearly enjoying the open beachfront, Brian Murray, the governor’s spokesman, said: “Yes, the governor was on the beach briefly today talking to his wife and family before heading into the office. He did…
Decades ago, then-Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards and The Times-Picayune’s Baton Rouge bureau chief Jack Wardlaw were verbally sparring over details of some scandal swirling around the governor when Edwards flat-out denied the substance of one allegation.
Wardlaw, who covered all four of Edwards’ gubernatorial terms, dutifully noted the governor’s response and informed him that his statement would be carefully and thoroughly checked.
“Jack, ” Edwards told Wardlaw, “go ahead and investigate. I’m not going to lie about something you can catch me on.”
If only New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie had been that “ethical.”
Christie’s latest problems began last week when he ordered the beaches across New Jersey closed as part of a budget impasse with the state’s Legislature. Probably not a popular move heading into the Fourth of July weekend, but it gets worse.
A photographer with NJ Advance Media’s NJ.com caught Christie sunning himself with his family on Island Beach State Park, the only people on the beach because of the governor’s closure order.
There are so many to choose from, but I personally think this is the most devastating of @AndyMills_NJ ‘s Christie photos. pic.twitter.com/AAEyJbgzEj
The media knew that Christie’s family was using the summer beach house provided by the state for a weekend and that the governor planned to visit there. The question was whether Christie would be so politically tone deaf as to use the beach himself. At a Sunday news conference on the shutdown, NJ.com reports that Christie was asked if he got any sun that day.
“I didn’t, ” Christie said. “… I didn’t get any sun today.”
When later told of the photos showing the governor clearly enjoying the open beachfront, Brian Murray, the governor’s spokesman, said: “Yes, the governor was on the beach briefly today talking to his wife and family before heading into the office. He did not get any sun. He had a baseball hat on.”
I don’t think it’s possible for Americans to dislike politicians more than they do right now
Chris Christie: Hold my beer pic.twitter.com/h9V6Xt5sqG
Wow.
“I traveled there and I traveled back and I’ll travel back again, ” Christie told reporters. “That’s where my family is sleeping, so that’s where I’ll sleep tonight. When I have a choice between sleeping with my family, and sleeping alone, I generally like to sleep where my family is.”
Christie told reporters Saturday that the beach house is separate from the park and that his family will not ask for any state services.
Asked if this is fair, Christie said Saturday: “Run for governor, and you can have a residence there.”
Well, that certainly sounds like a man who never plans to run for public office again. And that might be just as well. A Quinnipiac University poll last month had Christie’s approval rating at 15 percent, the worst approval rating for any governor in any state poll ever conducted by Quinnipiac. Eighty-one percent of New Jersey voters said they disapproved of the job Christie was doing.
In the meantime, social media is rightfully having a field day at Christie’s expense. Or more accurately “a day at the beach” at his expense.
Sure, @ChrisChristie. Let’s shut down NJ during one of the busiest tourist weekends. Thanks from all of us at the Shore. #njshutdown pic.twitter.com/FSi3KzsXNG
pic.twitter.com/sKKgXUGtjF
“Damn, man, I’m governor! Could you shut up for a second” – Chris Christie to NJ citizen, March 2012. pic.twitter.com/lNeO1UnKDc
Another time Chris Christie thought he had the whole beach to himself. pic.twitter.com/VGCYQ565ee
I don’t know about you, but the Sopranos reboot looks awful. #ChrisChristie pic.twitter.com/hNPo53SQR7
Tim Morris is an opinions columnist at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at tmorris@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter @tmorris504.
