Chris Christie: Obama Needs To 'Show Up' In Debt Ceiling Talks (VIDEO)

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Governor Chris Christie says he thinks President Barack Obama should follow his lead and personally engage in budget talks with lawmakers.

Speaking on NBC's "Today" show on Friday, Christie said "you can't negotiate through a second person." The Republican suggested the first thing Obama do about debt ceiling talks is "show up."

"Everybody needs to bring skin to the game," said the New Jersey governor.

Christie's comments come one day after reaching a compromise with Democratic leaders to require public employees in New Jersey to pay more for health and pension benefits.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Christie called the deal his greatest accomplishment since taking office in 2010.

During the one-on-one, the GOP governor who was elected into office last year was asked about sharp remarks he recently directed toward a voter after she asked him about where his children go to school in the context of where he stands on education policy.

“You don’t send your children to public schools," a woman said to the governor, according to CBS New York. She continued, "You send them to private schools, so I was wondering why you think it’s fair to be cutting funding to public schools?"

Christie's response: "It’s none of your business. I don't ask you where you send your kids go to school, don't bother me about where I send mine."

Host Matt Lauer told Christie that even he was "surprised" by the governor's comments before playing a clip of the exchange that had gone down. He asked the Republican governor if his remarks were "a little harsh" even for someone known not to mince words.

Christie said, "No it's not, because her point is completely ridiculous. I shouldn't be able to make decisions about budgetary issues that relate to public schools because my children go to private school, that was the question. And, it's none of her business where I send my kids to school."

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Comments

[Jean Bastien]

11:10 PM on 06/27/2011

Christie passed the test with flying colors! The test to see if you can figure out a true honest question from a "gotcha" moment!!! Don't get it twisted- the only intention that lady had was to make Christie somehow look bad. It's the same old, same old. You want to make someone look bad without much effort (or fairness)? Make them look rich. Call them a racist. The oldest tricks in the liberal playbook. You all know this. Remember McCain and "how many houses do you own?" He gets a B- because although he brushed off that loser "reporter" like dandruff, the issue did get out of control. I mean Leno was making jokes about that for six straight weeks!( I counted). So enough already with the calls of rudeness! He's got the skills to craft the bills!!!

[hoho5973]

03:19 PM on 06/27/2011

He sends them to private school, because they are better schools..........they tend to be less forgiving about discipline issues........

[hoho5973]

03:17 PM on 06/27/2011

That was an awesome answer to the probing, personal question! I wish we had more politicians like that. Way to tell it, Chris!

[dmessy]

09:35 PM on 06/27/2011

Precisely -- enough of the press or Government telling us what kind of decisions we can make.

[den1953]

01:20 PM on 06/27/2011

Hey Governor Christey President Obama has a message for you it's none of your business what the President does!

[seancoddington]

01:46 PM on 06/27/2011

See this is why he sends his children to private schools! I am guessing you went to public schools

[richdoll]

11:21 AM on 06/27/2011

the pres has been involved all along .. chrisitie is talking out of his face .. biden & the pres is on the same page ..

[slickbottom]

11:00 AM on 06/27/2011

Christie has some advice for President Obama. Christie: "Just say no to Twinkies.... it's worked for me"

[seancoddington]

01:35 PM on 06/27/2011

Wow I am glad you people are on the left, to bad you are allowed to vote, did you read your
statement before you posted?

[manofmystique]

10:44 AM on 06/27/2011

This is the difference between Obama and all of these Republicans politicians. Republicans spend more time criticizing and blaming the other guy than they do working on behalf of the American people. For some reason this doesn't bother most of their supporters, not as long as a black man sits in the White House.
We have over a year to the next election, but regaining the Presidency is all that matter to Republicans today.
Chris Christie's attitude is not what the American people need in leadership today. Suffering and concerned citizens need compassion, sympathey and understanding, after all they are only reacting to the problems poor leader created.
In this case the mother had a right to ask a public servant why he would cut funds for education while sending his children to private school?
Do we work for the government or does they work for us?
"None of your business" is how Chris responded to this tax-paying woman. Is this unprofessional disrespectful or not?
Could or would Obama disrespect this woman, even if he didn't like the question? No. For one reason Obama couldn't get away with it (all things are not equal in America). Number two, Obama has mastered the english languish and he is respectful to everyone. There is no need to talk to people in a condesending way. You treat people how you like to be treated.

[richdoll]

11:22 AM on 06/27/2011

fanned & faved

[JoeHurley]

12:09 PM on 06/27/2011

"This is the difference between Obama and all of these Republican­s politician­s. Republican­s spend more time criticizin­g and blaming the other guy than they do working on behalf of the American people..."

President Obama blames his predecessor, publicly, several times a year. How many times have we heard him whining about "inheriting" something?

[joyfulworld]

12:15 PM on 06/27/2011

But, of course, Obama did inherit quite a mess from Bush. A mess We-The-People are still suffering through and will suffer for years and years. Every President for the forseeable future will blame Bush. And well they should!!!

[Pamski]

12:15 PM on 06/27/2011

And you can honestly say that isn't the case?

[JBDenver]

10:31 AM on 06/27/2011

His response to the private school issue should have been: "The school we've chosen does a far better job at teaching math, science, english, history and other core courses than the public schools in the area"

[PimpOmega]

12:06 PM on 06/27/2011

"(cont.) And that is why I'm going to cut funding for the school your kids go to, so I can make it worse than it already is!" :PP

[sanityismine]

12:27 PM on 06/27/2011

The spending over the last 30 years shows there is not a direct causality between the two: spending and performance. This is according to Arne Duncan and the President.

[seancoddington]

12:32 PM on 06/27/2011

He pays more in state taxes then you and ten friends, and still pays to send his children to a private school, because he knows what the unions have done to education. The teacher of the year was let go in Wisconsin because last in first out, thanks to the unions why not weakest teacher out first end of story

[manofmystique]

10:04 AM on 06/27/2011

These Republicans, who have made it very clear they don't want to compromise or negotiate with this President, now, want him personally involved in the discussion. Why? Joe Biden, who Obama appointed to represent him in the debt ceiling talks, is perfectly capable of doing the job. In fact, it was not him who walked out of the discussion, it was two Republicans (childish). The fact is, Republicans are not interested in anyone but the President, because that is who they want to criticize and blame.
This is the position Republicans adopted before Obama enters the meeting. There is no good-faith effort from Republicans in dealing with this President. It doesn't matter what the President proposes or say Republicans will have a Problem with it, even if Obama decided to go along with their deal (nonsense), Republicans will change the goal post. Everything must be difficult.
Republicans do this because they must oppose him no matter what. This is irresponsible and this is not leadership. This is politics at its worse and it is at the expense of the American people.

[Bobbi24]

11:58 AM on 06/27/2011

Very well put.

[dmessy]

09:39 PM on 06/27/2011

what a bunch of mumbo jumbo. He was voted the President not Joe Biden. If he doesn't have time to handle one of the single biggest problems in the country he should resign immediately.

He needs to get off the golf course and get busy negotiating.

[manofmystique]

08:42 AM on 06/28/2011

You mean to tell me the President can't appoint his competent Vice President to negotiate with the other Party? Hell, all he has to do is do what the President tells him. How silly can you be? You don't think Joe Biden can handle the task, then you should criticize him. But you don't want to do that do you? Because it is not about Joe, it's about the President, correct? You people are so transparent it is ridiculous.
If for some reason Joe Biden is not successful and the President's wisdom and negotiating skills is needed, then the President will do what he has to do.
If these Republicans elected officials can't work out a deal for the American people they don't need Obama, they need a new profession.
I thought these guys was so smart. They are not smart, they are evil.
You believe Obama is the President, so he has to do everything, even though he has a staff and a vice-President? Have not other Presidents appointed people to represent them?
You and Republicans don't care what the President has to say anyway, and you know it. You, like the rest of the Republican tea-nuts, just want to blame the President for Republicans negligent to negotiate. You know Republicans have no intentions on listening to the President talk, and they certainly don't want to compromise with him, So what purpose does it serve to have the President talk to Republicans? NOTHING, other than to criticize.

[manofmystique]

08:43 AM on 06/28/2011

...and blame. Like I said before.

[The Notorious PDF]

08:23 AM on 06/27/2011

And by "show up", he means "100% acquiescence to Republican demands".

[dmessy]

09:40 PM on 06/27/2011

Obama is not smart enough to do that...

[gtt]

07:59 AM on 06/27/2011

Did you notice in one answer regarding foreign policy Christie referred to the "murder of Bin Laden" - Really, "murder". Does this guy know the meaning of the word? Of course Gregory just missed that issue entirely and just went on. I would have like a question to Christie to determine if he really believes that it was a murder.

[seancoddington]

09:50 AM on 06/27/2011

What do you call killing an unarmed man, and I bet you are on here ranting for gun control.
I think it was a great thing they did it but there can be no other name for it justified or not

[Ian Bruce]

10:44 AM on 06/27/2011

Unarmed? Really? That's your argument?

[miketothad]

11:22 AM on 06/27/2011

I'd like to see Limbaugh dropping his pants, so you I can take a picture of you holding the flag while puckering up.

[gtt]

07:56 AM on 06/27/2011

A rather timid interview by Gregory. Seems as though Christie bullied Gregory by turning his questions back on him, When Gregory suggested to Christie in a question that he was thin skinned and reluctant to answer questions, Christie just answered, "you don't find me reluctant to answer questions do you?" No doubt the governor was rude and disrespectful to the woman who asked a legitimate question about his approach to school funding. This guy had no schooling in proper manners.

[Richardini]

07:42 AM on 06/27/2011

Christie looks and sounds like more of a Mafia capo than a governor. He prides himself on speaking from the heart, which means he hasn't the vocabulary to be a diplomatic politician. His frankness, read big mouth, makes him refuse the tunnel. He loves having the desperate republicans cajole him as some sort of sane candidate in comparison to the loony toons who are already out there. Frankness does not necessarily constitute a quality. It can be an awful defect. We need someone like him like a tremendous hole in the head.

[JBDenver]

10:33 AM on 06/27/2011

No, we need more people who can hedge their words a la - "can you tell me what the definition of "is" is?"

[Bobbi24]

12:12 PM on 06/27/2011

He's a thug. The woman who questioned him about school did not ask him why he sends his kids to private school. So he had to be rude. He has nothing but contempt for the middle class just like all Conservatives.

[Bombadillo22]

06:36 AM on 06/27/2011

One can imagine when asked if Jesus would ever cut funding for struggling public schools for children, Governor Christie would answer 'Stop attacking my religion!'

[sanityismine]

12:29 PM on 06/27/2011

NJ schools are not struggling financially. Please review a graph of per pupil spending by NJ, it will surprise you.

[Joshua Grisenthwaite]

05:38 AM on 06/27/2011

"And I thought they smelled bad... on the outside!"~Han Solo