Chris Christie: Gingrich 'Has Been An Embarrassment To The Party'

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie declared on Sunday that Newt Gingrich has been "an embarrassment" to the Republican Party who didn't have the background or capacity to serve as an effective president.

Appearing on "Meet the Press," the top Mitt Romney surrogate didn't refrain from sharp character attacks.

"I think Gingrich has embarrassed the party over time," Christie said. "Whether he'll do it again in the future, I don't know. But Gov. Romney never has."

And he went on from there.

"We all know the record," Christie said. "He was run out of the speakership by his own party. He was fined $300,000 for ethics violations. This is a guy who has had a very difficult political career at times and has been an embarrassment to the party ... I don't need to regale the country with that entire list again except to say this: I'm not saying he will do it again in the future, but sometimes past is prologue."

When it comes to Romney campaign attacks on Gingrich, this pushes the envelope a bit. But that's the role that surrogates are supposed to play and few can thrust the knife with as much gusto as Christie. The New Jersey governor did go on to unenthusiastically state that, "sure," Gingrich could beat Obama in a general election race. But it was clear from his tone that the race to become the nominee to face Obama is about to get a lot more personal.

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union" earlier on Sunday morning, Gingrich addressed some of the issues that Christie referenced. Here's a selection from the transcript:

Now, my taxes are posted at Newt.org. You can go see them. I helped found -- I helped create the Thomas system. You can go online. You can see a 1,300-page report on the ethics investigation. By the way, it's been pointed out that in every single count, I was exonerated. And, in fact, after the case, remember that Nancy Pelosi and others were on that committee. After the case, a federal judge, the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service -- all three exonerated me. So this was a political game.

Comments

[Tonydeeee]

08:24 PM on 01/24/2012

Is Christie smoking something? He seems to think that he is an asset to Romney when he is actually damaging Romney who needs to keep steering Right in order to win the confidence of a party, Repub., that is far to the Right and have no tolerance for gays or Muslims both of which Christie has placed in his government. As a Dem. When Christie appointed the Muslim he responded to the criticism from the FAR SIDE , appropriately, by saying the party should stop catering to the "crazies. " The RNC should place a sign outside of their HQ's that reads, " Crazies Welcome " because this is what they ordered and now they are stuck in park with the Crazies at the wheel. That Christie doesn't seem to get this simple fact shows how out of touch he is with his own party , the base , and what type of candidate they want against Pres. Obama. Chris Christie as Romney's VP would be one step away from appointing a Muslim - American or Gay - American to the high court. Does he think the Crazies want to go to bed with that nightmare? Thank You, Gov. Christie for sowing confusion within your party and helping Dems. Nice to finally get some help from the Right. Obam/Biden 2012!

[dwnmw4ever]

07:13 PM on 01/24/2012

Man there is a Romney attack ad on TV every 15 mins here in Florida...The 1% are really spending heavily to get their man elected

[Dodger300]

07:01 PM on 01/24/2012

I don't often agree with Gov. Christie, but he is dead right on about Gingrich.

How could anyone who considers themselves a "Family Values Christian" vote for Newt without facing up to the fact that they live a life of total and complete hypocrisy?

[jrleftfoot]

03:40 PM on 01/24/2012

The Republican Party is capable of being embarrassed? Astonishing!

[josie klapper]

03:24 PM on 01/24/2012

To rank as an "Embarrassment to the Party" compared to this bunch of clowns takes work...

[priceofliberty]

10:31 AM on 01/24/2012

I'm mixed here. I agree with Christie that Gingrich is an embarrassment. But Gingrich has no shot at winning against Obama.

So far Gingrich doing well is one of the better things for Obama.

[trron9]

10:04 AM on 01/24/2012

Although I don't like Newt and I despise Romney people begged for Christie to enter the race as he decline d the offer I also feel he forfeited the right to critique the others! My daddy always told me if you're not part of the solution you must be part of the problem! It's like having a back seat driver!

[willowtree3]

07:49 AM on 01/24/2012

This is the field? The whole #gop party is a laughing stock.
Any repub that is a decent person, with a chance of winning is not in this campaign.
If write in's are allowed, write in Teddy Roosevelt. At least he cared about the
environment.

[krisnelson800]

04:34 AM on 01/24/2012

Chris Christie is right. I believe, too, that Mitt Romney would be a better President, and should be the candidate to run against Obama, and defeat him! Let's send Barack Obama back to Chicago!

[John Paganas]

08:50 AM on 01/24/2012

Keep on Dreaming... With the sub standard candidates and all the voters the GOP has pushed away you will win Nothing... You as a party have defeated yourselves... You have been pouting and acting like children these past 3 years... Makes me wonder what you will do when you lose, are you all going to throw a tantrum in unisen? The Grand Old Party used to stand for something, now you act like nothing more than spoiled children who lost... If we can't play no one can...

[tccat4]

03:34 AM on 01/24/2012

Newt as President.. heck the man is a criminal, so all you people looking to vote for him, realize many will not vote at all. We dont need to be lied to by anyone running for President. Doesn't Ethics mean anything?

[TMIDGE66]

07:46 AM on 01/24/2012

Apparently all republicans have to do is run to the K street house and anyone who is there will provide forgiveness for their multiple sins. i understand that K street has been abandoned for another "holy" place. apparently it isnt easy to find ethics outside oneself.

[tccat4]

12:53 AM on 01/25/2012

Bet they get hung up at Dupont Circle.. round and round they go...rofl

[rwi3650001]

02:49 AM on 01/24/2012

FOR THE RECORD : My Sister and Brother-in-law who are residents of Boston did not like MItt Romney as govenor and will not vote for him as president. They will be voting for Newt Gingrich. You know we all have skeletons in our closets and Newt is no different, but I will over look Newt's past because I'm convinced that if anybody can lead America out of the wilderness, Newt can........The Hell with 3 marriages, lets give him a chance to put 25 million citizens back to work.

[tccat4]

03:35 AM on 01/24/2012

Guess Ethics Violations are serious to you but how many wives are a plus?

[rwi3650001]

03:50 AM on 01/24/2012

I guess 3 marriages are no worse than Democrat Bill Clinton having oral sex in the oval office, or Congressman Barney Franks (Democrat) knowingly allowing his home to be a house of prostitution.

[John Paganas]

08:56 AM on 01/24/2012

Newt was charged a fine for Violating Ethics... You would want a man who violated ethics and asked to step down by his own party as President? Not counting the lobbying thing or the 3 wives... This guy makes nothing but bad decisions... Clinton was president 8 years, and did a good job... By the way Was'nt it Newt who brought the gvt to a standstill to prosecute Clinton? I guess the shoe does not feel as good when worn on the other foot... Your party has made a disgrace of itself.. Economy Tanked with Regan, Clinton brought it back, economy tanked with Bush and Obama brought it back... If you think for a minute the Failed GOP policy will work in a fragile economy I got a bridge to sell you...

[turtom]

11:06 AM on 01/24/2012

Strange as it may seem to you, neither Franks nor Willie are running for President of the United States.

[TruthBeToldOnceMore]

02:19 AM on 01/24/2012

I'd like to complete a project I've been working on. What I would like to do is to get blabber - mouth Chris Chris to stand next to his kindred spirit Gingrich. Put a bathing suit on them both and take pictures of this vista from various angles. Talk about your pulchritude .

[Let it go]

01:58 AM on 01/24/2012

I thought Chris Christy was an okay guy up until he too committed too attack ads. Now I consider him just another buffoon full of hot air. Hey Christy how much money did Mr upper 1% give you to campaign for him? Romney being in the upper 1% isn't running because he relates to lower income people. It's all in the title, wow (PRESIDENT). Contrary to what Christy say's Romney knows nothing about running our country, no more than Obama. He is the republican Obama, other than him being a multi multi millionaire. 12 million dollar home in one state 10 million dollar home in another state and a 4-5 million dollar lakefront cottage. Romney is extremely weak debating. Obama will chew him up and spit him out. Could you Imagine Romney trying to deal with a senate or congress! If he made that kind of money at Bain You would think he would have helped out the people he put out of work. Oh! but even though he may have done it legally, seems like he didn't mind getting a large piece of the pie. He may have helped start companies. elsewhere by putting others out of business, but what about the people he left behind not being able to find work because he took their livelyhood away. C'MON HE SMILED ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK WHILE SOMEONE HE PUT OUT OF WORK IS FEEDING THEIR FAMILY MACARONI AND CHEESE!

[Reggie1947]

01:48 AM on 01/24/2012

Chris Christie is just jealous because Newt is so thin.

[allianceae]

01:46 AM on 01/24/2012

When I was growing up, one of the things my parents bestowed upon me over and over again was that if you make bad mistakes, they would follow you the rest of your life and hold you back. Unfortunately, I did not take heed very well and have enough skeletons hanging in my closet that even though I have overcome my flaws, corrected my mistakes, and my character and integrity are strong ... I would last about 5 minutes if I tried to run for elected office before I was crucified by the opposition for the mistakes of my past. That's just the way it is folks and the way it should be. Everyone deserves a second chance and most of us are fair-minded and will grant someone his or her mulligan. But, in the case of Newt and his worthiness for the highest office in the land ... being President of the United States and leader of the free world is taking second chances way beyond what they were meant to be. When you are talking about character, personality, and behavior ... there really should not be second chances for men / women who would be President. It amazes me that the people of South Carolina don't realize such a simple premise. Hopefully, the citizens of Florida and the remainder of the country will understand that Newt blew it 20 years ago and we cannot afford taking a chance on him blowing it again as POTUS.