Four years ago, Chris Christie was the most popular potential Republican presidential candidate in the country. His charm and straight forward non-political demeanor won us all over. Not to mention he had a problem with the same exercise regimen that a lot of us share -- pushing oneself away from the table
Heck, we even liked his temper. How often do you see politicians getting angry with the press or the general public? There was a mafia-ish quality to Christie. The tough guy. I pictured him as a president who would send Iran a Titan missile while yelling, "Say hallo to my li'l friend."
Of course, the only problem was -- he didn't run, but instead opted to wait another four years before throwing his hat into the ring. It was a very risky move considering it only takes one failed policy or one juicy scandal to change the public's perception. A lot can happen in four years.
And something did happen that cast Christie down among the few current presidential hopefuls scurrying for a place at the grownup's table in the first GOP debate of this election cycle. But it wasn't a failed policy or even a scandal that proved disastrous. The culprit: a natural disaster.
Hurricane Sandy roared through New Jersey in 2012 with a vengeance. And as usual in such cases, presidents rarely pass up such an incredible photo-op. It's not enough to approve federal aid; presidents love to walk over the debris and assess the damage firsthand. It's very presidential; useless, but presidential.
And it's common practice for the governors of said states to meet and escort the president in these endeavors. Chris Christie followed protocol and accompanied President Obama in a tour of the damaged areas. Of course that wasn't the problem. The problem was that Christie seemed to enjoy the visit from the president. In their initial encounter, he smiled and hugged him. And that was his undoing.
Maybe a few years earlier that kind of behavior would have been no big deal, but not during the Obama years. Politics has always been divisive in this country, but since Barack Obama took office, it has become downright toxic. Any sign of going along with the president on anything at all brings about scorn from a congressman's constituency.
That's all it took. Christie didn't suddenly change any of his beliefs or political positions. He didn't suddenly embrace Obamacare or even say anything positive about the governing prowess of Obama. He simply hugged him. And instantaneously the internet and blogosphere were abuzz. Many of my friends who were avid Christie supporters turned on him like a pack of rabid dogs.
Sure, hugging seems like an innocent thing and even a common courtesy, but not when the recipient is the person Republicans consider to be their number one enemy in the world. Forget Bridge Gate and the other investigations into Christie's administration. Heck, Christie could have raised taxes 50%, had several ISIS members over for charades, or a video surface showing him chopping up a neighbor with an axe, and it wouldn't have had the same effect.
So, with Christie being the one candidate with a singular identifiable weakness, a true Achilles Heel, his very own Kryptonite, one has to wonder why he was so ill prepared to address it during the debate. He had to know at least one of the other candidates would be sleazy enough to bring it up.
Which brings us to Rand Paul. In a heated exchange about the Patriot Act and surveillance, Paul managed to segue right into it.
"I don't trust Obama with our records, I know you gave him a big hug and if you want to give him a big hug again, go right ahead."
Christie's comeback was decent, but only a decent diversion.
"You know what hugs I remember, are the hugs I gave to the families who lost their people on September 11th, those are the hugs I remember."
The point is Christie has to know this will be a constant source of attacks as his campaign progresses. Surely he has advisors, so why wasn't he more prepared? This would be like Hillary Clinton practicing for debates without considering Benghazi or her email debacle.
I personally think he missed a great opportunity. I'm not one of Christie's advisors nor am I one of his speech writers, but had I been, this would have been his retort to Rand Paul.
"The office of the president, which we are all vying for, is larger than one man, and commands our respect, the same respect that any of us will expect upon being elected. Our state had just suffered one of the worst natural disasters in our history. Thirty-seven of our citizens died and 346,000 homes were destroyed. There was an estimated $30 billion in damage. The president of the United States showed up to help, and he brought money. Senator Paul, if you had showed up to help. I would have hugged you too. But you didn't."
Put that in your New Jersey Turnpike and smoke it.