Chris Christie, the first pro-life Governor of New Jersey. That’s a pretty awesome moniker for a guy who used to be publicly pro-choice.
But in many ways Christie in power has been very conservative. His very public battle with the teacher’s unions have become legendary. He’s a YouTube hit. Some talk radio hosts have even started daydreaming and doodling in their spiral notebooks “President Chris Christie.” Word also has it that the GOP initially asked Christie to deliver a response to the State of the Union (which he declined.)
In short, his star is on the rise.
Pro-lifers have watched Christie carefully. And there have been some good things. Christie’s battle to defund Planned Parenthood has been epic. And now there’s talk of doing the same thing on the federal level. And yesterday Christie spoke publicly at a pro-life rally. Check out what he said:
Weasel Zippers reports:
– “Every life is precious and a gift from God,” said Christie, coatless on the coldest day so far this winter, before hundreds of children and adults.
The Republican governor, who once was an abortion-rights advocate – or as he told the crowd, “not always on your side” – said his views changed after he heard the heartbeat of his daughter, Sara, now 14, three months into his wife’s pregnancy.
“It was at that moment that it became clear to me that that’s a life that deserves protection,” Christie said. “This is an issue whose time has come.”
So here’s the question -do you trust Chris Christie? Do you trust Chris Christie to be pro-life? Should his star continue to rise, would you feel comfortable saying the words “President Christie?”
Keep in mind no group has been lied to more than pro-lifers. We’ve been burned pretty much by everyone who could burn us. So pardon us if we’re a bit relucatant to buy into any pol that promises to be pro-life.
There’s a lot to like about Governor Christie but I’m honestly not sure yet. You?
January 26, 2011 at 2:56 am
I think you have to look at what a person DOES, not necessarily what they SAY (though words are important too). Defunding PP is a necessary part of fighting the culture of death though on his part it might be more pragmatic.
January 26, 2011 at 2:58 am
I don't trust him because he, unfortunately, has revealed himself to be ignorant of the problem with islamic supremacism.
January 26, 2011 at 3:08 am
I agree with Anon…
I want to trust him, but it's dangerous to really trust any politician. We'll just have to wait and watch what he does.
January 26, 2011 at 3:15 am
And frankly, this guy has made it abundantly clear that he's not interested in running for president any time soon. Even if he gets re-elected as Gov. of NJ and finishes that term he's said he'd like to wait a long while after that before he even thinks about it.
If you've watched this guy much, he has pretty much followed through to the _letter_ of what he has promised, so if he says he's pro life, then I think we are statistically safe in trusting him.
January 26, 2011 at 3:19 am
I think we should trust him. If he was not pro-life he would stay quiet on the subject. I believe his personal story that hearing his daughter's heart beat would change his heart. Men are able to connect with their unborn children when they have something to hold on to like the thumping of a baby's heart.
January 26, 2011 at 4:18 am
Trust but verify…
January 26, 2011 at 4:31 am
I'm all in.
January 26, 2011 at 4:39 am
I am unequivocally pro=life and admire Christie greatly for his stand on life issues, but here is something for your information.
January 26, 2011 at 5:22 am
Proof is in the pudding– if he was still secretly pro-abortion, then no matter how much of a "fiscal conservative" he was, PP would have kept its funding, come hell or high water. Defunding them is pretty definitive in my book.
And frankly, I can buy the whole pregnancy change of heart story– I've heard similar stories, specifically from men. When their own child is the "fetus," it suddenly crystallizes things…
January 26, 2011 at 5:53 am
I'm skeptical… Hopefully his words aren't just a bunch of hot air. I am waiting to see if his actions matches his rhetoric.
January 26, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I trust him more than Sarah Palin. Not necessarily on the life issue as a stand-alone, but overall- personal convictions + policy accomplishments. I think Palin has some strong points, but also some major liabilities. Christie, on the other hand, has to date been like Horton the elephant: "I meant what I said, and I said what I mean." He has not shied away from any battles that traditional politicians avoid. If he says he's pro-life, well, he's defunded PP in NJ, and that's a heck of a lot more than a lot of historically "pro-life" governors have done.
At worst, if Christie were to become president, I could see him restoring the ban on funding abortions abroad (Mexico City policy), signing a bill to enact the Hyde Amendment permanently, and nominating John Roberts-types to the Supreme Court. I don't see him nominating a Souter, because he wouldn't give the time of day to someone as wishy-washy and spinelss as Souter was in nominations.
Especially considering how pro-lifers have been burned, actions definitely speak louder than words. Christie's actions to date, especially since they were not required, tell me he's at least mostly on the level with us.
January 26, 2011 at 1:36 pm
Yes, yes, yes, I trust Chris Christie. And I live in NJ.
He cut Planned Parenthood funding here in NJ to the tune of 7 million dollars. That's your proof in the pudding.
The Dems in the legislature here can't stand him and don't even get me started on the teachers union.
He is a man of his word. He is Catholic, sends his children to Catholic schools. He is working for school choice in NJ, there is currently a bill out that will give tax credits for scholarships that can be used at Catholic schools that he said he will sign, on and on.
Believe me, we would be very lucky if he chooses to run for President, very lucky.
January 26, 2011 at 2:18 pm
On fiscal and social policies I do trust him. He was portrayed as something of a moderate during the campaign, but has done more than most other governors to actually do something – de-funding Planned Parenthood being the prime example.
Where I'm a little uneasy with him is with regards to foreign policy. As the second commenter and Lisa Graas alluded to, he does not really seem to grasp the threat that we face with Islamism. He also happily attended the state dinner that feted human rights abuser China.
Overall I like the man, and appreciate that he tells it like it is. Hopefully he'll wake up on some of our more pressing foreign policy concerns.
January 26, 2011 at 3:11 pm
If you believe de-funding PP is a "pro-life" move, then you also believe that not building the Hudson Tunnel saved NJ money.
All "de-funding" PP did was cut the teen-pregnancy prevention programs and sex education programs that PP provided with gubmint subsidies.
Just like de-funding the tunnel resulted in NJ owing the feds $271,000,000, de-funding PP will result in an increased number of abortions thanks to the cancellation of successful programs that reduced unwanted teen pregnancies.
Oh, and for some reason Christie doesn't want to roll back the $1.25 billion dollars in toll hikes that were allotted to pay for the now non-existant tunnel.
Yet another way NJ taxpayers/toll payers won't be saving money thanks to Christie's fiscal responsibility.
January 26, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I'm not sure if I completely trust or completely agree with any politician. But I give Christie a huge amount of credit for defunding Planned Parenthood. And I trust his pro-life conversion a lot farther than I trust Mitt Romney's.
I also like Ronald Reagan's phrase of "trust but verify" which someone quoted above.
January 26, 2011 at 5:54 pm
I have my doubts about Christie. For one he was the only Republican politician to go to the state dinner with the Chinese president. That was pretty stupid.
He though has been pretty solid in New Jersey and has walked the walk, but I still have my concerns such as his recent meeting with Romney who I don't trust on the pro-life issues at all.
January 26, 2011 at 6:34 pm
On another issue: Christie is a gun-control kinda guy. FWIW, I've never met an individual who is both solidly pro-life AND solidly gun-control.
So at this time, I'm not a Christie believer.
January 26, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Reply to Craig: Abstinence is the only, ONLY, sex education program that has produced a reduction in abortion. Teaching children that their virginity is most precious beyond measure instills self esteem. Human life is a gift from God and God must be respected. Human life must be respected and the sovereign person must be respected. Sex education.
January 26, 2011 at 6:43 pm
I trust Chris Christie
January 26, 2011 at 7:34 pm
An infallible technique for determining if a male candidate is reliably pro-life: Is his wife pro-life? Well, there you go. Genius.
Please remember that Ann Romney gave money to Planned Parenthood, although she "had no recollection of the circumstances under which she donated the money."
Right!