While members of Congress seem hell-bent on not showing efforts of bipartisanship, it is great to see politicians like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie work for the greater good of the people.
Earlier this week, Christie became the eighth Republican governor to announce that he would accept Obamacare despite his party’s opposition to the law.
Needless to say, Republicans were not very happy.
You see, over the last couple of years, Christie has been a shining star within the Republican Party. His in-your-face demeanor and gutsy disposition was favored by Republicans; but in recent months things have changed.
Christie has ruffled the feathers of many of his conservative counterparts – specifically during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, when Christie very publicly praised President Obama for his relief efforts. (Can you imagine the Republican shrieks when they saw Christie actually embrace the president?) Disdain for Christie during that timeframe only increased when he later criticized Republican members of Congress for failing to pass a disaster-relief bill.
Again, Republicans were not happy.
It is refreshing to see an obvious rising star of any political affiliation have the courage to boldly oppose an initiative or stance of their party for the right reason: doing what is best for constituents, rather than subscribing to an agenda that only benefits a small few.
Many political analysts believe Christie’s recent actions are ominous signs for the governor if he wants a bid for the White House in 2016. These experts say their predictions proved to be all the more true when Christie did not receive an invitation to the coveted Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
While I am most certainly not a political analyst, I disagree with what the experts say.
If Christie pursues a run for president in 2016, he is doing the right thing by being more moderate than conservative. The United States is changing and whether one likes it or not, that means the political landscape has to change. Decreasing are the days when voters choose the best of the bad candidates. Now more voters are doing their homework by learning politicians’ stances on key issues. Voters are now supporting candidates who will truly advocate for them and their respective issues. That is what the democratic process is all about.
So if Christie does indeed attempt to run for president in 2016, he needs to continue to do what is best for the general public rather than practice partisan politics.
Though Christie’s actions seem more liberal as of late, he actually has a pretty moderate history. In fact, Christie has long been in favor of gun control policies and sensible perspectives on immigration. So while it may appear that Christie is flip-flopping; he is actually being true to his record.
However, there are some issues that the New Jersey governor remains conservative on; issues like gay marriage and abortion.
It will be interesting if Christie remains conservative on these issues, yet moderate on gun control, immigration reform and health care during his possible quest for the presidency. If he stays true to both his conservative and moderate views, and the Republican Party continues to oust him; perhaps Christie will consider running as an independent. From a strategic standpoint it would be a great way to get a few votes from Democrats, some from Republicans and a lot more from independents.
Regardless of what Christie decides to do in 2016, right now I like the man that he has publicly morphed himself into. I have always had a level of respect for him and his bipartisan perspective, but as of late, my respect has intensified and has even transitioned to a bit of admiration.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
