There he goes again.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Thursday became the most prominent Republican to criticize the National Rifle Association — calling its advertisement referencing President Barack Obama’s daughters “reprehensible.”
“I think any of us who are public figures, you see that kind of ad and you cringe,” Christie said at a news conference where he introduced a task force on guns and mental health.
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Christie, facing re-election this year in heavily Democratic blue state New Jersey, appears to have made beating up on fellow Republicans and their supporters a central theme of his campaign.
The NRA’s ad called Obama an “elitist hypocrite” for not supporting armed guards at schools, even though his daughters receive armed protection at school.
Obama's children attend the Sidwell school, an elite private academy in Washington, DC. The school has approximately a dozen armed security guards.
Additionally, the President's children are protected by a Secret Service detail.
“Are the presidents’ kids more important than yours?” the ad’s narrator asks.
The NRA, based in Fairfax, Va., in the wake of the Newton shooting, called for putting armed security guards in all schools. The idea was quickly ridiculed by the White House.
Christie, a potential 2016 candidate for the White House, said that children of public figures should not be subjected to political attacks. Christie has also voiced support for gun-control efforts, including an assault-weapons ban
“To talk about the president’s children or any public officer’s children who have — not by their own choice, but by requirement — to have protection and to use that somehow to try to make a political point I think is reprehensible,” Christie said. “My children had no choice that I wanted to run for governor. I pretended that they did. I asked them what they thought.
Christie’s comments marked the second time in recent months that he has publicly supported the Democratic president.
Just six days before the November election, Christie touted the president’s relief efforts in the New Jersey-New York in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Republicans were angered that Christie lavished praise on Obama at the earliest stage of the crisis, though federal and local response to the hurricane was later seen as disorganized and slow.
Many GOP observers and even Democrats like Bill Clinton say Christie’s ringing endorsement helped President Obama win a second term in November over former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
Christie first angered GOPers during the party's convention at Tampa, when he used his Keynote speaking slot to tout his own record as New Jersey governor and failed to strong promote Romney or criticize Obama.
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Press reports have suggested that Christie's limp efforts to help Romney were fueled by the fact Romney did not tap him to become his vice-presidential running mate after promising to do so.
And Christie criticized House Speaker John Boehner earlier this month — blaming the Ohio Republican for delaying House consideration of a Sandy relief bill for storm-ravaged states.
Christie has voiced support for gun-control efforts, including an assault-weapons ban.
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