Chris Christie’s Fiery Defense: ‘I Am Not a Bully!’
During a Thursday morning press conference on the ongoing “Bridgegate” scandal, NJ Gov. Chris Christie unleashed a fiery defense of his leadership skills, telling reporters he’s not a bully and that he’s not your typical focus group-tested politician.
An unidentified female reporter asked the governor whether this scandal continues the narrative that he is a “political bully” and whether it compromises his ability to lead into the future.
Christie responded:
Listen, politics ain’t beanbag, okay? Everybody in the country who engages in politics knows that. On the other hand, that’s very, very different than saying that someone’s a bully. I have very heated discussions and arguments with people in my own party and on the other side of the aisle. I feel passionately about issues and I don’t hide my emotions from people. I am not a focus group-tested, blow-dried candidate or governor. Now, that has always made some people as you know uneasy. Some people like that style; some people don’t. And i’ve always said, I think you asked me a question after the election, are you willing to change your style in order to appeal to a broader audience and i think i said no because I am who I am, but I am not a bully.
He continued on to explain that “the language used and the conduct displayed in those emails is unacceptable to me and I will not tolerate it,” however, “the best I can do when I see stuff like that is to end it.”
“I know that won’t satisfy everybody,” he concluded, “but I’m not in the of satisfying everybody — I’m in the business of trying to satisfy the people who elected me governor.”
Watch below, via Fox:
