Chris Christie Addresses Libertarian Audience As ‘Committed Conservatives’, Crowd Groans

New Jersey Governor and potential Mitt Romney running mate Chris Christie delivered the keynote address at Washington DC’s libertarian Cato Institute as the keynote speaker on Friday night, but things got off to a rough start when he referred to the audience as “committed conservatives.”

“It is a pleasure to be here tonight to celebrate the work of the Cato Institute and tonight’s honoree Mao Yushi. People ask me why did you decide to accept this invitation on a Friday night, leave all that is exciting in New Jersey on a Friday night, come down here to this sleepy little hamlet, and speak before a small group of committed conservatives. It is really simple. It is because the Milton Friedman Award is being granted tonight.”

Christie’s “committed conservative” remark was reportedly not well received by the crowd. Yahoo News’ Chris Moody reported there were audible groans:

The Daily Caller‘s Michelle Fields was also in attendance at the event and noticed a palpable tension in the room. “I think he was expecting big claps, but only a few people clapped and most of the room just looked really uncomfortable and groaned,” she observed. “I spoke to some of the Cato scholars afterwards who told me that everyone at Cato was really upset and angry that he was invited and that Christie was so completely unaware of libertarian views.”

Watch Christie’s speech below via C-SPAN:

(h/t Chris Moody)

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