Amelia
Rookie
- Banned
- #1
Shades of Chicago thuggery:
Top Christie Staff Sought Lane Closings as Revenge
Using vital thoroughfares to lean on people for endorsements?
Top Christie Staff Sought Lane Closings as Revenge
Using vital thoroughfares to lean on people for endorsements?
....
The emails indicate that Mr. Christies staff and his associates at the Port Authority were closely aware of the political context. Mr. Christie, a Republican, was leaning on local Democratic officials to endorse his re-election bid so that he could then seek his partys presidential nominationby arguing that he was the candidate who could attract bipartisan support in a blue state.
Mr. Christie won re-election in November by 22 points, and instantly became a leading candidate for his partys presidential nomination by winning across many demographic groups. His campaign boasted that he had been endorsed by more than 50 local Democratic officials.
But the documents released Wednesday underscore what Republicans as well as Democrats in New Jersey have long said about the governor: that he is a bully who wields fear and favor to get what he wants, and lashes out at even the smallest perceived slights.
During the campaign, as Mr. Christie and his associates leaned on Democratic local officials for endorsements, many mayors whispered that they feared the governor would withhold money or favor if they did not go along. Even Republican lawmakers who have supported Mr. Christie tell stories of being punished when he perceived them as not supporting him enough.
....