Chris Christie Joked That His Cowboys Fan Support Would Help Him in the 2016 Texas Primary
Political activists have asked state officials to investigate Gov. Chris Christie for “gifts of foreign travel and lavish lodgings and entertainment” he received from Sheldon Adelson in 2012. The watchdog group, led by David Brock, described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a Democratic operative, asked for the New Jersey State Ethics Commission to open an investigation.
On Monday of this week, the New York Times reported that Christie and his family was flown to Israel on Sheldon Adelson’s private jet, who then lobbied the New Jersey governor against online gambling legislation. The visit to Israel came in 2012, when Sheldon Adelson paid $90 million to Republican candidates in the 2012 U.S. Presidential election. Those donations made the Las Vegas Sands Corporation’s chairman the biggest political contributor of the 2012 election cycle–even exceeding the Koch Brothers.
Christie Did Not Support Adelson’s Views
Ultimately, Gov. Christie gave his support to legalized online gambling in New Jersey. That industry, which began a rollout in November 2013, made $110 million in its first year of operation. That is far below the amount predicted by Christie during the push to legalize Internet gambling, but that industry is likely to grow in subsequent years.
Given the fact Christie did not support Sheldon Adelson‘s position on the issue, it is hard to characterize the so-called gifts as bribery. Despite that, the issue brings up Christie’s judgment and sense of elitism, much like the Bridgegate Scandal did. And as the NY Times reported, Christie’s 2012 trip abroad has more to it than a simple visit to gaming executive.
Bills Paid by King Abdullah of Jordan
The same article showed that King Abdullah of Jordan paid $30,000 for a hotel stay for Christie and his family at the end of his trip to Israel. Also, records show that the taxpayers of New Jersey paid $40,000 to provide security on the visit, in a part of the world known for terrorist incidents and political abductions.
“Choose New Jersey”, described as a nonprofit economic development group, gave an accounting of travel expenses for public officials at $53,000 for the 2012 year. It is uncertain how much of that $53,000 went to the Israeli trip, but it isn’t hard to surmise that most of those expenses were incurred during Christie’s travels.
CREW Suggests Ethics Violations
Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington (CREW), a watchdog group which reports on ethical violations by politicians, said the use of Sheldon Adelson’s private jet appears to break New Jersey ethics laws for public officials.
CREW is chaire by David Brock, described as an ally of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Brock is the founder of a liberal super-PAC (“political action committee”), American Bridge 21st Century. CREW has a history of reporting on public officials’ iffy perks. It criticized New Jersey Representative Robert E. Andrews (a Democrat) for using campaign funds to purchase a family trip to Scotland in 2011. Robert Andrews eventually repaid the money with his own expenses.
Dallas Cowboys Criticisms
Democratic operatives have been targeting Governor Christie lately. In December, Campaign Legal Center in Washington criticized Christie for his highly publicized appearance in the owner’s skybox with Jerry Jones. Christie sat with Jones during a late regular season game against the nearby Philadelphia Eagles. He reappeared with Jerry Jones during the Cowboys’ home playoff game against the Detroit Lions. The two were seen hugging after the Cowboys sealed a close victory.
Former Michigan Governor Saul Anuzis joked on Twitter that Christie’s appearance with Jerry Jones had cost him votes in Michigan, an early battleground state in the presidential primaries. Anuzis tweeted, “Just watched Christie cheer for the Dallas Cowboys on the last touchdown…he’s OUT as a possible nominee 🙂.”
Christie defended his appearance at games, saying he had been a Dallas Cowboys fan for 43 years. Christie said, “You are who you are as a fan. Just because I am governor of New Jersey doesn’t mean I change who I root for.”
Later in the interview, he joked that his appearance might help him win votes in the Texas Republican primary, saying, “I think our chances have improved.”
Looking ahead to 2016
The attacks by David Brock and CREW will not be so easily deflected. Hillary Rodham Clinton is still expected to run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016, so her political allies will use any measure to undermine the chances of a potential Republican rival.
Given his frontrunner status, the scandals in his recent past, and his moderate conservative politics, Christie is going to have a hard time collecting the GOP nomination. At the same time, if the moderate wing of the Republican Party gains the upper hand in the nomination process, the Chris Christie’s moderate stances would make him a distinct threat to Hillary Clinton in a potential national presidential showdown.
