Is Chris Christie Having Himself a Real "Moment"?

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by: Colorado Pols

Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ)

New Jersey Governor and Republican Presidential candidate Chris Christie is having himself a “moment.” If you have yet to watch the 6-minute video of Christie talking about addiction — it really is quite mesmerizing — then we’ll let our friends at “The Fix” explain:

As part of its “’16 and President” video series, Huffington Post filmed Chris Christie speaking about addiction during a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. An outtake, which features the entirety of Christie’s six-plus- minute riff on the subject, has become a viral sensation this week.

As of Thursday afternoon, it has been viewed nearly six million times since it was originally posted a week ago. It has been shared on Facebook more than 78,000 times. It’s also drawn wall to wall coverage on cable TV and been featured in packages on the broadcast networks as well.

In short, if elections are about moments, Christie is having one.

You can understand why. The Christie in the video is the Christie who would have been the frontrunner had he entered the 2012 presidential race. In re-telling his mother’s long fight with addiction to cigarettes as a window into the need for a more compassionate approach to how we deal with drug addiction, Christie shows off his softer side (and that of the party he represents.) It also showcases his natural gifts as a communicator — a guy who talks like and connects with regular people.

At the same time, it is somewhat odd that a video for a liberal news site that features Christie talking about drug addiction — not immigration or healthcare or a more hot-button issue — is what’s driving buzz about the New Jersey governor. (The big question is whether all of the interest around the Christie video comes from people who are not Republicans or whether it is actually touching a real chord among potential GOP primary and caucus voters.)

You can watch the video yourself over at Huffington Post. We want to know what you think, Polsters. Is this a gen-U-ine “moment” for Christie that could propel his fledgling Presidential campaign to new levels? Or is it just a nice video?

8 thoughts on “Is Chris Christie Having Himself a Real “Moment”?”

notaskinnycook says:

November 5, 2015 at 5:35 pm

Sort of on topic: https://news.vice.com/article/the-dea-chief-just-called-medical-marijuana-a-joke?utm_source=vicenewsfb

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bullshit! says:

November 5, 2015 at 6:50 pm

I bet he hopes so, Christie just got sent down to the kid's table.

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Diogenesdemar says:

November 5, 2015 at 6:55 pm

Fuck Mr. Sensitive . . .

When asked by Hewitt if he would enforce federal drug laws in those states that have legalized and regulated cannabis, Christie responded unequivocally.

"Absolutely," Christie said. "I will crack down and not permit it."

Citing an "enormous addiction problem" in the U.S., Christie, who has not yet announced a presidential run but has launched a political action committee, said that a very clear message needs to be sent "from the White House on down through federal law enforcement."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/14/chris-christie-marijuana_n_7066636.html

Now if Christie would talk for six minutes about one or two of any of his personal addiction problems (Ho-hos, Twinkies, Tantrums, Political retaliation, stuffing his fat feet in his mouth, …) that, I agree, would certainly be a "moment"!!! . . . .

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mamajama55 says:

November 5, 2015 at 9:26 pm

Chris Christie misses the point (as well as the research) about addiction and what works to ameliorate its worst effects. His speech was moving, but off-target.

There is certainly a physical component to cocaine, nicotine, or any substance addiction. But the emotional and logistical components – the lack of human connections and the lack of basic treatment – are what gives addiction its society-busting punch.

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1. MichaelBowman says:
  
  November 5, 2015 at 9:41 pm
  
  You'd think these 'fiscal conservatives' mightt grasp that after $1.5 trillion blown on the (failed) War on Drugs and not moving the needle on national addiction rates that someone might take pause.
  
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2. MichaelBowman says:
  
  November 5, 2015 at 9:46 pm
  
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Voyageur says:

November 6, 2015 at 10:24 am

The war on drugs is a colossal failure and, indeed, a misnomer. Wars are not waged against inanimate objects. This is thus not a war on drugs. It is a war on people who use drugs. And the casualties are appalling.

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1. Davie says:
  
  November 6, 2015 at 10:41 am
  
  And the winners, as with Prohibition in the '20's, are the newly enriched drug lords/crime families.
  
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