by Mike Memoli
The last time President Obama came to the Garden State, it was for his third campaign visit for Jon Corzine's embattled re-election effort. Today after he bounded down the steps of Air Force One at Newark Airport, he was greeted by the man he argued was unfit for the governor's office -- Republican Chris Christie.
The two men chatted for some time -- nearly two minutes -- on the tarmac. Christie seemed to get a rise out of the visiting president, who offered a few back slaps during the exchange. Perhaps Christie realized he had to make that moment count, because when Obama hosted local leaders and small business owners later in Edison, Christie was noticeably absent.
"We're not passing it up," Christie spokeswoman Maria Comella said when asked why the governor didn't join Obama at Tastee Sub Shop. "We weren't invited."
Deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton confirmed that Christie was not on the guest list for the intimate venue. As the president himself entered the shop, he said he had a fondness for mayors, though.
"They don't have a lot of time for political back and forth," Obama said.
Photo Credit: AP / Rich Schultz
Eager to win, Corzine certainly embraced the popularity of Obama in the blue state of New Jersey. But even Christie, who has proven to be a favorite of conservatives since taking office, professed to be willing to work with the president during the 2009 race. In a web video before Obama's first appearance on Corzine's behalf, Christie said he looked forward to appearing with him as governor.
It's unclear whether Christie would have embraced Obama's message at the sub shop, however. He urged Republicans to get behind legislation Democrats were offering to provide additional help for small businesses.
"We've seen a fair amount of obstruction that's had more to do with gaining political advantage than helping the country. But surely, Democrats and Republicans ought to be able to agree on this bill," Obama said. "This is as American as apple pie."
Christie, on the "Today" show this morning, stopped short of endorsing the legislation.
"What I'm in favor of is trying to lower taxes and lower regulation on small businesses so they can spend more of their money on creating jobs," he said.





Comments
As can be seen by his actions, Obama is NOT the man to bring America together.
In fact, he might be the most divisive president we've had since James Buchanan.
Posted by: Equal time | July 28, 2010 6:08 PM
Christie is busy cleaning-up that cesspool of democratic largess in Jersey. Obama should take notes and apply some of the same principles to the over-spending in DC. Might be tougher for BO since he is a major contributor to the over-spending.
Posted by: Terry | July 28, 2010 10:21 PM
Once again, Obimbo shows he is THE MOST partisan president in this country's history. He is not a leader, he is not good for this country, and he has been a disaster and embarrassment on the world stage. Hard to believe, but Obama surpasses Carter as THE WORST PRESIDENT -- EVER!!!!
Posted by: John D | July 28, 2010 10:43 PM
Doughy Repug Chris Christie will be a one-termer...if he lasts that long. NJ voter already talking about recalling him.
Christie is reminding New Jersey voters why they hate Republicans.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been in office for just five and a half months, and a new eyewitness news poll shows voters are not giving him any kind of a honeymoon as he presses for budget cuts.
Only 33% of New Jersey residents approve the job Christie is doing as governor.
Nearly twice the number, 63% disapprove.
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/2010/06/why-conservatives-love-chris-christie/
http://politifi.com/news/Buyers-remorse-in-New-Jersey-520175.html
Posted by: Rob | July 28, 2010 11:23 PM
Obama, "The View," and the Boy Scouts
What’s next for Barack Obama? A cameo on Drew Carey’s upcoming show, “WTF!”? A plaintiff role on ”Judge Judy?” A hard-hitting interview with Larry King?
He’s already done “Oprah” and “The Young and the Restless” and “Jerry Springer” seem out of the question so where can he go now to get simpering, fawning attention from vacuous women viewers and brain-dead ”progressives” after his Thursday appearance (taped Wednesday) on ABC’s “The View?”
Obama “made history” by being the first sitting Chief Executive to appear on a daytime television talk show at the same time he further diminished the office he holds, something he does almost every day.
Any number of people, Democrats like Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell included, felt it was an inappropriate waste of time for a president of the United States to appear with the ladies. They generally spend their time chatting amiably but insubstantially, or spatting, or ganging up on Elisabeth Hasselbeck on such Earth-shaking topics as upcoming weddings, the real housewives of New Jersey, women having affairs, and teenagers giving oral sex.
Not exactly the topics a president should be dealing with, although Obama did manage to elucidate a bit on the personal ”roses” and “thorns” associated with his presidency.
No fool he, Obama knew he had a receptive audience and guesting on “The View” sure beat dealing with press . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1811)
Posted by: Berlet98 | July 29, 2010 3:40 AM
So, if it is the opinion of the Obama administration that it is the Federal Government's job to enforce our immigration laws, THEN DO YOUR JOB!
You want responsibility? Then step up. The law is clear. If you don't have the proper paperwork to be here legally, you are an illegal alien. Thanks Obama. When can we expect the job to be completed? Better be done by November.
Posted by: Free To Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | July 29, 2010 3:51 AM
Maybe the reason Obama likes Mayors so much is that they rule their little kingdoms and Obama thinks that he rules the big kingdom. He doesn't have time for political back and forth. He's to busy shoving his corrupt politcal machine down the throats of the whole country. It's Macro economics Chicago style.
Posted by: Free To Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | July 29, 2010 4:00 AM
Posted by: Equal time | July 28, 2010 6:08 PM
***************
Troll,
Why don't you tell the class exactly why it is you think Pres Obama should waste his time with an already unpopular Repug governor (Chris Christie), who is doing such a terrible job that he'll probably be re-called by NJ voters before the end of the year?
Posted by: Rob | July 29, 2010 4:05 AM
Here is your president:
http://usliberals.about.com/od/faithinpubliclife/a/ObamaReligion.htm
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7735278792312771887#
Posted by: Free To Watch the Liberal's Summer Meltdown | July 29, 2010 5:34 AM
"What I'm in favor of is trying to lower taxes and lower regulation on small businesses so they can spend more of their money on creating jobs," he said.
-------------
We had 8 years of tax cut under Bush. It led to $2 trillion of unpaid bills, a collapsed economy, a deregulated banking industry where investment firms used the banks that they owned as a personal casino's. Do we really want to go back to this road?
Jobs aren't created with tax cuts or deregulation. Otherwise, Florida would be thriving by now! Florida does not have Personal Income Tax yet they aren't doing any better than Illinois. They are in the same hole! Jobs are created through innovation and new products that people want to buy. Does anyone want to buy anything Made in USA? Nope! The Chinese wouldn't buy anything from us except Colgate. They like Colgate for some strange reasons. And, everyone is buying Chinese made products! How long will this last when nobody has anymore money to buy anything? It is to China's advantage that they should start buying "Made in USA" to help each other. USA and China are pretty much bed buddies now. A world economy that depend on each other. . .
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | July 29, 2010 6:58 AM
This is typical of President Obama. He is All Talk and no action. Obama talks Bi-Partisanship but in reality it is my way or no way. I remember when George Bush was President Mayor Daley was invited to these types of events. Although Bush did have major differences with some Democrats, he was much better in working with them in a Bi-Partisan way. President Obama better learn to make a serious effort to work in a Bi-Partisan fashion because after Novembers elections there are probably going to be a lot more Republicans in Congress.
Posted by: depot jim | July 29, 2010 9:15 AM
Equal time - you are purposely ignoring the most divisive president this country has seen in the past 50 years: George W. Bush.
Posted by: BC | July 29, 2010 9:56 AM
It takes an extremely small minded president to snub a sitting governor. .
.
That's our Erkel!
.
Posted by: Just sayin' | July 29, 2010 10:55 AM
Rob/HHH/former republican/Hulk Smash/John E/Dumb Dumba Janet, sorry, but the polls tell a far different story than the one you're pressing about Chris Cristie. Seems like his approval rating is 51 percent, not 33 percent:
http://www.politickernj.com/max/39786/rasmussen-poll-shows-christie-job-approval-51
Or at the very worst, he is breaking even. Not bad for a Republican in a screwed-up Democratic state like New Jersey:
http://www.pollster.com/polls/nj/jobapproval-govchristie.php
Survey USA is a loony left polling out and is not credible.
Once again, the facts disrupt the weird surreal alternative reality world that is the loony left.
Posted by: John D | July 29, 2010 11:25 AM
Thankfully I don't watch "The View". But I could see him on Jerry Springer, against the citizens in this country legally. Would be interesting to watch. Could be like the old west a lynching mob. Anyway don't fret it Christie, I wouldn't want to be anywhere Obama Bin Laden is anyway not enough ego room for anyone else.
You keep showing the world your true colors ERKEL...
lol
Posted by: Lisa C | July 29, 2010 12:19 PM
Is Christie a Muslim? Why is our great leader bowing to him?
Posted by: Libtard | July 29, 2010 2:04 PM
Is BO bowing to Christie?
Rodney King,
Eight years and $2 Trillion in unpaid bills. - BO has done that in less than 18 months.
To inform you, the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 did not cause the recession nor the deficits.
If tax cuts cause recessions, why did it take over 4 years for the recession to occur?
The tax cuts lead to a growing economy which brought in more revenues. As a matter of fact, deficits were dropping in 2007 for the fourth consectutive year due to increased revenue from a growing economy. The deficit was "only" $162 billion - less than the cost of the Afghanistan war for that year.
As for Florida, it has high unemployment due to the number of people that have migrated over the past decade, many in the construction industry.
What do you think of high tax and regulatiory state such as New York, California, and Michigan and their unemployment rates?
In order for those innovative products to be made, the gov't needs to lessen the penalty (tax and regulations) on the rewards for taking the risk to be innovative.
Posted by: Terry | July 29, 2010 6:39 PM
I see that Before CommonSense has checked in and yet he has not supported a previous claim that I am racist.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2010/07/democrats_and_the_obama_effect.html
For 10 days he's had the opportunity and for ten days he has chickened out. Typical lib, throw the bomb and then run away. Until he grows a pair and either proves the allegation or apologizes, this will be his new theme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKss2pBYQ6Y
Posted by: Terry | July 29, 2010 6:50 PM
Tinled On Terry - from the link that you yourself provide above:
'
[quote]
I'll assume from your silence on a previous post that you are apolgizing for calling me a racist. Thanks in advance.
.
Posted by: Terry | July 27, 2010 8:34 PM
.
I'm doing no such thing! As I posted a few days ago, I challenged you to post the Swamp column in which you ALLEGE that I called you a racist.
.
Everyone in the Swamp is still waiting for you to provide that link to back up your claim.
Posted by: BC | July 28, 2010 12:49 PM
[/quote]
.
For those like yourself who are English language impaired, point out in my above post where I call you a "racist".
Posted by: BC | July 30, 2010 12:41 PM
Tinkled On Terry - It took you 10 days to post the URL to the Swamp article where you ALLEGE that I called you racist. I did no such thing; however, I did point out that you post hateful comments about other Swamp posters.
'
As they say, "If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably Tinkled On Terry!"
Posted by: BC | July 30, 2010 12:57 PM
Very few if any politicians would pass up a chance to be photographed with the most popular political figure on the face of Planet Earth.
Barack, that is.
A lack of an invitation is not a "snub".
Also, don't assume that the President reviews all those invitation lists or spends a lot of time on those improptu remarks from the tarmac.
Must be a slow news week.
Posted by: ornery | July 30, 2010 2:30 PM
T, you raise an interesting question about "bowing".
Come to think, I suppose that is a gesture the President sometimes makes unconsciously, a sort of courtesy to those of smaller stature.
He's about 6'3.
So, to someone shorter, he's unconsciously extending the courtesy of "coming down" rather than forcing them to look up.
The other thing that photo shows: if you've ever met the President, you know he inspires an irresistible impulse to smile.
See? The chubby guy he's shaking hands with can't resist......
During the primary campaign in 08 they called it "Obama magic".
Posted by: ornery | July 30, 2010 2:40 PM
Terry-
As you are someone who regularly comments, I am sure you know that a budget deficit is different than debt. Deficits may have been shrinking, but when you have major spending during the Bush years that was off budget, that makes it easy to disguise the spending.
Posted by: martin | July 30, 2010 4:49 PM
Hornery youre right, I laugh every time I see or hear this babbling idiot hes the gift that keeps on giving
The other thing that photo shows: if you've ever met the President, you know he inspires an irresistible impulse to smile.
See? The chubby guy he's shaking hands with can't resist......
During the primary campaign in 08 they called it "Obama magic".
Posted by: ornery | July 30, 2010 2:40 PM
Posted by: Libtard | July 30, 2010 5:47 PM
Before CommonSense (who can't define racism nor bigotry),
You errors are so many:
Liberals posted "He is just calling names, posting hate, racism, and bigotry"
You followed: "We here in The Swamp put up with this from the likes of John D and Terry nearly every day"
Your sentence states that John D and myself are calling peoples names, posting hate, racism, AND bigotry. Show me the racism.
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2010/07/bachmann_creates_tea_party_cau.html
As the link shows, I have been calling you out for 11 days now.
Hateful comments? Do I hate the posters? Absolutely not. It's their stupidity and lack of knowledge about topics in here that I hate. I don't tolerate fools - I do like to mock them, as you can see I am doing now. Sorry it hurts your feelings, but as BO stated "Politics is noy bean bag".
Now, is it time for an apology or are you going to keep showing your ignorance and inability to read your own writing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKss2pBYQ6Y
Posted by: Terry | July 30, 2010 6:24 PM
Martin,
Yes I know the difference between debt and deficits. Here is the difference, the "planned" spending was off budget, but the "actual" spending is considered part of the actual deficit.
In other words, President Bush kept much of the war spending out his proposed budgets, but the spending did show up in his final deficit numbers once the money was spent. The $162 Billion deficit included the $169 Billion in war spending.
Ornery,
You might be the first to call Gov Christie small of stature.
Posted by: Terry | July 30, 2010 6:30 PM