Posted on 10/05/2010 4:49:23 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Christie Rips NJ Teachers' Union in Iowa
By Scott Conroy and Erin McPike - October 5, 2010
DES MOINES, Iowa - New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie demonized his state's teachers' union in a major political appearance in the Hawkeye State.
The governor used his public battle with the teachers' union as an example of how he's cut spending during his administration. He spent the bulk of his remarks at a fundraiser for Republican former Gov. Terry Branstad talking gleefully about his confrontational relationship with his biggest institutional nemesis. The event was the biggest moneymaker for Branstad's campaign this year.
"I have nothing against teachers, but I have a lot against the teachers' union," Christie said before launching into his crusade to freeze teachers' pay for a year and have them contribute to their benefits. "They are about pure, raw power, to keep their folks, even the worst of their folks, continuing to be employed, so they can continue to be dues paying members, so they continue to perpetuate their power across my state."
The image on the Facebook page for "New Jersey Teachers United Against Governor Chris Christie's Pay Freeze" is stamped with the line, "Defend New Jersey's Public Schools." But Christie blasted union rhetoric suggesting that salaries and benefits for teachers affect students.
"They tell us it's for the kids," he said incredulously.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
Awesome! Let’s hope he has 24-hour security, though. No doubt the teachers’ unions are negotiating to have some of the SEIU heavies come do their dirty work.
I love this guy, He’s no strict conservative, but he sure knows how to smack a greedy union!
Educated children are every bit as important to the NJEA as quality autos are to the UAW.
He’s probably the best debate guy that the Republicans have had in thirty years. There’s no Democrat in the Senate that could take him in a simple one-hour debate. I think the President would have no luck with the guy in any argument.
The President would have no luck against a paper bag in any argument. Obama is an absolute dolt. However, he is fair at reading a teleprompter.
Absolutely. That’s because he knows what he’s talking about, and knows what he believes. No calculating.
Anyone who ever says that fat men are not sexy are soooooo wrong! I love this guy.
How about explaining about the RGGI - Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, big guy ? How bout getting YOUR HANDS out of our pockets ??
What’s that ?? Ahh.....crickets...
This is going to backfire on Christie here in NJ.
ON NJ’s soil in front of a NJ crowd, he can rip into any sacred cow he wants, punk any fatcat in his path, and demolish the thugs in high places.
However you can not leave the state and go in front of outsiders and rip into your constituents.
This is a really bad breach of ward level politics.
I know my ex-neighbor was a mostly incompetent overpaid gov administrator... I don’t want the entire country to know he’s a farking maroon who sullied the reputation of my town.
“However you can not leave the state and go in front of outsiders and rip into your constituents.”
Union people are not ‘constituents’, they are ALIEN BEINGS, and they need to be dispatched.
Over 1/3rd of NJ households have at least one immediate relative in a union.
Very few areas in this state, especially in the “purple” swing districts, that don’t have substantial numbers of union members in the populace.
Speaking loudly and carrying a big stick.... isn’t going to go over well for a full term.
“Educated children are every bit as important to the NJEA as quality autos are to the UAW.”
Nice!!!
I do my job and will not have you, or the governor of my state, tell me I am a bad person or have done something wrong because I earn a living doing what I was put on this Earth to do. I will not apologize to you for being lucky enough to get paid to teach. You should be lucky enough to have made a positive impact on another human being's life. I can proudly boast that I have done so hundreds of times over.
Why does Christie not mention the $478 million he cost the state of NJ in its “Race to the Top” application? He tried to blame the union on that one—then got caught when the NJEA produced the paperwork proving it was his error. He then tried to blame the 0bama administration, then they produced the tapes proving that NJ’s application was missing key information (the original application that NJEA worked on with then commissioner Schundler had the proper information—Christie changed it and completed his own application a day or so before its due date). I could work a hundred years, never pay a dime of my health benefits and still not cost the state of NJ what he cost us in a matter of hours.
In closing, let me ask you this, why is Governor Christie asking me to take a pay freeze and pay for my own benefits when he has done neither? He makes far more than I do. I give you my word, that I will take a pay freeze 5 seconds after my governor does.
“I am a proud member of the NJEA, and other than doing the work that VERY few others are able to do, I can assure you, I am not an alien being. Unlike Governor Christie would have you believe, I do pay into my own benefits as well as paying for my students’ breakfasts and lunches. In addition, I use my own money to support their fund raising efforts and give up my own free time to attend their games and concerts.
I do my job and will not have you, or the governor of my state, tell me I am a bad person or have done something wrong because I earn a living doing what I was put on this Earth to do. I will not apologize to you for being lucky enough to get paid to teach. You should be lucky enough to have made a positive impact on another human being’s life. I can proudly boast that I have done so hundreds of times over.
Why does Christie not mention the $478 million he cost the state of NJ in its “Race to the Top” application? He tried to blame the union on that one—then got caught when the NJEA produced the paperwork proving it was his error. He then tried to blame the 0bama administration, then they produced the tapes proving that NJ’s application was missing key information (the original application that NJEA worked on with then commissioner Schundler had the proper information—Christie changed it and completed his own application a day or so before its due date). I could work a hundred years, never pay a dime of my health benefits and still not cost the state of NJ what he cost us in a matter of hours.
In closing, let me ask you this, why is Governor Christie asking me to take a pay freeze and pay for my own benefits when he has done neither? He makes far more than I do. I give you my word, that I will take a pay freeze 5 seconds after my governor does.”
LOL.
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