Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Christie: 'Stronger than the Storm' commercials go to politically active PR firm, cost $2M more than runner-up firm

Here's just another example of Chris Christie's "Do as I say, not as I do" hypocrisy.

In order to cash in on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and to promote himself to 2013 voters in New Jersey and 2016 voters around the country, Christie spent $2 million more than necessary to place himself and his family in those "Stronger than the Storm" T.V. commercials that are running throughout the country this summer. Furthermore he gave all that extra money to the politically active East Rutherford-based MWW PR firm according to the Asbury Park Press.

"The “Stronger Than The Storm” TV commercials starring Gov. Chris Christie and his family are providing a near $5 million windfall of taxpayer dollars for a politically active public relations agency, more than $2 million higher than what the runner-up firm planned to charge.

The ads are part of this season’s $25 million state tourism campaign funded by the federal disaster aid package approved by Congress after superstorm Sandy. Under terms of a state contract, subsequent campaigns for 2014 and 2015 will be subject to the availability of additional funding.

East Rutherford-based MWW and a subcontractor are billing the state $4.7 million for employee compensation and markups to run this year’s campaign, according to information obtained through a public records request by the Asbury Park Press. The remainder goes toward TV and radio commercial production, media buys and promotions.

The contract documents shine new light on the role Christie administration officials had in the TV commercials — controversial because they give Christie more exposure during a gubernatorial election year, and also because they introduce him to voters in other states in advance of a possible 2016 presidential campaign. The top official on the selection committee, appointed by Christie, once received a $49,000 loan from Christie when he was the U.S. attorney for New Jersey.

The two bidders had different views on how the campaign should be run. MWW proposed putting Christie in the ads. The other bidder, a team headed by the Sigma Group, did not...." read more

A statement released by the Barbara Buono, Christie's challenger in this year's campaign for governor ,had this to say about Christie's latest hypocrisy:

"Once again, Governor Christie has allowed his ego to get in the way of what's best for New Jerseyans. Based on today's report, the primary rationale for the winning selection was not cost nor experience but shameless self-promotion. This is absolutely outrageous, especially as families are still out of their homes and trying to rebuild their lives. Clearly this was not the intended use of $25 million in federal recovery funding. The Governor should be ashamed of himself for making critical decisions affecting hundred of thousands through the prism of his national ambitions. It is just wrong."