By Joshua Henne
In the weeks since Gov. Chris Christie fist-pumped onto the Republican stage and stepped up onto the Tampa Bay podium, many have chimed in on his keynote address. Expectations were high, and reaction ran the gamut from disappointing to middling.
Much ink has been spilled over how the speech seemed to be all about Christie's favorite subject: himself. The first mention of Mitt Romney came nearly 20 minutes into the address, and he used the word "I" a whopping 37 times.
Much has also been written about how the keynote was heavy on hyperbole and vague on specifics. But no one's pointed out the glaring disconnect between the story Christie told there and the reality in New Jersey.
While the national Republican message this campaign season will undoubtedly be the economy, Christie used the word "jobs" a scant three times. He never once uttered the terms "unemployment" or "middle class."
Understandably, Christie isn't an effective fiscal surrogate. New Jersey's economy ranks an anemic 47th and a similarly dismal 47th in jobs.
Sadly, unemployment is 9.9 percent. Since Christie took office, the state consistently lags the rest of America when it comes to jobs. In fact, unemployment stands at its widest distance from the national average since the mid-'70s.
Many who know Christie only from fluffy interviews and manufactured YouTube moments were shocked at the speech's nasty tone. Yet, the keynote was vintage Christie to those who've lived with his escapades day in and day out. No one in New Jersey was surprised to see utter disdain dripping from his lips when mentioning teachers and unions. And if you pressed the television's mute button and simply viewed facial expressions, you'd notice nothing but anger and frowns. In fact, the only time Christie seemed to smile was when he spoke about his family.
Yes, Christie delivered a heartwarming story about his mother taking three buses to get to work every day. Yet, today, Christie seems not to care how his own policies are hurting others in the same situation. Shortly after taking office, Christie increased bus fares 10 percent, not to mention train and toll escalations. How many mothers throughout New Jersey lost their jobs because they couldn't afford the commute anymore?
Admirably, Christie spoke of his father attending college on the GI bill. Yet, tuition at state colleges and universities spiked under Christie. At the same time, he cut funding for low-income students. How many fathers or fathers-to-be can't afford college or are forced to take out onerous loans because Christie jacked up the price of education?
Lip service was given to bipartisanship. Yet, the only time the governor finds common ground is when someone scurries over to where he's already standing. To Christie, bipartisanship means dragging someone across the aisle or taking sole credit for ideas started by Democrats years before he came to Trenton.
Christie took a victory lap about balancing the budget three years in a row. Yet, in New Jersey, it's constitutionally mandated. In marking this "accomplishment," Christie is insisting on a gold star for something he had to do. It's akin to asking for a round of applause from a cop for driving under the speed limit or from one's wife for taking out the trash.
Delusionally, Christie alluded to lower taxes. Yet, in addition to tolls and transit increases, New Jerseyans have seen property taxes rise 20 percent on his watch. Fiscal pain is pushed along to municipalities, and local residents are paying more while receiving less from local government.
This all occurred while Christie seeks tax cuts for multimillionaires at the expense of the middle class.
Ironically, Christie delivered the keynote under a "We Built It" banner. Yet, he awarded $261 million in taxpayer money to Atlantic City casino moguls and also handed over hundreds of millions to mall developers in Bergen County.
Ultimately, Christie's speech will be remembered for being unmemorable. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio gave the visionary GOP convention speech Christie was shooting for. ?A week later, at the Democratic convention, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro gave the inspiring keynote many Republicans were hoping for.
And Christie should take notes on Newark Mayor Cory Booker's platform address for how a Jersey national name can deliver a passionate speech without resembling an angry man. Hint: It includes smiling and talking about aspirations, not simply making attacks and ignoring facts.
Long has Christie dreamed of making a mark like his political heroes. But wherein Ronald Reagan made us feel good about America and Tom Kean made us feel good about New Jersey, Christie only cared about making the audience feel good about Chris Christie.
And he even fell short on that front. Sure, he quoted his mother, who "never thought you get extra credit for just speaking the truth," but Christie outright failed by glossing over the truth back home.
As a drawbridge Republican, Christie got his and now believes you're on your own. This keynote was just like his record in New Jersey: mediocre, aggressive and, most of all, hypocritical.
Joshua Henne is a Democratic strategist and the spokesman for One New Jersey. Reach him on Twitter @JoshuaHenne.
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One New Jersey is shining a light on politicians who act against the best interests of New Jersey’s residents and who seek to divide our state for their own political gain. It is giving voice to the important issues that affect our daily lives. One New Jersey will closely monitor policy positions and actions of elected officials and expose their records on the issues that matter. You can follow One New Jersey on Twitter (@OneNJ) or search for “One New Jersey” on Facebook.
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