Trump surrogate Chris Christie was asked straight out if he thought Hillary Clinton was a bigot, and his answer was an inartful dodge that left Donald Trump standing alone.
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Transcript via ABC’s This Week:
RADDATZ: Governor Christie, he also called Hillary Clinton a bigot this week. Do you believe that Hillary Clinton is a bigot?
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CHRISTIE: I’ll tell you this, this type of discourse in the campaign is just unwarranted, but it was started by Mrs. Clinton. Mrs. Clinton has started the idea of calling Donald Trump those type of names. And the fact is that one you are the person, and Mrs. Clinton is the person who injected this type of commentary into this race, one you inject that type of commentary into this race, you can’t then sit back and start complaining about or have some of your handmaidens in the media complain about it.
The fact is that she’s been the person who started this type of conversation in the campaign. She should be ashamed of herself.
Christie’s answer was a version of that old Republican standard she started it, but it also completely avoided the question. Gov. Christie criticized Clinton for “calling Trump those types of names,” but he didn’t say that what the Democratic nominee said wasn’t true.
The problem for Republicans is that every claim that Hillary Clinton has made against Donald Trump is true. Trump has a proven record of discrimination against African-Americans and Puerto Ricans in New York. Donald Trump has aligned himself with racists and white supremacists during his presidential campaign, and Trump has made bigoted remarks and policy proposals while running for president.
The fact that Trump’s own surrogates, whether it is Ben Carson, Sean Spicer, or Chris Christie, refuse to back up his claim that Hillary Clinton is a bigot speaks volumes about how little the people who are carrying the campaign’s message think of Donald Trump’s credibility and character.
The poll numbers aren’t improving, and the rats are beginning to flee the sinking Trump ship.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
