Whitney Houston: N.J. governor defends lowering flags for singer

Whitney Houston arrives at the 17th Carousel of Hope Ball on Oct. 28, 2006, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

/ AP

(CBS/AP) New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has strongly defended his decision to have flags flown at half-staff Saturday for Whitney Houston, despite receiving emails and other messages disparaging the singer and criticizing him.

The Republican governor said Wednesday that he rejects complaints that Houston "forfeited the good things that she did" because of her struggles with substance abuse.

Pictures: Whitney Houston 1963-2012
Complete Coverage: Death of a pop diva

"What I would say to everybody is there but for the grace of God go I," he said.

Christie ordered flags flown at half-staff at state government buildings on Saturday, the day funeral services are held for Houston at Newark's New Hope Baptist Church, where she sang at as a child.

Twitter was abuzz Wednesday with reaction to the decision by Christie, whose home is in Mendham, a wealthy town where Houston also had lived.

In online postings, there were two main arguments against the honor for the Grammy Award winner who died over the weekend in California at age 48: One was that it should be reserved for members of the military, first responders and elected officials. The other was that it's wrong to honor a drug addict.

Christie said he was not saying that Houston, who was born in Newark and was raised in nearby East Orange, is a role model. Instead, he said, Houston deserves the honor because of her huge cultural impact and as "a daughter of New Jersey."

"I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise - and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet - but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life," said the governor during a briefing in northern New Jersey. "I just reject that on a human level."

The governor noted he has ordered flags flown at half-staff for all 31 fallen New Jersey soldiers and every fallen police officer during his time in office. He also ordered flags lowered last year for Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.

The cause of Houston's death at a Beverly Hills hotel has not been determined, and the results of toxicology tests are pending. Investigators found several bottles of prescription medication in the hotel room where she died Saturday, but authorities said they weren't an unusually large number.

Her death certificate shows she will be buried in Fair View Cemetery in Westfield, N.J., where her father, John Russell Houston Jr., was laid to rest in 2003. The document lists the manner of death as "pending investigation," with the immediate cause of death listed as "deferred."

[btsdave]

This is a perfect example of what is wrong with the direction this country is going in. They removed prayer from schools, students are punished for displayinfg the American flag in schools and now they want to take The Pledge of Allegiance from our schools. But we honor a drug addict that overdosed by flying the flag at half mast. What a message this sends to our children, not to mention the rest of the world.

[WaveRunnerMN]

Being a white vet I would have to answer your concerns with... "'as a memeber of the military you swore to uphold the constitution which mandates 'seperation of church and state'. And "no prayer in public schools" thus advocating only "one true religion"--whose should it be? The WASP's or Hindu's? You feel no shame honoring General Grant an alcoholic. The only delusion here is your own ego-centric interpretation of history. Be advised you are not some HERO of mine. If you adhere best to thocracies then move to the Middle East.

[jamar_cotton]

Americans, if there is an argument about lowering a state flag for special people it certainly does not fall on death's ears. It is a respectable argument. However, you must consider that a governor has the right to honor its public officials and residents. Lowering a state flag lies within the discretion of that state's governor. I think it is a LITTLE THING. Greater pride comes from honoring men and women in uniform, diplomats in foreign countries, and local, state, and national public servants. Whitney Houston and Elvis Presley were honored in their respective states. Each of them was great contributors to music - an aspect of our culture. Next year, and the years that follow, it will be our soldiers, our veterans, our unforgotten heroes who will be honored with a millions flags in a million places. Perhaps you have heard of Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.

[Bob0722]

Not only is the lowering of the American Flag an afront to all the service men and women but it is in direct violation of the flag code. The code clearly states that it is only to be lowered by the governer for service men and women killed while in the service of their country, NOT FOR CELEBRITIES. As a vetern I was appauled that he did this not once but twice in recent history...

[bifurcate2]

If you are going to lower it for an entertainer who made some bad choices, then lower it for the teacher who touched many lives and had to deal with many parents and administrators. Doing this for Houston has opened up the door for many many more requests. I am saddened for her passing and disgusted by the bad choices she made. I wonder if governor Christie ever thought to call Whitney and just ask her out to lunch or dinner when she was seen going through her public downfall! I am sure he would have enjoyed the meal. This move of his was political. Lower the flag for the sanitation worker who has to put up with trash and garbage. I am pissed about this move!

[Digital_Jedi]

Did you just compare dying to taking out the garbage?

[myskydive1]

TO ALL MILITARY PERSONAL, FIREMEN, POLICE, PARAMEDICS AND EMTS. I SALUTE YOU! I'M PROUD OF YOU AND THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. YOU ALL ARE MY TRUE HEROES!

[Dbrown125]

I'm am deployed right now fighting for our nation and what we believe in and our way of life and you mean to tell me a person who never served in the military can have the flag lowered when they pass not the state flag but the national flag. That is a slap in the face for everyone that put on the uniform and died for this country and everyone that help make this country better. That was a bad decision on the governor part

[elysium220]

Only the president of the United States or the Governor of the state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a national or state figure. In addition to the traditional half-staff salutes, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring leading citizens such as Martin Luther King, Jr.

Are we really putting Whitney as a leading citizen such as Martin Luther King? Hell no this is insane.... Im insulted and angry as should everyone else...

[elysium220]

Only the president of the United States or the Governor of the state may order the flag to be at half-staff to honor the death of a national or state figure. In addition to the traditional half-staff salutes, the Flag Code mentions the use of our Flag for honoring leading citizens such as Martin Luther King, Jr.

Are we really putting Whitney as a leading citizen such as Martin Luther King? This is insane.... Im insulted and angry as should everyone else... Slap in the face of all those who did this country any good including great people such as MLK and our Military Members...

[ljackson123]

ok now that the day is over are yall finished with your fake outrage? can life go back to normal? how many of you died yesterday because the flag was lowered in a state that you probably don't even live in?

[rfbjr44]

you are a retard !! AS A US ARMY SOLDIER I OFFENDED THAT THIS DRUGGIE ***** GOT FLAG LOWERED FOR HER .. WRONG ******* ANSWER !! AND ITS NOT FKAE ANGER ITS DECENT AMERICAN ANGER !

[jd2408]

What a shame that this governor has brought the bar down so low that we now lower the flag for a star that was a drug addict or any star for that matter. It is a slap in the face for all those that our flag has been lowered to honor. Yes she was a great talent, had a great voice and was a star. It is also true she got paid millions for that talent and voice. Shame on you.