Christie: Choose "respect," not "love"

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie addresses the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

(CBS News) TAMPA, Fla. -- In remarks that touched more on his personal governing philosophy than the candidate he was chosen to promote, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday called on Americans to face the nation's "hard truths" this November, and embrace a "new era of truth-telling" when deciding the country's political future.

Speaking to a riled-up crowd of Republican delegates on the first night of the GOP convention, the famously outspoken Christie stuck mostly to the script, but he still managed to deliver a harsh rebuke of a political system he argued rewards politicians' "desire to be loved" above a desire to do "right."

"We need politicians to care more about doing something and less about being something," said Christie. "Tonight, we choose respect over love."

With recent polls showing Romney facing an empathy gap compared to Mr. Obama, the Romney campaign used its biggest headliners Tuesday to work the issue from two angles: In remarks directly preceding Christie's speech, Ann Romney, Mitt Romney's wife, stressed her "deep and abiding love" for Romney in an apparent effort to soften his image. Christie, meanwhile, suggested that voters should vote with their heads - not their hearts.

"Our leaders today have decided it is more important to be popular - to be popular! - to say and do what is easy, and say yes rather than to say no when no is what's required," he said. "I believe we have become paralyzed - paralyzed - by our desire to be loved."

Citing his experience as New Jersey governor, Christie argued that it's possible to speak hard truths and still earn the trust of voters. He called on voters to embrace a "new era of truth-telling."

"They rewarded politicians who led instead of politicians who pandered," he said, of his constituents' response to his own tough talk. "We shouldn't be surprised. We've never been a country to shy away from the truth. Our history shows that we stand up when it counts and it's this quality that has defined our character and our significance in the world."

"We have this leader for America," he said. "It's time to end this era of absentee leadership in the oval office and send real leaders to the White House. America needs Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan and we need them right now."

He argued that finding the "right" solutions to the nation's woes would "not be painless."

But, he said, "our duty is to tell the American people the truth."

"Tonight, we choose the path that has always defined our nation's history," said Christie. "Tonight, we finally and firmly answer the call that so many generations have had the courage to answer before us. "Tonight, we stand up for Mitt Romney as the next President of the United States. And, together, we stand up once again for American greatness."

[BWB2020]

Yo Christie, respect is not a right, it must be earned, and is a two-way-street, and your party has been woefully lacking in that regard.

I can, however understand your lack of regard for the concept of "love" as your party has been selling nothing but hate ever since the Dixiecrats crossed over, and took over the GOP.

Oh, another thing, it is popularity that determines elections in a transparent society. That is what elections are all about, the most popular candidate wins, if you don't cheat by throwing out votes, and disallowing voters their ballot, as the GOP has been doing.

If your line is as it seems to be, "We know you hate us, but vote for us anyway", it is apparent that even you know your ilk are reconciled to taste defeat.

[iAceMadman]

You can see the new face of the GOP, stop living in the past. There is a large degree of diversity that you ignore. You probably weren't at the convention to see last night, but you do have news broadcasts in your area, don't you?

[TimeToEvolve]

I have to say that Krispie Kreme Kristie and the entire Republicon Party is a disgrace. A pathetic joke who already destroyed the American economy and tricked us into wars and now wants us to trust them. Unbelievably stupid and disgusting people in this Tampa insane asylum.

[fastdraw2]

I don't care what you say. Anyone who lets themselves get that fat is one self-indulgent S.O.B. with the typical I'm-so-fat-I-don't-care anymore arrogance. Self indulgence is all over the G.O.P. From Ryan's narcissistic self-admiration of his P90's workout physique to Boehner's orange tan to Romney's elevator for his cars. It just goes on and on. The funniest part about all this is that these guys try so hard to convince everybody that they're just plain folks like us.

[fishtale63]

Riiiight....because there's never been such a thing as a fat, self-indulgent Democrat.

[1pheasant1]

At least not one gaining the adoration of blind sheep.

[gpfgp49]

The political mood of the country is so polarized that each side is talking bad of other one. This is very unfortunate for the ordinary people who is struggling to make a simple living. I am afraid that the worst is yet to come. President Obama will continue to claim the killing of Osama a success of his own; yet the economy failure being Bush's fault. This does not sale well to the ordinary people. To most citizens, Bush should share some blame for the economy downfall, yet Bush team contributed a lot to Osama's killing also.

[1pheasant1]

Did you say some of the blame? Wow! You certainly have a short retention span. Over 700,000 job losses a month. By the way, the Bush team said finding Osama bin Laden was not important. They were too busy looking for weapons of mass destruction in...



...Iraq!

[cubscout09]

Anyone else Reagan cut his record breaking budget in half by cutting the MX Missile System? Guess what, he still had a record breaking budget! Curiously, cutting the MX Missile System didn't cause WW III, because, we're still here.

[cubscout09]

Bump...
Way too much fun Empire. Don't get me wrong, trying to keep Federal spending below 20% of Gross Domestic Product is a very good idea.

Check the visual on page 140 of Believe in America which shows shows Federal Spending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product.
18.6% Kennedy
18.7% Johnson
20.8% Carter
19.8% Clinton
24.4% Obama

Hmmm... someone seems to have left out
36% Reagan
37% HW Bush
37% W Bush

See what we mean by failed GOP policies?

[cubscout09]

Speaking of bombs, I selected the wrong data, the real numbers are:

23% Reagan
22% HW Bush
25% W Bush

Still, it shows you who was really spending like a drunken sailor.

[ThomasSense]

Truth telling. Ha, ha. Start with the issue of climate change. The melting Arctic ice set a record this year, and it will continue to melt until September.

I can't imagine 4 years of Republican roadblocks and rollbacks for the sake corporation profits. If Ryan wants to cut disaster relief, then he better come up with a plan to prevent the disasters!

[cubscout09]

One massive oil spill north of the Arctic Circle ought to do interesting things to the food chain. Funny thing, the damage being done to the Antartic icepack, right now, won't have it's full impact, that being worldwide famine, until a couple of centuries from now.

[TimeToEvolve]

Is it just me or does this arrogant, Republicon guy Christie give you the creeps too? I wouldn't wish this guy on my worst enemy.

[1pheasant1]

He is the Republican model of self discipline.

[Jhihmoac]

He'll choose the rich guy, of course...A no-brainer...

[cubscout09]

Empire, I really don't think that rest of us are confused.