Jilted Senator: Chris Christie Is "A Rotten Prick"

NJ Governor Chris Christie last week (AP)

If you have a fling with Chris Christie, you're gonna get burned. Oh sure, first it's all romantic helicopter rides. Then as soon as he gets the property tax cap and pension and health care cuts, he leaves you in agony, waiting by the phone. Such is the case of heartbroken New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who told the Star-Ledger that last week, "I sat in my office all day like a nitwit, figuring we were going to talk" about budget negotiations. No call. Christie just axed tax credits and health care for the working poor and other Democratic priorities. Now Sweeney's taking off his promise ring, and sounds disenchanted by the big guy: "He's just a rotten bastard to do what he did…He's a rotten prick."

Heartbroken New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney

Sweeney has taken fire from fellow Democrats for working with the governor on controversial items on his agenda—like the property tax cap and curtailing public employees' benefits. So Sweeney was more than a little wounded when Christie cut millions for programs like AIDS funding and mental-health services, replacing them with "$150 million in school aid for the suburbs, including the wealthiest towns in the state." To Sweeney, "This is all about him being a bully and a punk. I wanted to punch him in the head. You know who he reminds me of? Mr. Potter from It's a Wonderful Life, the mean old bastard who screws everybody."

Given that Sweeney is crucial in helping Christie get his legislation past a Democratically-controlled state legislature, it may have been a mistake to completely pass on the Democrat's budget proposals. Though he's on vacation, a spokesman for Christie released a statement criticizing Sweeney's words: "The governor believes the language used was inappropriate and disrespectful to the office, but he continues to stand ready to work with Senator Sweeney and the Legislature in a bipartisan manner to get things done." No flowers? No emoticon-filled text message? At least send an e-card!

Christie himself has a proclivity to use salty language, so Sweeney tells the Times he's not buying it: "It's pretty interesting, the stuff he's said, and he's lecturing me on language?" Sweeney also refuses to apologize, conceding, "Maybe my language was beyond what it needed to be. But I'm not apologizing." Atta boy Sweeney! You need to find a governor who nurtures your desire to help the working poor and respects you, and try to forget about Adolf Christie and those late-night pizzas you shared.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Christopher Robbins in News on July 6, 2011 1:17 PM

Comments [rss]

Ram Kumar

Christie professes to be a true christian. He sends his kids to religious schools so that they can learn his values, including snapping at your constituents if they ask you a question regarding schooling. His veto of budget items clearly shows he is no christian. Anyone who knows what Christ stood for can see that Christie was mean and vindictive, hurting poor and vulnerable people, while giving breaks to his friends in the suburbs. It is unfortunate that a great, advanced, state like NJ should have such a petty and cruel person as governor.

xXxMExXx

Chris Christie is literally my favorite politician ever.

AlexTheOriginalPartyDog

I either love or hate you.

Archie1954

And Steven Sweeny is a niaeve idiot.

TheDoctorWhoCuresCancer

Let's see, we've got a dick in the White House and a prick in NJ. Te years ago we had a slick Willie for prez.

Oh well.

Sluggo1407

With all the cuts for the working class and poor, he should concentrate on cutting some calories. He reminds me of Boss Tweed. Fat and obnoxious.

OrchidBlack

Democrats are sickening…

For the sake of imaginary bipartisanship they always agree to a compromise even if it that compromise is not in the best interest of their constituents… even when they do not have to compromise because they have the political advantage… and even when they aren’t getting anything out of the deal… yup they still compromise.

Being bitter now when you could have prevented what made you bitter in the first place annoys the hell of the people who voted for you sniveling morons.

matteus

All low-income and disabled people need to support the rich, because they are what makes this country so great. That is why taxes is so much higher for the poor.

randomtransplant

Hindsight is nifty, isn't it Sweeney?

You know what else is nifty? listening to your base since before the last week.

Teddy

Spend the state into receivership.

New guy cleaning up the mess.

Call him names.

Nos Feratu

I really hope you're taking in $250K a year because if you're living off $40K, you must be suffering from a terminal case of Stockholm Syndrome to support a tub of filth like Crisco.

randomtransplant

The state isn't in receivership.

The new guy isn't cleaning up the mess.

Stop blowing smoke up his butt. He doesn't care.

JMH

"He's a rotten prick."

To the surprise of nobody.

Nos Feratu

Gov Crisco has proven that he cares for no one except the ultra-wealthy. Cuts for the poor, cuts for children, cuts for the disabled, cuts for low-income elderly, tax increases for the working class, TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH. He even turned over control of the entire Jersey shore to the wealthy. The ancient Romans never tried something like that. Under Roman law, every person, free or slave, was guaranteed access to water. Roman slaves had more more rights than poor or working class people have in NJ today.

Politburo

Under the NJ constitution and case law, all riparian lands are public.

Roger_the_Shrubber

And the democrats accuse the republicans of heated rhetoric and divisiveness.

Bernie_Geotz_Squirrel_Luv

He's still fat though, right?

Trustafarian

Sweeney for VP

etypical

"... I sat in my office all day like a nitwit, figuring we were going to talk..."

Maybe get up off your ass?

splicernyc

Why do Democrats never learn that you can't negotiate with the creatures that call themselves Republicans these days -- those tea-soaked children who understand governing as much as they understand science.