If that’s the case, Chris Christie may not be the man for the job.
The New Jersey governor announced his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination today, and some observers couldn’t help but be struck by this line:
Gov. Christie at rally: If founding fathers "believed compromise was a dirty word, we'd still be under the crown of England."
— Kayla Tausche (@kaylatausche) June 30, 2015
Christie: "If Washington and Adams and Jefferson had believed compromise was a dirty word, we'd still be under the crown of England."
— Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) June 30, 2015
OK, so first of all, is that really what he meant to say?
@thegarance Don't see that compromise stuff by Washington, Adams and Jefferson in regards to England.
— Jim (@SilverTown_707) June 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/JohnMulkey/status/615906554387300353
Chris Christie thinks America was built on compromise. Ha.
— Samirah Swaleh (@samirahmswaleh) June 30, 2015
They started a revolution. https://t.co/8jyRPepjab
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 30, 2015
Christie says US built on compromise. If the founders didn't believe in compromise, we'd still be British. Um, Revolution? With, um, guns?
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/AndySwan/status/615905393282125824
@charlescwcooke Ah, yes. The 4th of July. Wherein we celebrate Congress' adoption of the Declaration of Compromise. Go away, Christie.
— Azathoth (@ArkhamRealty) June 30, 2015
Some are making the case to let this one slide:
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/status/615906517426933761
I know exactly what Christie meant. “Join or Die” and all that. It was still an odd example and I’m quite happy to tease him for it.
— Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) June 30, 2015
But the bigger issue for Christie may not revolve around his historical example so much as the idea that compromise is the ticket to fixing what’s gone wrong:
Chris Christie going to the mat on the theme of "compromise" for his presidential run.
Do you think it will work for him?— Emily Miller (@emilymiller) June 30, 2015
Christie is talking "compromise". Does that work?
— Nels (@debitking) June 30, 2015
So far, survey says: Not so much.
It's funny but Democrats never announce their candidacy for President promising to surrender to Republicans. Weird. https://t.co/OhoEA4Sskx
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) June 30, 2015
Hey Christie, newsflash for you: Saying you want "compromise" is not going to win you any Republican hearts and minds
— Lawyer Cat* (@LawyerCat_) June 30, 2015
So #Christie is entering race by telling Republican primary voters how important it is to compromise with Democrats. Good luck w/ that.
— David Kostek (@Kosteks) June 30, 2015
Chris Christie basically is running on "I am a true, unscripted leader that is willing to compromise". Good message but will not move Repubs
— Chris Reier (@seeryer) June 30, 2015
Oh, so Chris Christie is running as the compromise candidate? That should work.
— TC (@tchopstl_) June 30, 2015
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