Don't Vote For Chris Christie, But Give Him A Buck!

I’m able to hold two contradictory thoughts in my mind at once.

On the one hand, I despise Chris Christie.  When he was campaigning for president in 2016, he knew the trouble with Donald Trump. Christie played conventional politics at the time, saying only that Trump lacked the temperament or experience to be president, but Christie knew full well that Trump would be a disaster. Indeed, Christie swore that he would never endorse Trump. The instant Christie dropped out of the race in 2016, however, he immediately endorsed Trump, hoping to become vice president or attorney general. For the next four years, Christie sucked up to Trump nauseatingly, placing politics and power ahead of principle. Only now, when Christie is again running for president against Trump, is Christie shocked — shocked! — to realize that Trump was unfit all along.

This is pure politics, and I hate it. We need people with principles, not spineless jerks, to run for office. I won’t vote for Chris Christie.

On the other hand, I have donated one dollar to Christie’s campaign. To qualify for the first Republican primary debate in August, candidates must (1) garner 1% in multiple national polls recognized by the Republican National Committee and (2) have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors. Christie has been polling reasonably well, but he may have trouble obtaining contributions from the necessary 40,000 donors.

I don’t want Christie to win the presidency — I just explained why I think he’s a scumbag — but I absolutely want Christie on the debate stage. Christie’s the only Republican candidate who’s been willing to criticize Trump directly and in plain English. Christie has acknowledged, for example, what any sentient being knows — that Trump “incited” the riots on January 6. Christie has said that Trump’s conduct as alleged in the Mar-a-Lago indictment is “awful,” and that there’s more information to come. Christie has said that Trump “knows that he’s in trouble” and that “none of this would have happened … if he had just returned the documents.” And I bet Christie is just getting warmed up. Christie’s willingness to attack Trump is what distinguishes him from the rest of the Republican field and draws media attention.

Just wait for the first debate: Whether or not Trump chooses to participate in that debate, Christie will unload both on Trump and the other candidates who are unwilling to criticize Trump’s conduct. Trump has been found liable for sexual assault. (Had you already forgotten about that?) An indictment (and a tape recording) suggest the Trump is oblivious to national security; he has disclosed classified government documents to people who lacked security clearance. It’s undisputed that Trump stood around for three hours on January 6 before doing anything when a mob ransacked the Capitol. Republicans need to hear this. I want Christie on the debate stage. So I’m doing my bit (actually, eight bits) to get him there; I’ve donated a dollar to the Christie campaign.

Here’s my request: Join my campaign!

Above the Law is a powerful website. Please join me in contributing one dollar to Chris Christie’s campaign, and spread the word through Twitter, Facebook, and other social media. Explain why everyone should contribute a dollar to Christie — not because you necessarily support him, but because he’ll speak the truth about Trump to a Republican audience. We can single-handedly (well, my single hands with the assistance of your many hands, anyway) cause 40,000 people to donate to Christie’s campaign and get him on that debate stage.

Let’s do it: Here’s the Christie website where you can make your contribution. A few clicks and you’re done! I’m talking about only a buck. And you’ll get the pleasure of watching at least one Republican speak the truth about Trump during the first primary debate.

Mark Herrmann spent 17 years as a partner at a leading international law firm and is now deputy general counsel at a large international company. He is the author of The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law and Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (affiliate links). You can reach him by email at inhouse@abovethelaw.com.