GOPer Christie’s New Web Ad Denounces Wall Street Greed, Features President Obama

Gov. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and Former US Attorney Chris Christie (R)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Here’s a great example of the new Republican populism — a Web ad by a GOP candidate that bashes his opponent as a greedy Wall Street executive, using footage of the infamous Gordon Gekko from the movie Wall Street, declaring, “The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed — for lack of a better word — is good.”

The new Web ad from Republican former U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, the GOP nominee for Governor of New Jersey, attacks Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine’s administration for having invested $180 million in state pension funds in Lehman Brothers, shortly before the firm collapsed, and insinuates a dirty connection on account of Corzine appointees having previously served at that same firm:

Christie might be a going little bit too far to the left, when the Web ad uses audio of none other than President Obama: “This financial crisis is a direct result of the greed and irresponsibility that has dominated Washington and Wall Street for years now.”

Late Update: Corzine press secretary Lis Smith gives us this comment:

“When Governor Corzine and the state of New Jersey filed their lawsuit against Lehman Brothers, the Governor said ‘we intend to hold Lehman executives and directors accountable for the fraud and misrepresentation.’ If Christie wants to discuss greed on Wall Street, he should speak with his brother, Todd, who was one of 20 former New York Stock Exchange floor traders charged with securities fraud by the S.E.C. for cheating customers to benefit their firms. In fact, the S.E.C. said he ranked ‘in the category of amongst the worst in terms of the harm cost.’ Of course, if Christie does that then he might have to talk about David Kelley and the no-bid contract he received.”

Late Late Update: In an e-mail exchange with TPM, DNC spokesman Michael Czin denounced the invocation of Obama. “It’s cynical and intellectually dishonest,” said Czin. He also gave us a lengthier statement, available after the jump.

“Democrats aren’t going to be lectured on ethics and business practices by a Bush US Attorney who used his position to award tens of millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to hacks and political cronies like John Ashcroft. And it appears when Christie wasn’t busy funneling money to his friends he was violating the Hatch Act and evading taxes.

“As Governor, Jon Corzine has faced the economic storm head on, making the tough choices needed to turn our economy around – including implementing a first in the nation economic stimulus program,” said DNC Spokesman Michael Czin.

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: