TPM Reader MM was at Christie’s townhall today and gives us his own take on how he’s not surprised no scandal questions were asked. As noted earlier, Team Christie flatly denies questions or people were vetted. And despite my earlier skepticism, this was a pro-Christie town during mid-morning when most people had to be at work. Here’s MM’s report …
I live in Middletown NJ and was at Chris Christie’s town hall meeting today, it was first Christie town hall event I have ever been to and can honestly say that I’m not surprised that a Bridgegate or other scandal question did not come up considering who was in attendance. There were easily a couple of hundred local Sandy victims in the room, all wanting to know why they still can’t get into their homes 16 months after the hurricane. I’m more surprised that only 1 person attempted to ask a question about the misuse of Sandy relief funds on private contractors whose job it was supposed to be to help victims but were recently fired by the governor due to irregularities. Christie deflected the question but no one else followed up on it.
I think Christie was smart to hold this 1st town hall meeting in Middletown. MIddletown is a very friendly Chris Christie town, he’s been here several times during the past 4 years and Middletown’s municipal government did everything it could to ensure that word got out to those affected by Superstorm Sandy that the governor was going to be in town, sending out several email blasts to supporters.
You also have to take into consideration that in the hour and a half time frame only 10 or so questions were asked and half had nothing to do with Sandy or other scandals.
I did have my hand up at various times throughout the town hall meeting and was going to ask a combination of questions concerning Bridgegate, Hoboken and Belleville but wasn’t called upon.
I will also say that the governor did recognize a few of the people in attendance so that may have influenced who he called to ask a question.
