The potential political fallout from the George Washington Bridge scandal is really quite straightforward, according to conservative idol Charles Krauthammer.
“Well, look, I think this is not rocket science,” Krauthammer declared Thursday on Fox News. “Christie is now hostage to the truth. If he told the truth and he had no knowledge of this, it will hurt him. If he didn’t tell the truth — and we will know it for sure, one way or the other — if he did know about this, he’s toast. It’s rather simple.”
Krauthammer, revered by Republicans and conservatives, said that Christie’s professed ignorance to the lane closures on the bridge could still damage him — although not fatally.
“Christie’s strength is how tough he is, but it can become a negative if the toughness is a petty toughness,” he said.
But if Christie was being honest, Krauthammer said the Republican will “put this behind him.”
Krauthammer was one of many on the right who thought Christie was too friendly to President Obama after Hurricane Sandy, although he’s also come to the governor’s defense.
The columnist said last year that it was a “mistake” to exclude Christie from the CPAC, the annual confab of GOP lawmakers and right-wing personalities, even though he said the governor gave Obama a “lap dance” after Sandy.
