Team Romney: Featuring Governor Chris Christie
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After months of speculation about whether New Jersey Governor Chris Christie would or would not run for president, he finally decided he would not be seeking the presidency. Of course Christie didn’t need to run for president — multiple candidates who oppose women’s health were already in the race. So, only a week after announcing his intentions to remain governor of New Jersey, Governor Christie announced his endorsement of Mitt Romney.
As an early member of Team Romney, Christie hit the campaign circuit in support of his fellow opponent of women’s health. And of course, he fit right in. Christie’s record includes vetoing family planning funds to the tune of $7.5 million (read: the entire program), which he cited as a demonstration of his “fiscal responsibility.” Really? Perhaps Christie missed the widely circulated fact that every dollar invested in family planning programs saves the government $3.74. Doesn’t seem like this decision is so fiscally responsible after all… Unfortunately, this failed logic is not held by Christie alone; Romney also has argued he would reduce government spending by eliminating family planning programs like Planned Parenthood. Maybe they both need a tutorial.
Known for being an outspoken guy, when it comes to women’s health issues, Christie’s no different. Speaking at a rally at the State House on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Christie proclaimed, “every life is precious and a gift from God” and that the restriction of abortions rights “is an issue whose time has come.” With his comments, Christie demonstrated his willingness to sign into law bills opposing women’s health sent to him from the state legislature.
He’s also fully acknowledged his commitment to groups dedicated to defunding Planned Parenthood and overturning Roe v. Wade. Speaking at an anti-abortion rally Christie proclaimed, “You will know that you have someone sitting in that office who understands this issue, who appreciates it. You have today and you have for the rest of my life an ally.”
Between his drastic cuts to women’s health programs in the state and his opposition to women’s health, Christie has demonstrated his willingness to sacrifice women’s access to basic preventive care in order to advance his own political agenda. Sound familiar? Yes, Christie is eerily similar to Mitt Romney, so it makes sense that he’s such an integral member of Team Romney. Let’s not forget that Mitt wants to eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood as a health care provider, and once proclaimed that Roe v. Wade was “one of the darkest moments in history.” When it comes to women’s health, these two men are completely in sync and completely out of touch.
