NJ Governor Chris Christie Says What Other Republicans Are Afraid to Say

WOW!! I will concede that to date I haven't been a big fan of New Jersey GOP Governor Chris Christie. But his recent remarks basically ripping Christianists and anti-Muslim loons of the far right a new one in connection with their attacks on his appointment of a Muslim attorney to the bench were truly amazing. Kudos to Governor Christie. Would that more Republicans were brave enough to speak the truth and condemn the hate, ignorance and bigotry of the Christianists and their racist allies.

Among the many things that set off the Christofacists and anti-Muslim zealots is the fact that the nominee, Sohail Mohammed, defended Muslims who were wrongly accused in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. After all, according to the elements of the far right, only white conservative Christians have rights under the U. S. Constitution. America is becoming a frightening place for minorities. Think Progress has coverage of Christie's amazing statements. Here are highlights followed by a video clip which is well worth watching:

While defending his choice at a press conference, Christie made it clear he is “disgusted” by the “ignorance behind the criticism of Sohail Mohammed.” Paranoid fear of Sharia law has become a growing theme in Republican rhetoric, and Christie lashed out at those who would use Islamophobia to attack an exceptional judge:

CHRISTIE: They are criticizing him because he is a Muslim American…I was disgusted, candidly, by some of the questions he was asked by both parties at the Senate judiciary committee… Sharia Law has nothing to do with this at all — it’s crazy! It’s crazy. The guy’s an American citizen…This Sharia Law business is crap. It’s just crazy, and I’m tired of dealing with the crazies. It’s just unnecessary to be accusing this guy of things just because of his religious background.

Amazing stuff - all of Christie's statements, of course are true. Here's the video clip: