The national teachers union has responded to Governor Chris Christie’s statement that the union deserves a “punch to the face.” The union said that Christie is little more than a bully with anger management problems – one unfit to serve public office in any capacity, much less as president.
“Chris Christie has issues–from reneging on his promise to fix pensions to his state’s fiscal standing facing near junk bond status. But the biggest issue is he’s a bully and has anger management problems,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, in a statement.
“That he would threaten to punch teachers in the face — mostly women seeking to help children meet their potential and achieve their dreams — promotes a culture of violence that underscores why he lacks the temperament and emotional skills to be president, or serve in any leadership capacity,” said Weingarten. “It’s a sad day in the life of our nation to see a candidate threaten violence to gain political favor.”
Weingarten was responding to comments Christie had previously made during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union.
Christie said:
They’re [the teachers union] not for education for our children. They’re for greater membership, greater benefits, greater pay for their members. And they are the single most destructive force in public education in America. I have been saying that since 2009. I have got the scars to show it. But I’m never going to stop saying it, because they never change their stripes.
Tapper asked Christie about saying he liked to deal with bullies by punching them in the face.
“During your first term as governor, you were fond of saying that you can treat bullies in one of two ways — quote — ‘You can either sidle up to them or you can punch them in the face.’ You said, ‘I like to punch them in the face.’ At the national level, who deserves a punch in the face?” asked Tapper.
“Oh, the national teachers union,” said Christie.
