Two cliches spring to mind on the news that the Obama government is now investigating Republican Gov. Chris Christie on matters beyond Bridgegate. One, when it rains, it pours. Two, when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
Christie was pretty cozy with President Barack Obama during the latter’s run for president. That’s not helping him now.
Just days after dismissing two top advisers for their roles in the George Washington Bridge scandal, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is facing questions over the use of Superstorm Sandy relief funds.
CNN has learned that federal officials are investigating whether Christie improperly used those relief funds to produce tourism ads that starred him and his family.
The news couldn’t come at a worse time for the scandal-plagued Republican, who is facing two probes into whether his staff tied up traffic near the country’s busiest bridge to punish a Democratic mayor who refused to endorse his successful re-election bid.
“Scandal-plagued Republican.” There’s a fun phrase. CNN would never use those first two words to describe the president who has seen Obamacare, Fast and Furious, Benghazi, and the IRS abuse all occur on his watch. A couple of those scandals have direct body counts but Obama remains squeaky clean. It’s just that so many people who work for him are such bad apples!
Christie has gotten himself into a nearly impossible position. His fellow Republicans have soured on him, mindful that he was eager to make Obama look good at a time when it didn’t help the Republicans’ nominee against Obama. Democrats need Christie weakened running up to 2016. Christie won high marks all around for his handling of the hurricane aftermath — now, he is being investigated regarding his chief source of strength. The Sandy spending probe is being launched by a New Jersey Democrat and will be investigated by a Democrat administration. Republicans who might have rushed to his defense, won’t, because of Christie’s actions that were seen as helpful to Obama.
The media are positively in love with all this. So it won’t go away any time soon.
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