New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized the GOP’s outreach to the Hispanic community during his speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. The Garden State governor emphasized that 51 percent of Hispanic voters supported his re-election, and talked about the way Republicans can “develop a coalition that could change the course of history.”
“My party, quite frankly, has been guilty in some respects of speaking in a way that doesn’t sound very welcoming to new members,” Christie said. “In New Jersey, part of what we said was that we had to start a new day in the relationship between the governor, as the leader of the Republican Party in New Jersey, and all the different communities in our state.”
But he did not address his own recent statements about immigration that suggest he no longer wishes to welcome illegal immigrants into the United States. Last month, he spoke out against a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, telling Fox News that it would be “an extreme way to go,” despite having supported just such a pathway in 2010.
On Wednesday, he seemed to echo his younger self in front of Hispanic businessmen at the Latino Coalition Small Business Summit, and talked about the importance of his ancestors’ immigration stories to his own success.
The governor focused much of his speech on education and his argument for greater school choice in economically underdeveloped Latino neighborhoods. He advocated for lengthening the school year to 11 months, and added, “You cannot be a mid-rate educational system and be a first-rate power.”
The governor’s remarks in Washington provide the latest indication that he will likely launch a presidential campaign later this summer. In New Hampshire Tuesday, Christie told reporters that his family would fully support his decision to run for higher office, if he so decided.
In New Hampshire, Christie also said that he was not sure if serving as president was something that he wanted to do for the next 10 years of his life. And several obstacles could prevent him from ever reaching the White House. Earlier this week, a former Port Authority worker issued a sworn statement that suggested Christie had discussed grand jury proceedings from his time as U.S. attorney with New Jersey officials. The worker’s statement was included in a civil suit related to the George Washington Bridge lane closure scandal. Such a disclosure by Christie could be a violation of federal law.
On the stage in Washington, however, Christie sounded as though he had already decided to run for higher office. He said he wanted to be part of the discussion, debate, and leadership that helps usher in a second American century.
“If you’re ready to start offending people in order to achieve the greater goal, you’ve found the right guy,” Christie said. “I’m here to help offend people with you.”
