Good Morning America’s George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday badgered Chris Christie over his opposition to allowing Syrian refugees into the country. The co-host scolded Christie as “coming in for some criticism by one of your predecessors in New Jersey.” Highlighting moderate Republican governor Tom Kean, Stephanopoulos chided, “He says some of your rhetoric and your cracking down on refugees, Syrian refugees here in the United States is actually helping ISIS.”
Citing one Republican to attack another is an old tactic from journalists. The Republican presidential candidate shot back by noting that FBI director James Comey has admitted the United States can’t vet all the Syrian refugees.
Undeterred, the former Democratic operative turned journalist pushed, “He [FBI director Comey] says it can't be 100 percent. But even women and children?” Christie lectured, "Listen, George, we have seen women and children play roles in terrorist attacks before. You and I both know this."
Stephanopoulos then spun the Republican electorate as hating experience:
STEPHANOPOULOS: You've also suggested voters don't want an amateur hour this year. Don't want to re-elect senators, perhaps, like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. But so far, they seem to be rejecting the idea that experience is what matters in this election.
A transcript of the December 2 segment, which aired at 7:06am ET, follows:
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Joined now by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Welcome back, Governor. We saw Ted Cruz. The overwhelming majority of violent criminals are Democrats. You're a former prosecutor. What did you make of that?
CHRIS CHRISTIE: Yeah. I have never noticed that in my background, experience. But it doesn't matter in the end some of this stuff that gets said. What the Americans are worried about right now is the safety and security of their homes of their homeland. That’s what I’m focused on, because after Paris nothing else is important.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You've been talking about that a lot but you’re coming in for some criticism by one of your predecessors in New Jersey, former governor, Republican Governor of New Jersey Thomas Kean. He says some of your rhetoric and your cracking down on refugees, Syrian refugees here in the United States is actually helping ISIS.
CHRISTIE: Yeah. Well, I think he's wrong with all due respect to the governor. And my only point is this: Why doesn't the President listen to the FBI director? The FBI director said we can't vet these people and not vet them nearly at the speed the President wants to bring them in. And so, my point is simple, George. The FBI director says they can't be vetted. The security and safety of the American people have to be placed first and it's no more, it’s no more complicated than that.
STEPHANOPOULOS: He says it can't be 100 percent. But even women and children?
CHRISTIE: Listen, George, we have seen women and children play roles in terrorist attacks before. You and I both know this. And so, the fact is that we can all play to the U.N. crowd and say we want to get applause from those folks around the world. I'm worried about the homeland here and the American people are worried about their safety and security and we have to just make sure folks are vetted. That is not — that is not an unreasonable request.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You and Donald Trump have been going at it a little bit more but a great story in the New York Times, comprehensive story that talks about some concern in the Republican ranks about Donald Trump as the potential nominee. They quote a prominent Republican senator saying if Donald Trump is the nominee we're going to get wiped out. Is that true?
CHRISTIE: I don't know. But he's not going to be the nominee because I am. And so, I'm not worried about that. I'm not going to speculate about anybody else as the nominee because I'm in this thing to win. We're gaining momentum in New Hampshire. And we're talking about the issues that people care about and we have been talking about those issues for months and that's why they're beginning to resonate with people.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You did the endorsement of the Manchester Union Leader over the weekend that spurred headlines for you. You're still stuck in seventh place in the polls in new Hampshire. Don't you have to win there to have a chance to get this nomination?
CHRISTIE: I don't know if I have to win there, George. But I have to do well and I always said I have to do well there. And I think we'll figure that out once we get to January, see just how well you have to do. But as you know, there have been folks that have gone second place there and declared victory as second place.
STEPHANOPOULOS: So, is second place a victory for you in New Hampshire to Donald Trump?
CHRISTIE: It depends. It depends. We’ll see who else — We don't know that Donald Trump’s going is going to win New Hampshire either. We don't know who’s going to win. Remember, you know that New Hampshire voters notoriously make their decisions very late. In the last election, nearly 70 percent made their decision in the last two weeks. So we'll be focused on continuing to work real hard up there. Get our message out, do our town hall meetings and win vote, you know, bunches at a time. And that’s what we’re doing right now.
STEPHANOPOULOS: You've also suggested voters don't want an amateur hour this year. Don't want to re-elect senators, perhaps, like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. But so far, they seem to be rejecting the idea that experience is what matters in this election.
CHRISTIE: Yeah, well, that's only according to polls at the moment, George. People haven't voted yet and I think the seriousness of what's happening in Paris and around the world tell people that new is nice. It's wonderful, it's shiny and exciting but we had new for the last seven years and I don't think people are all that excited about that now. When, you need experience, people want someone there who’s made these decisions. As a prosecutor and governor I've made these decisions and will be making that case in new Hampshire and around the country.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Governor Christie, thanks very much.
