“If she is unwilling to stand up and say that slavery is what caused the Civil War because she’s afraid of offending constituents in some other part of the country … What’s going to happen when she has to stand up to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and President Xi in China?” — Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
In a New Hampshire town hall on Thursday, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie assailed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in a campaign season that is already heating up in the December chill.
Christie, the most strident critic of struggling former President Donald Trump among GOP primary candidates, slammed Haley’s comments about the source of the Civil War.
At a New Hampshire town hall, Haley assured a 9-year-old audience member that she would pardon Trump even if he had been convicted of crimes.
On Wednesday, she attracted controversy for saying the Civil War was sparked by a desire for “freedom,” as well as about the role of government while ignoring slavery entirely. Haley’s point of view is known as the “Lost Cause Narrative” of the Civil War because it downplays the significance of slavery in favor of a states-rights argument.
Following her statements, Christie went on the offensive — and attempted to clarify during a Thursday town hall, stating “of course,” the conflict was over slavery.
The former New Jersey governor told the audience that Haley is not “racist” or “dumb,” but the reason for her reaction is “just as bad, if not worse,” and her candidacy should be questioned.
“She did it because she’s unwilling to offend anyone by telling the truth,” he said.
“If she is unable to step up and state that slavery was the cause of the Civil War because she is frightened of hurting constituents in another area of the country if she is worried of offending those who support Donald Trump… What will happen when she has to confront [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi?”
That same night, Haley slammed Christie, claiming he was “obsessed” with his disdain for Trump.
“And Chris is a friend of mine, but if you go in with that kind of obsession, you’re not going in with the clarity of moving our country forward,” she said in Lebanon, New Hampshire, at her third town hall of the day.
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