…a million union leaders are going to be jumping off the bridge after this interview.
This guy had the answers to every question. When he said that teachers put in nothing to their pensions and he listed the benefits that was a body blow that it will be hard to spin, even to the MSNBC viewer.
They touched on the Teachers union “Praying for his death” business that was mentioned at Sister Toldjah mentioned here. Christie said the head of the union showed up to apologize, Christie said he suggested they show the apology was sincere by asked for that person’s resignation. The Union head stormed out.
If this is how Christie carries himself, the GOP should have him on every network show possible.
Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog 
Christie for President! Now if only he can privatize, or turn over as much control to the private sector as possible, NJ Transit, we’ll be in splendid shape!
Half truths teachers do pay into unions. Many teachers do may for health care. They negotiate their salary related to what benefits they get. Not all contracts are the same. Teachers seem like they have it good (especially next to what I make $34,000 salary was cut in half) but I am not going to begrudge someone who has it better than I do. If I thought being a teacher was better I would become one. Do you begrudge the CEO making a milion and getting a million dollar bonus? Get the facts before you comment.
Three family members are teachers in NJ. Two are in the Newark school system, one is in Central NJ. All have the same gold-plated benefits package and don’t pay into the system – they do pay union dues, though! My one relative was out of work for nearly three months with a broken leg and still received full pay. All three have indicated to the union that they’d rather take a benefits cut and keep their jobs than risk losing everything.
The unions, on the other hand, have refused to negotiate anything that would decrease the money or benefits that teachers get in NJ, or that would ask teachers to do more in and around the classroom.
You want facts, buddy? How’s that for ya?
@ Tom Jones
I do not begrudge the teachers whose union negotiated a good deal. However, I have a problem with the very existence of public sector unions. This isn’t the Industrial Revolution and public sector employees aren’t working in Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle”. The only point of modern day unions is to get more, do less, and avoid accountability. Think your children and our tax dollars are better served by this arrangement?
Teachers unions, in particular, are completely dishonest. Publicly, they talk about “the children” but the very nature of unions is pure self-interest. Ever hear the UAW talk about “the car buyers”? Further, as Christie said in the interview, rather than have teachers contribute an amount equal to their annual union dues — teachers currently contribute nothing for health care premiums — the unions will sacrifice the minimum wage earners in cafeteria.