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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Hurricane Sandy brings President Obama and Chris Christie together for a great moment in American politics -- Political rivals put America first down on the Jersey shore

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Hurricane Sandy brings President Obama and Chris Christie together for a great moment in American politics -- Political rivals put America first down on the Jersey shore

Posted on Thursday, November 01, 2012 at 08:10 AM

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President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (Credit: AP)

It was a great moment for American politics yesterday when President Obama and New Jersey governor Chris Christie strolled to the podium together after visiting the Jersey shore.

It was a remarkable moment, one that Americans starved of political grown-ups could favor. It was state and federal working together. It was two men submerging their political differences for the common good.

They made a political odd couple, the tall, muscled African American president and the roly-poly governor who clearly never passes a donut shop.

But together they pulled the lever on co-operation for the common good, the one part of politics that the vast majority of Americans want to see from their politicians.

In the shadow of the presidential election it was a far greater risk for Christie and for his political future.
Already there is a cacophony on the right that he should have invited Romney too. “Et Tu Christie” was one of the less profane headlines.

But there is only one president, the man who holds the purse strings on federal aid. Christie is known as a governor who gets it done and this time all politics was local, not national.

By embracing Obama, Christie ensured that federal help would be even more swiftly dispatched and that his state would be at the front of any line.

For Obama the idea of appearing with the man who slammed him at the Republican convention where he was keynote speaker must have seemed somewhat surreal.

But Hurricane Sandy has changed the dynamic of the presidential campaign and the catastrophe surrounding the hurricane has taken the media attention of the horse race.

I think both men will benefit from their meeting and their joint efforts to help the distressed residents of New Jersey.

In the long run if Romney is defeated and Republicans are looking for a moderate in 2016 they can look no further than Christie.

For Democrats the short term win is for Obama but the big winners are the American people who can finally see how politics can work for the benefit of the people and is not all about name calling.

President Obama And Gov. Christie Tour New Jersey Shore After Hurricane Sandy Disaster 2012

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27 comments

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seanomelb | Nov 01, 2012, 05:44 PM EDT

The GOP congress of no could learn from Christie and how bi-partisanship works. There's a report in the Australian press that Coumo and Christie have now endorsed Obama.

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paulpaulpaul | Nov 01, 2012, 04:18 PM EDT

DrMcHugh Now, call me old-fashioned, but in the event of a Romney/Ryan win, a few White House typewriters missing the `R` key will probably be the least insidious reaction of those that drank the Koolaid 4 years ago.

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borefield | Nov 01, 2012, 04:08 PM EDT

You stoop so low Niall in your description of Governor Chtistie. How would you like if someone described one of your family members in this mean spirited way. He has children, how do you think they would feel if they read your article on their Dad. I have read some very harsh comments about Michelle Obama and her appearance, despite the fact that I don't like or support her causes I find personal appearance attacks juvenile . Grow up!

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Nicomax | Nov 01, 2012, 01:53 PM EDT

This reminded me of the era when the tall guy and the tubby one got together too strengthen Social Security in 1986. Reagan and O'Neil took the high road while others wallowed in the mud. This time the Romney team set-up a fake photo op in Ohio filled with food bought at Walmart.

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Searlit | Nov 01, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT

It was like the nation could breathe a huge sigh of relief, after four straight years of obstruction by filibuster. FEMA should never be privatized, only the Federal Government can clean up the destruction. Let's face it, the Federal Government uses the private sector to clean up and rebuild. "That's the way it is."

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cillowen | Nov 01, 2012, 12:35 PM EDT

putting the care of fellows first - new found appreciation of christie whose romnesia was put to bed. It takes a big man to do as he has and will continue doing. Unity of purpose - thanks to creator for sending a just in time learning tool.

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eiriamach | Nov 01, 2012, 12:13 PM EDT

Let's not overlook the possibility that Gov. Christie praised Obama because he'd like to run for president in 2016, at the end of Obama's second term, and doesn't want to wait through two Romney terms (could that happen?). That's my cynical view. None the less, it was heartening to see a bipartisan effort, although it took a natural disaster to make it happen. Now if the GOP could only apply that effort to tax reform, the budget, finance regulation, infrastructure rebuilding, education. . . .

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nicgearailt | Nov 01, 2012, 11:54 AM EDT

by their deeds ye shall know them..

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nicgearailt | Nov 01, 2012, 11:51 AM EDT

Well said...it's as it should be... It reminds us how, out of touch, the "other side of the aisle " is in Washington.They could not see their way to co-operate with the sitting President ,for the greater good of the electorate.We need time limits on the "entrenched" in Washington...soon...please...

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Murph46 | Nov 01, 2012, 10:42 AM EDT

We will see a moth,several months ,a year from now.Look at New Orleans and Trust ,but Verify!

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seagreen | Nov 01, 2012, 10:22 AM EDT

Greed, self servitude,and decision making by association took a day off yesterday. Congratulations to president Obama and Govenor Christie

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DrMcHugh | Nov 01, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT

Thankyou, Niall, for this excellent article and for the great video showing how well President Obama and Governor Christie are working together for the people who have been so impacted by Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast. This is what America should be about - all parties working for the common good of Americans, instead of the pettiness that we have seen, especially coming from Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and others in the Republican party, who have acted as selfish and immature children and not the mature statesmen that they were elected to be. Sincerely, Dr Rosemary Eileen McHugh

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