New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Republican lawmakers should hold town halls even if that means confronting hundreds of angry progressive constituents.
“Welcome to the real world of responsibility,” Christie told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “State of the Union” Sunday.
The governor’s comments come after a week in which massive crowds turned up at GOP town halls to protest President Donald Trump and Republicans’ efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Christie said some of the attendees are “professional protesters,” which he defined as those wearing the same shirts and carrying pre-made signs, comparing them to teachers’ unions that criticized him in New Jersey.
“You’ve got to work through that,” he said. “You’ve got to stand up, let them yell themselves out.”
Christie said he has held more than 160 town halls as New Jersey governor. Now that Republicans control the House, the Senate and the White House, they’ve gotten what they asked for, he said, so they have to accept the consequences, including rowdy protesters at town halls.
“I understand why members of Congress don’t like it,” Christie said. “But you know what? You asked for the job. Go do it.”
