On Tuesday, October 5, Chris Christie made a routine campaign stop at a local diner in Edison, NJ that resulted in an interesting debate with a non-supporter regarding marriage equality.
Bert Bueno, a non-gay woman who happened to be at the diner sharing breakfast with a long-time high school friend, was not aware that Christie would be making a campaign stop there. As Christie made his way around the diner, he arrived at Bueno’s table where she began to question him about his opposition of gay marriage. Christie said:
?Lots of different people have different views on this. I think marriage should be between a man and a woman.?
Christie elaborated by explaining that he felt the issue should be put on a ballot and voted on by all registered voters rather than decided in the courts. He told Bueno:
?If the majority of the people of New Jersey want same-sex marriage, I’ll enforce the law.”
Christie is running for re-election November 5, carrying a large lead in a recent poll over Senator Barbara Buono, the Democratic challenger from Middlesex County. Polls also show that the majority of voters in NJ favor allowing gay marriage. The matter was decided by a state Superior Court Judge who ruled that New Jersey must begin allowing same sex marriages after October 21. Christie has requested a stay on that ruling and is appealing to the state Supreme Court.
Bueno stated to Christie:
?But this is different than gun control or taxes.”
Christie defended his point of view stating that he didn’t feel it was different. ?It’s a human rights issue,? insisted Bueno. Christie got a bit testy with her at that point, using his support on the recent conversion therapy legislation and reiterating that he felt the matter should be a ballot issue.
When asked if he would be willing to sit down and have an open conversation with a group of gay and lesbian people, Christie responded that he was always willing to sit down and discuss issues. Before leaving Bueno’s table,?he emphasized that he did not feel having such a conversation would alter his point of view.
Edited/Published by: SB
