Christie must know that white supremacists have been involved in the Trump campaign for quite a while.
I have not often applauded the political or governmental decisions of Gov. Chris Christie. I believe many of his decisions have been harmful to working-class New Jersey residents, and I detest the condescending, disrespectful tone he frequently directs toward those articulating an opinion differing from his own.
Christie has proven to be egotistical and overly ambitious, willing to say and do whatever necessary to maintain his position of power, and often using a scorched-earth policy when dealing with those outside his inner circle. I find little credible evidence that he has improved the quality of life for the average New Jersey resident since he has been in office. I didn't vote for him either time for governor, because I saw or sensed characteristics that gave me pause.
No matter what I thought, or how I perceive a governor as an individual, I know that the Office of the Governor deserves and must be afforded some level of respect. But after the events of the last week, Christie has made granting that respect extremely difficult. Ironically, this is not due to anything our usually bombastic governor had said, but for what he did not say.
Last week, after months of telling all who would listen that Donald Trump was a shyster and a make-believe candidate, Christie reversed course and endorsed him. Soon after that, a prominent white supremacist, David Duke, also endorsed Trump.
Duke is the founder and former grand wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, an avowed anti-Semite, and a convicted felon. Trump's response to the former klansman's endorsement was to stutter, mutter, and bungle through a CNN interview in which he claimed no knowledge of Duke or white supremacy -- a blatant lie.
Later, Trump timidly said "I disavow," but notice that he never said who or what he was disavowing. Many were waiting for him to say unequivocally that he disavows the KKK, which he did not do until days later.
Many expected as much from Trump, as he has been lying and conniving since he hit the campaign trail. Then I waited for Christie to step back up to the podium and let the nation and, in particular the residents of New Jersey, know that he would never work in a political campaign alongside a Ku Klux Klan supporter.
Christie has always touted his experience as a prosecutor, and crafted an image of being tough on crime. Yet, he is now indirectly associated with the Klan, a known terrorist organization directly linked to lynchings and bombings. By the way, Trump has never disavowed some Neo-Nazi campaign re-tweets.
As the sitting governor of the State of New Jersey, it is abhorrent that Christie has not been extremely vocal in his repudiation of the Klan, and also assuring all concerned that he will not be associated with nor work with the Klan or its supporters in the Trump campaign.
Christie's continued silence in this matter makes him a target of wrath and odium by all who detest the Klan, and rightfully so.
Christie must know that white supremacists have been involved in the Trump campaign for quite a while. At many of his rallies, one of them broadcasts the radio show "Political Cesspool," which last week interviewed Trump's son, Don Jr.
The last sitting governors I can recall mentioned in the same breath as the Klan were George Wallace and Lester Maddox; our governor may have stepped through a door from which there is no return.
Christie claims to have a good working relationship with the Jewish community; he made a feel-good video parody with African-American U.S. Sen. Cory Booker when Booker was mayor of Newark; he obtained the support of black ministers and elected officials on several issues; and never saw a photo-op in the City of Camden that he was too busy to attend.
I just wonder how they feel about all that back-slapping and hugging now?
Milton W. Hinton Jr. is director of equal opportunity for the Gloucester County government. He is past president of the Gloucester County Branch NAACP. His column states his personal views, not those of any organization or agency. Email: mwhjr678@gmail.com.