If Chris Christie isn't more careful about who he hangs out with his fellow Republicans are going to start to think he may be about to jump ship and become a Democrat. The New Jersey Governor joined former President Bill Clinton on stage in Chicago to talk about disaster planning, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Speaking as the meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative was winding down the two started by joking around about Big East basketball before the tone became serious and the two discussed Superstorm Sandy.
"The enduring image most Americans have of you is standing there in your jacket, grieving with people, working with them, working with the president," Clinton said. "You got both praise and damnation for ignoring political differences."
Christie responded by talking about how when disaster hits it's the job of the government to be there to help people set things straight, according to ABC News.
"When this kind of thing happens - Republican, Independent, Democrat - no matter who you are, what you are, you turn to government," Christie said.
Christie explained what it was like walking on the Jersey Shore last month as it opened up for summer and how grateful people were for the rebuilding that had taken place.
"I can't tell you how many people just came up to me, grabbing at me, and saying, 'Thank you for giving us the shore back.' There's an emotional connection," Christie said. "I think as a leader you have to recognize that part of it - that it's not just going to be a calculation that's just arithmetic. It's an emotional connection. And you have to do things to try and give people that emotional connection to the place they grew up, where they took their children and now those children are taking their children there."
Clinton and Christie had a fantastic rapport on stage and appeared as if they could talk for ever. When the former president was told that Christie needed to wrap it up in order to make a flight Christie told him to ignore it, according to ABC News.
Christie received some criticism from conservatives for attending the Clinton event which was held at the same time as the Faith and Freedom Coalition conference that was being attended by many GOP stars, including most of who seem to have presidential aspirations for 2016, something Christie is also thought to have, according to the Huffington Post.
"He can't spend 10 minutes just to make an appearance?" Ginger Howard, a Christian conservative talk radio host asked. "People who neglect us are sorry."
"Chris Christie is dangerously close to sending conservative Republicans a clear message that he doesn't care about their thoughts or views," Republican operative Michael Dennehy told the Huffington Post. "Spending time with Barack Obama is one thing, but when he goes out of his way to spend time with Bill Clinton it begins looking like a pattern of behavior that will alienate Republican voters - and conservatives in particular."
