newjerseynewsroom.com

BY ADELE SAMMARCO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

From the Garden State to the nation’s capital, no doubt New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is on the move, exhibiting more and more national leadership qualities while focusing his spotlight on the country’s most pressing issues affecting all Americans rather the residents in the state in which he governs.

Addressing lawmakers at the Cato Institute's Milton Friedman Awards dinner Friday in Washington, D.C., Christie warned that Americans may not like the solutions necessary to fix the country's economic problems cautioning, "They know in their heart they have to accept it."

The Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty was awarded to Mao Yushi, a market economist and Chinese activist for individual rights and free markets, who co-founded the Unirule Institute of Economics in Beijing with four other economists in 1993. The non-profit research institute promotes using economic research for the advancement of society as a whole and is given every other year to someone who has made a significant contribution to advancing human freedom.

Last year, Mao Yushi stirred-up controversy with an online essay criticizing former Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong, leading Maoists in the country to call for his arrest.

When it comes to the United States economy, Christie was steadfast in his directives.

"Don't tell me the American people aren't ready to hear the truth. They know our government is out of control," Christie said according to C-Span. "They know our debt and our deficit is out of control. And don't confuse them liking the solution to them accepting it. They don't have to like it, but they know in their heart they have to accept it."

There’s been growing speculation Christie could be a top Vice Presidential pick by Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Christie endorsed the former Massachusetts Governor last fall, and ever since has skillfully deflected questions from the press as to whether he would accept the country’s second-in-charge position.

“Do I really look like the Vice Presidential type? Christie shot back to reporters, “You know, sitting behind him at the State of the Union going (clapping). I don't think that's me. I think it's unlikely," Christie said, according to realclearpolitics.com.

Christie believes his governorship in New Jersey should be an example for the entire country, pointing to his executive order to overcome a $2.2 billion budget shortfall he said he faced after taking office two years ago.

"The great thing about operating by executive order is, first, that I didn't have to tell anybody," Christie said.

That “in-your-face” style retort, say opposition leaders, could alienate independent voters with his "tough guy" approach to politics.

However, Christie appears to be unphased by his detractors.

He contends he took back New Jersey, "I could sit down and negotiate with the Democratic leadership and the Democratically- controlled legislature to try to come to an agreement on these cuts, or, thanks to New Jersey's unique Constitutional structure, cut spending through executive order."

"Now, for those of you who watched me over the past two and a half years, if you believe I chose the former, then it is now time for you to leave. You are not smart enough to be here at the Milton Friedman Dinner."

Christie’s candidness at times has been a polarizing factor for some New Jersey state legislators, yet he continues to be a popular figure with conservatives who push for his own presidential run. Whatever his political future, either two-term Governor of New Jersey or Vice Presidential candidate of the United States, Christie relishes as well as thrives in the limelight.

"Leaders have an obligation to make those tough choices. In New Jersey that is what we're trying to do. And in the process hopefully set an example for the rest of the country," he said. "Believe me, if you can do this in New Jersey, you can do it anywhere."