"Idiot" Wants Apology From Christie

The former Navy SEAL who tried to talk down Chris Christie during a town hall meeting wants an apology from the Governor  for calling him  an “idiot.”

“I don’t think it’s right that our governor would call me an idiot and tell me to shut up,” says William Brown, a Rutgers-Camden law student and former Navy SEAL who was ejected from the meeting in Florence on Thursday afternoon. “That’s not how a governor’s supposed to represent our state” he told the Courier Post.

Brown expressed his concern over  the proposed merger of Rutgers University’s Camden campus with that of Rowan University. As Christie began his answer, Brown continued to talk. Christie’s mood quickly turned sour and the conversation amped up. “If you decide what you want to do is put on a show today…I can go back and forth with you as much as you want,” Christie says at one point. “And let me tell you something: After you graduate from law school, you conduct yourself like that in a courtroom, your rear end’s gonna get thrown in jail, idiot.”

Brown was then escorted from the Fireman’s Hall in Roebling.

Listen to Brown & Christie’s full conversation

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Brown posted an edited version of the confrontation that leaves out his talking over the Governor and makes Christie’s comments look unprovoked. This version of the video in has been posted on many national political sites. not the audio of the full line of questioning.

Townsquare Media reporter Stacy Proebstle, who covered the town hall, says Brown identified himself as a former Navy SEAL when he asked his question.

To that end, Middlesex County Assemblyman John S. Wisniewski, chairman of the Democratic State Committee, criticized Christie for his comments.

“At a time when we should be having an adult conversation about the issues facing working families in New Jersey, Governor Christie again resorted to childish name calling when challenged on his policies. He should be ashamed of himself. Instead of taking the high ground with a veteran that disagrees with him, he stooped to name calling. If the Governor cannot defend his positions without resorting to personal insults, he should seriously reassess his priorities.”