Murphy Politically-Pressured To Lift NJ Mask Mandate: Christie

MENDHAM, NJ — New Jersey’s former governor weighed in about its current one, Mendham resident Chris Christie describing Gov. Phil Murphy as a “stubborn guy” who “doesn’t want to admit he was wrong to have the masks on for this long.”

Christie also called Murphy a “craven, crass hypocrite,” for keeping the school mask mandate in place for such an extended period of time.

Christie, who was interviewed on Fox News Radio’s Guy Benson Show on Feb. 7, discussed Murphy’s delay in waiting to lift the school mask mandate on March 7.

Benson spoke to Christie about the changes in New Jersey a month before the mandate was to be lifted. Starting the segment with a soundbite of Murphy earlier that day discussing the lift of the mask mandate for March 7, Benson questioned Christie why he believed Murphy delayed lifting the mask mandate by another month.

“The science has not supported masking kids in school for the last year plus,” Benson said.

Benson felt that cases have plummeted and the mask mandate lift, which Benson called a “masking cult,” could have happened within a week — or even a day — of Murphy’s announcement, rather than a month later.

He asked Christie what he made with the timing of Murphy’s decision and if it was politics rather than science driving it, stating there are “kids all over the country without masks, doing fine.”

Christie said politics have been driving Democratic-led states since the start of the pandemic.

However, he described Murphy’s narrow win in November’s election against Republican contender Jack Ciattarelli as a “near death experience.” Murphy was expected to win by 15 to 20 points, but instead squeaked back into the governor’s seat by three points, Christie said.

The legislature also lost seven seats to Republicans in New Jersey's November election, Christie added.

“He [Murphy] now has much less of a margin for error in the state legislature than he had before,” Christie told Benson.

Christie pointed out that to Benson that a bill was in motion with the goal of terminating some of Murphy’s emergency powers. State Senators Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver) and Vin Gopal (D-Asbury Park) were primary sponsors on the legislation, introduced on Jan. 31. Bill S1200 has remained with the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee, since the day of its introduction.

“I think the politics are closing in on Phil Murphy and that’s why he did this,” Christie said, suggesting Murphy will likely avoid the legislation to end his emergency powers.

Murphy’s delay in lifting the mask mandate in schools is “because he’s [Murphy's] a stubborn guy,” Christie said.

He said Murphy doesn’t want to appear that he was wrong to keep a mask mandate in place for such an extensive period of time. Christie suggested Murphy was likely waiting until March 7 before lifting the order after announcing it on Feb. 7, to make it appear his decision to do so, was the right one.

Christie called it an “emblem of Phil Murphy’s declining political position in the state capital and his stubbornness.”

Benson credited Murphy with lifting the mandate, though he said he would not give Murphy “a half a clap” for it, stating Murphy was a year delayed in lifting it. Benson called Murphy's move to hold the mask mandate lift by another month, a “political calculation.”

He suggested to Christie that Murphy was likely influenced by the shift nationwide and worldwide, which he said was more than COVID-19 fatigue. Benson suggested data has supported the unmasking trends in other non-Democratic states, with Americans restless and tired of the mandates. Benson suggested with Murphy’s near-loss in November’s election, he might be more attuned to the need to lift mandates, versus other Democratic politicians.

Christie said Murphy deserved credit for being a “craven, crass hypocrite.”

“Now since that cravenness and crassness serves his political purpose, he’ll [Murphy] stop torturing children by forcing them to wear masks in school for no reason,” Christie said.

Christie also criticized several instances of Democratic leaders unmasking, while mandates were still in place. One was Stacey Abrams for unmasking in a photo with a classroom of masked students. Christie also took aim at Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who didn’t wear his mask during the Super Bowl, but said he held his breath when posing for a photo with Magic Johnson.

Listen to Christie’s full interview with Benson here.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.