Chris Christie Blames His Spokesman for 'Misquote' About Planned Parenthood
Christie quoted in 1994 as having contributed privately to Planned Parenthood.
— -- Denying that he ever donated money to Planned Parenthood, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said today that he is certain that a quote of him saying he did donate to the group in 1994 is a “misquote.”
“Listen, this is a quote from 21 years ago. I’m convinced it was a misquote,” Christie told the Washington Post in an interview today.
The only problem with Christie blaming the journalist for getting the story wrong is that the journalist to blame for the alleged misquote now works for him.
Brian Murray, who wrote the 1994 story while working as a journalist for the Star-Ledger, now works as the governor’s press spokesman.
In a Sept. 30, 1994, story written by Murray for the Star-Ledger, Christie is quoted is saying, "I support Planned Parenthood privately with my personal contribution and that should be the goal of any such agency, to find private donations."
The quote from over two decades ago has become a fresh issue for Christie in the 2016 presidential election, with Christie now campaigning as a pro-life candidate in opposition to abortion.
Christie, who touts his record of vetoing funding for Planned Parenthood as the governor of New Jersey, tells the story on the campaign trail of changing his heart on the issue of abortion in 1995, when he heard his unborn daughter’s heartbeat during an ultrasound.
But in 1994, when Murray quoted Christie as saying he had donated to the group he now refuses funding for, Christie was running to be Morris County freeholder and embraced a pro-choice stance.
"It's also no secret that I am pro-choice,” Christie was also quoted as saying in the 1994 Star-Ledger article. “But you have to examine all the agencies needing county donations and prioritize them. I would consider all groups looking for funding, but there is a limit and we have to pick and choose."
In his interview with the Washington Post today, Christie also noted that at the time he was running on a position of opposing county funding for the group.
“Understand what was going on. In 1994-95, I was fighting against county funding of Planned Parenthood even though I was pro-choice,” Christie said.
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