When Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon ripped Gov. Christie in a parody about the Bridgegate scandal, it put a damper on his relationship with his favorite artist. Being made fun of like this over a very important political controversy can only hurt the Bully of New Jersey, not help him, so when a woman raised certain questions about this in a town hall meeting that was mostly a softball outing for the embattled politician, Christie blew up.
Up until Booket spoke, about halfway into the more than hourlong forum, the comments and questions thrown at the governor had been softballs and the few hundred people in the audience appeared to be supporters.
"I'm wondering if you were aware that they were playing, I think it was like six or seven Bruce Springsteen songs before you got here?" Booket asked.
Not knowing where Booket was going, even Christie laughed at first. But his polite demeanor changed after it became apparent that Booket, a registered Democrat, was no fan of this Republican governor. Before Booket, Christie had taken two flattering questions about whether he was going to run for president.
"I thought I had heard that Bruce asked that none of his music was played at your events because he didn't believe in your politics?" she asked.
"No, never did that," replied Christie, who is known as a big Springsteen fan. "No, you're wrong about that. Bruce has never asked me … to do that. He never has. No, you're wrong. In fact, I saw Bruce just a week and a half ago."
--Booket said she understood Springsteen objected to Christie using his music because the governor did not empathize with the plight of working class and middle class people, whose struggles are the subject of Springsteen's music.
"Listen, I know him and you're wrong," Christie said. "And I understand you're now expressing your politics."
"...And that's fine," Christie said. "Don't put it in Mr. Springsteen's mouth. Put it in yours. If you have an objection to it, then you object. You have every right to object to it. But don't put it in Bruce's mouth, because I know Bruce and I've spoken to Bruce and you're wrong. You're absolutely wrong."
The governor could have just moved on from the question, but he loves to belittle people whenever he can, Bridgegate be damned.
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