Christie decries leadership ‘vacuum’ in D.C.

CLIVE - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took aim at President Barack Obama during a campaign event Saturday night in Iowa, calling him the 'obstructionist in chief” for thwarting tax reform changes that could grow the economy and for causing America to lose respect internationally.

Christie, a possible 2016 presidential hopeful who is traveling extensively as leader of the Republican Governors Association to get GOP candidates elected Nov. 4, said he is encountering Americans who see the federal government adrift and problems cropping up around the world under Obama's watch.

'America used to control events both here at home and around the world, and now it seems that our fate is being dictated to us by others,” Christie told nearly 1,000 Iowans who attended a $65-a-plate fundraiser that was an early birthday party for Gov. Terry Branstad, who is seeking an unprecedented sixth term in next week's general election.

'I would suggest to you it's because we have an extraordinary vacuum of leadership in this country, and people both inside America and outside America no longer know what America stands for, no longer know what America's willing to fight for, no longer know where we're willing to draw the line, no longer know when we're ready to put our hand down and say enough.”

Christie said America needs to restore itself as the example of a government that functions efficiently and effectively at home and a people that stand for freedom and liberty around the world.

'People look at Washington, D.C., and they see nothing good happening for our country,” he said, most notably a lack of leadership in the White House. 'It's been six long years,” he told the crowd, 'but I bring you good news, there are only two more years left.”

Christie said reforms are needed to the federal tax system that would spur private investment to fuel economic prosperity and job growth, 'but this president refuses to lead. In fact he is the obstructionist in chief in Washington, D.C., to reforming our taxes and growing our economy again.”

The New Jersey governor held up Branstad as an example of a successful politician who has worked to build consensus versus a federal administration that 'blames everybody else” and has left the country 'hungry for leadership.”

He said he looks forward to Branstad winning a sixth term next month and becoming the longest-serving governor in U.S. history. Christie told the crowd he will make his fourth visit to Iowa - the leadoff state in the 2016 presidential nominating process - this campaign season with a stop Thursday in Burlington to help Branstad and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joni Ernst bring the Nov. 4 balloting to 'a successful conclusion.”

'People ask me why I'm coming to Iowa so much. Well, it's because Terry Branstad asked me to come to Iowa, and when Terry Branstad asks you to come to Iowa, you do not say no, definitely not,” Christie joked.

Turning to Ernst, Christie said the Red Oak state senator is in one of the toughest races for the U.S. Senate in America.

'The liberal Democratic smear machine has been all over her, and they have messed with the wrong woman,” Christie said. 'You can take that from a guy from Jersey they have messed with the wrong woman.”

During her brief remarks, Ernst echoed concerns about the dysfunctional federal government, telling the crowd 'we want to get off this track and make a right turn.”

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