Chris Christie Calls Contraception Debate “Silly”

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says some of the debate over contraception that has cropped up in the Republican primaries is misguided.

Christie made the comment during a town hall event in Kearny.

When a questioner asked him about the focus by Republican candidates on contraception issues, Christie said too much time has been spent talking about it.

Christie said women need to have access to affordable contraception. He added that some issues, such as whether Catholic organizations should be required to cover birth control costs for their employees, should be addressed.

But he called the overall debate "a silly issue for us to be spending time on" when there are other, more pressing economic and security issues facing the nation.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)