NEW JERSEY 101.5

Chris Christie's latest Time magazine cover has stirred controversy with its headline as the governor's possible presidential aspirations come under scrutiny.

Chris Christie's new Time magazine cover
Chris Christie's new Time magazine cover (Time)
loading...

Following Republican Christie's 22-point win over state Senator Barbara Buono in the governor's race, Time has Christie in an Alfred Hitchcock-like pose with the headline "The Elephant in the Room" which has drawn the ire of those who think it's another dig at Christie's weight.

An elephant is also the symbol of the Republican party.

"Bipartisan ban on fat jokes, please" tweets MSNBC digital reporter Irin Carmon."  Former Time reporter Karin Tumulty called the cover "lazy (and) stupid)" in a tweet while New York Times writer Steven Greenhouse tweets, "Whether or not one likes Christie, these cheap shots--like Time's new cover--about his weight are decidedly uncool."

The magazine hits newsstands on Friday. In an excerpt from the story, titled "Chris Christie Was Born to Run," they write about Christie's "character" as the savior of the Republican party he showed last summer in Boston before the Republican National Committee. “See, I’m in this business to win. I’m in it to win. I think that we have some folks who believe that our job is to be college professors. College professors are fine I guess,” except that they just "spout ideas" that no one ever does anything about.

In a preview of the Time story, ABC News says Christie's rivals downplay his win on Tuesday night in the story. "I think it is terrific that he is brash, that he is outspoken, and that he won his race," Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said, "But I think we need more leaders in Washington with the courage to stand for principle."

Christie was not happy about his last Time cover in January when he was named one of the most influential people, titled "The Boss" and it's Soprano's-like portrait, complaining to Fox News Channel's  Don Imus he looked like a "mob boss."

Reviving a War Of Words

Meanwhile, Rand Paul has revived his war-of-words with Christie over Superstorm relief dollars. Referring to Christie's appearance in the "Stronger than the Storm" commercials, the Senator from Kentucky told  a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, “Some of these ads, people running for office put their mug all over these ads while they are in the middle of a political campaign,” Paul said according to CBS New York. “In New Jersey, $25 million was spent on ads that included somebody running for political office.”

Listen to Rand Paul's comment:

MORE COVERAGE:

 

More From New Jersey 101.5 FM