Gov. Christie Rips Heckler At Sandy Event: ‘Sit Down And Shut Up’

Oct. 29, 2014: As wife Mary Pat Christie, left, looks on, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tells heckler Jim Keady to: “Sit down and shut up,” during a event marking the second anniversasry of Superstorm Sandy (Photo: AP/Mel Evans)

On the second anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie spoke to a crowd in Belmar, N.J., a town damaged by the storm, defending his administration’s handling of the rebuilding. Many houses, boardwalks and businesses have been rebuilt, but many of the people of New Jersey are still unable to return to their homes.

During his speech, Christie was repeatedly was interrupted by a heckler, who happens to be a former Asbury Park city councilman and local liberal activist. Eventually, in true Christie fashion, the governor told the man, “Sit down and shut up.”

The crowd, which was made up of mostly town residence, erupted into applause supporting the governor. The heckler, Jim Keady, repeatedly harassed Christie because he insisted storm aide didn’t arrive fast enough. Keady was holding a sign that read, “Finish the Job,” while screaming, “Do your job!”

Christie fired back at Keady.

“I’ll be more than happy to have a debate with you anytime you like, guy, because somebody like you doesn’t know a damn thing about what you’re talking about except to stand up and show off when the cameras are here,” Christie said. “I’ve been here when the cameras aren’t here, buddy, and done the work. … Turn around, get your fifteen minutes of fame, and then, maybe, take your jacket off, roll up your sleeves, and do something for the people of this state.”

Keady runs a left-wing advocacy group called Finish the Job, which has been critical of the pace of rebuilding in the area. Of course, they don’t criticize President Obama’s administration, which was also largely responsible for the speed the aid was distributed. Keady tried to show off his credentials by stating he was in the community a month after Sandy, but the governor shot back, causing Keady to stammer his words.

” … and there’s been 23 months since then, when all you’ve been doing is flapping your mouth and not doing anything. So listen, you want to have the conversation later? I’m happy to have it, buddy. But until that time, sit down and shut up.”

Finally, after several minutes of back-and-forth and repeated interruptions, the man did “shut up.”

“It seems like a lot longer than two years,” Christie said after the exchange was over. “This has been a long, long two years and a long struggle. Time doesn’t move as quickly as we might like it to.”