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Chris Christie steals the show Chris Christie steals the show
(1 day later)
Ladies and gentlemen, a warm welcome, please, for Chris Christie, world’s worst actor and best scene-stealer.Ladies and gentlemen, a warm welcome, please, for Chris Christie, world’s worst actor and best scene-stealer.
Trump won Republican primaries in seven states on Super Tuesday, but he lost the spotlight at his news conference that night. He was upstaged by the New Jersey governor, the man who had introduced him (woodenly) and who then stood (awkwardly) nearby as his face registered shell shock, confusion and frozen alarm.Trump won Republican primaries in seven states on Super Tuesday, but he lost the spotlight at his news conference that night. He was upstaged by the New Jersey governor, the man who had introduced him (woodenly) and who then stood (awkwardly) nearby as his face registered shell shock, confusion and frozen alarm.
Christie’s body language was irresistible, because the awk attack cannot be ignored.Christie’s body language was irresistible, because the awk attack cannot be ignored.
After delivering his pained welcome of Trump to the candidate’s supporters in Palm Beach, Fla., Christie barely looked at Trump as he relinquished the podium. He waited a little too long to applaud. Christie shifted nervously from foot to foot. Maybe he was jacked up on the adrenaline rush of scaling the Mount Everest of politics: praising the rival you loathe.After delivering his pained welcome of Trump to the candidate’s supporters in Palm Beach, Fla., Christie barely looked at Trump as he relinquished the podium. He waited a little too long to applaud. Christie shifted nervously from foot to foot. Maybe he was jacked up on the adrenaline rush of scaling the Mount Everest of politics: praising the rival you loathe.
He sucked in his teeth. He stroked his cheek for just a beat too long, lost, by the look of him, in “mother-of-God-what-am-I­doing-here” thoughts. At one point, clapping stiffly, he glanced aside, bit his lip and looked like he might break down. Finally, Christie settled into a heavy stillness, eyes fixed in an expression of helpless horror, mouth slack. Trump was talking on and on, waving his right hand as he spoke, the hand that kept getting in our way. Because we weren’t listening to the words. The real drama was happening silently behind him, as Christie was slowly dying.He sucked in his teeth. He stroked his cheek for just a beat too long, lost, by the look of him, in “mother-of-God-what-am-I­doing-here” thoughts. At one point, clapping stiffly, he glanced aside, bit his lip and looked like he might break down. Finally, Christie settled into a heavy stillness, eyes fixed in an expression of helpless horror, mouth slack. Trump was talking on and on, waving his right hand as he spoke, the hand that kept getting in our way. Because we weren’t listening to the words. The real drama was happening silently behind him, as Christie was slowly dying.
We’ve seen this spiritual agony before. Former House speaker John Boehner could be counted on for a good bit of anguish as he presided over President Obama’s State of the Union addresses. His reactions were overt and almost melodramatic; he knew what he was doing. He was a master at etching consternation into his lips, pursing them and pulling in the corners of his mouth while Obama hit his applause lines and colleagues across the aisle cheered. We’ve seen this spiritual agony before. Former House speaker John Boehner could be counted on for a good bit of anguish as he presided over President Obama’s State of the Union addresses. His reactions were overt, almost melodramatic; he knew what he was doing. He was a master at etching consternation into his lips, pursing them and pulling in the corners of his mouth while Obama hit his applause lines and colleagues across the aisle cheered.
Women seem a little better at masking the awk attack. But even subtle edginess is riveting. Think of the mute political wife standing by her man during a news conference to announce that he’s gay (New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey) or to address accusations of paying hookers (Louisiana Gov. David Vitter) or really expensive hookers (New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer). Women seem a little better at masking the awk attack. But even subtle edginess is riveting. Think of the mute political wife standing by her man during a news conference to announce that he’s gay (New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey) or to address accusations of paying hookers (Louisiana Sen. David Vitter) or really expensive hookers (New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer).
Who can forget the stony, defeated presence of Spitzer’s wife, Silda Wall, a Harvard-trained lawyer reduced to a prop at the press conference where Spitzer announced his resignation? Prop isn’t the right word; Wall was a living, motionless portrait of misery, her head down, her held-in and slightly turned posture telegraphing that standing by her man had no substantive meaning. She was clearly wishing she were miles away.Who can forget the stony, defeated presence of Spitzer’s wife, Silda Wall, a Harvard-trained lawyer reduced to a prop at the press conference where Spitzer announced his resignation? Prop isn’t the right word; Wall was a living, motionless portrait of misery, her head down, her held-in and slightly turned posture telegraphing that standing by her man had no substantive meaning. She was clearly wishing she were miles away.
When she moved, it was telling. “As human beings, our greatest glory consists not in never falling,” Spitzer said at one point, “but in rising every time we fall.” This statement caused Wall to break form, ducking her chin a bit, involuntarily flinching at her husband’s gall.When she moved, it was telling. “As human beings, our greatest glory consists not in never falling,” Spitzer said at one point, “but in rising every time we fall.” This statement caused Wall to break form, ducking her chin a bit, involuntarily flinching at her husband’s gall.
Awkwardness is weirdly entertaining, and it’s non-threatening. You don’t fear the awkward guy. In fact, you feel for him. Maybe that means suffering calls forth our empathy and fellow-feeling more than triumph.Awkwardness is weirdly entertaining, and it’s non-threatening. You don’t fear the awkward guy. In fact, you feel for him. Maybe that means suffering calls forth our empathy and fellow-feeling more than triumph.
So will Christie’s numb display give him a bump up in polls in his home state? He could use it. On Tuesday, six New Jersey newspapers called for him to resign. In the end, maybe Christie has become lovable. Even cuddly.So will Christie’s numb display give him a bump up in polls in his home state? He could use it. On Tuesday, six New Jersey newspapers called for him to resign. In the end, maybe Christie has become lovable. Even cuddly.
Nah. That’s awkward.Nah. That’s awkward.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said that David Vitter is the governor of Louisiana. He is a Republican senator from that state.