GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE BLASTS NRA FOR AD MENTIONING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DAUGHTERS

NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE

                                                                                                                                                                         

"I think it's awful to bring public figures' children into the political debate. They don't deserve to be there," the Republican said at a Trenton news conference. "For any of us who are public figures, you see that kind of ad and you cringe."

The NRA has "real issues to debate on this topic," Christie continued. "Get to the real issues — don't be dragging people's children into this. It's wrong."

The NRA ad does not show a picture of Malia and Sasha Obama. A narrator goes on to say: "Are the president's kids more important than yours? Then why is he skeptical about putting armed security in our schools, when his kids are protected by armed guards at their school?"

Wayne LaPierre, CEO of the NRA, said Thursday on NBC's Today show that the ad wasn't about Obama's daughters. "What it is about is how to keep children safe," he said.

Christie caused some heartburn in the Republican Party last year when he worked closely with Obama on Superstorm Sandy recovery. But while their politics and party registrations may be different, they are both fathers.

The governor said his four children didn't have a choice about whether they are protected by law enforcement — just like Obama's daughters don't have that choice or any children of an elected official when it comes to their security.