Gov. Christie calls reporter 'idiot' for asking off-topic question

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Christie lashes out at 'idiot' reporter

N.J. governor asks reporter if they're 'stupid' after a question strayed off topic

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie snapped this weekend at a reporter whose question threatened to take the tough-talking governor off message.

Christie called a press conference Saturday to talk about an emergency problem at a Monmouth County water treatment plant. But the reporter instead asked whether the first-term GOP governor would address the Democrat-controlled state legislature Monday.

“Did I say on topic?” Christie shot back. “Are you stupid? On topic, on topic. Next question.”

Earlier that day, Christie called for a special session of the legislature to begin Monday so he could make his case for a middle-class tax cut. He and the legislature’s Democrat leaders have been feuding for months over budget matters.

“Thank you all very much,” Christie said at the conclusion of the press conference. “And I’m sorry for the idiot over there.”

The call for the special session also came one day after the governor slashed $361 million from the state budget that Democrats sent him and gutted other Democrat-backed programs before signing the $32 billion spending plan into law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.