Christie unafraid of 'honest conversation' about Social Security, Medicare

By Ryan Lovelace, Ryan Lovelace

Published December 20, 2015

On the eve of the third Republican presidential debate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has released an ad touting his desire to complete entitlement reform. The ad features clips from CNBC personalities — who will host Wednesday's debate in Boulder, Colo. — decrying the lack of discussion about how to reform the nation's growing entitlement programs.

"Washington is afraid to have an honest conversation about Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid with the people of our country. I am not," Christie is shown saying in the ad. "You don't hear any other candidate talking about this. None of them have a plan, except for me. None of them are talking about it. You know why? Because they don't trust you. That's the difference between me and them. I trust you."

But should voters trust Christie? While he talks about entitlement reform on the stump, he expanded Medicaid under Obamacare in New Jersey. Christie, who fell to ninth in the Washington Examiner's most recent power rankings, may look to harp on entitlement reform at Wednesday night's primetime debate.