What did Governor Chris Christie really want to talk about yesterday? Competing tax cut plans? Nah. The State Budget? Nope.

Governor Chris Christie and First Lady Mary Pat Christie
loading...

Christie was happy when someone finally asked him about a blurb in the New York Post accusing him of falling asleep at a recent Bruce Springsteen show at Madison Square Garden. In a very entertaining and funny press conference at the State House the Governor laid the ‘Snoozesteen’ scandal to rest.

“I was shocked that it’s been out there for almost a couple of weeks now and nobody’s asked me about it,” says Christie. “I’ve had like five press availabilities and none of you guys has asked me about falling asleep which I think was really the most important story of the last two weeks.”

Christie says he sat down, put his head back and closed his eyes as he was listening to one of Springsteen’s new spiritual songs and somebody snapped a picture it.

When I was fist-pumping during ‘Badlands,’ I’m glad no one took picture of that,” explains Christie. “When I was singing to ‘Out in the Street,’ thankfully no one took pictures of that. When I was contorting myself during ‘Because the Night,’ no one took pictures of that.

Governor Christie at Bruce Springsteen concert
loading...

“I have never fallen asleep during a Bruce Springsteen show,” insists Christie who has seen ‘The Boss’ in concert 127 times. “I will never fall asleep during a Bruce Springsteen show. My wife’s probably afraid that I’m more likely to die during a Bruce Springsteen show than I am to fall asleep.”

More about First Lady Mary Pat Christie to follow.

The Governor enlisted the aid of Deborah Gramiccioni, his chief of staff for policy who was at the show in question. She was comically forced to come to the podium and confirm Christie did not doze off. The Governor could have and definitely should have asked his wife to be his back-up, but he dropped the ball on that and will probably have to do something extra nice to make up for it.

Christie said, “It was a great show at the Garden that night and I enjoyed every minute of it and Gramiccioni enjoyed it too. She had a great time. I was there with my brother and my two oldest children. Mary Pat took the night off.”

That last sentence is where the Governor veered off the tracks. After he said his wife took the night off, Mary Pat who was sitting in the front row said, “No, I didn’t.”

Christie asked, “Were you at the Garden?” Oh, you were there. You were there. You took the night off in Philadelphia. Right okay.”

EXTENDED AUDIO OF CHRISTIE’S EXPLANATION

As reporters and others in attendance laughed, the Governor went into spin mode to try and do a little damage control, “Well she took one night off. Come on. It was dark. What did I know? I was a little tired. We were all there. We had a great time and we didn’t fall asleep.”

In case you’re wondering how the Governor is able to go to so many Springsteen shows when tickets are so hard to get, he has some pretty good connections. Christie says he buys his tickets from band members Steven Van Zandt or Max Weinberg at face value.


 

More From 92.7 WOBM