Republicans go after Christie on Twitter

A number of Republicans piled on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) Wednesday as new developments about the controversial bridge closure broke into the open.

{mosads}Emails obtained on Wednesday link Christie’s deputy chief of staff Bridget Anne Kelly to the closure of the George Washington Bridge last year. Christie had denied any connection to the lane closure, but Democrats maintain it was political retaliation against the Fort Lee mayor who refused to endorse the governor. His town was directly affected by the jammed traffic.

Eric Erickson, conservative columnist and RedState.com editor-in-chief, said the bridge scandal proved whispers about the bare-knuckle tactics of Christie’s staff.

Several congressional & gubernatorial staffs have told me Christie’s staffers r the biggest a**holes they’ve ever dealt with. Apparently so.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) January 8, 2014

One Chief of Staff of a Governor once told me that a Christie staffer lectured the COS’s own Governor.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) January 8, 2014

Another staffer in another state says they had easier time getting celebrities to come for events than Christie. The riders were simpler.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) January 8, 2014

Reporter Jonathan Weisman maintained that Erickson’s tweets are telling.

Anyone who thought Christie bridge emails wouldn’t impact Republican Primary voters, watch @EWErickson tweets. #zeitgeistmatters

— Jonathan Weisman (@jonathanweisman) January 8, 2014

Conservative radio host Mark Levin called it the “continuing Christie disaster.”

The continuing Christie disaster http://t.co/3Cjw4XXxbl

— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) January 8, 2014

Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) said the scandal would haunt the governor in the primary. The conservative Republican became a radio host after being defeated in the 2012 general election.

In fairness, looking through the 2016 prism: Christie’s bridge < Hillary’s Benghazi. But the bridge will haunt the big man in the primary

— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) January 8, 2014

Another conservative columnist Ben Shapiro said the governor’s actions were an impeachable offense.

Christie’s actions here may be impeachable, not just indicative of inappropriateness of a 2016 run.

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 8, 2014

Democrats, for their part, were happy to join in. Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said the scandal was to be expected.

What did you expect from Christie? He responds to opposition with retribution & answers questions with snide jokes. http://t.co/OEy5D1IwRx

— D Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) January 8, 2014

David Plouffe, former White House senior adviser, said Christie’s reaction to the scandal would be crucial.

Will be instructive to see how Christie responds to devastating bridge revelations. Bob and weave or accept responsibility and apologize?

— David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) January 8, 2014

Rep. Louis Slaughter’s (D-N.Y.) press secretary said the state legislature’s oversight committee would have a field day.

oversight committees will have a field day RT @daveweigel: Ds run both houses of the NJ leg, can do whatever they like to Christie.

— Eric Walker (@ericmwalker) January 8, 2014

Others just made light of the situation.

I’d tweet about the Christie stuff, but I live in Glen Ridge and I’m heading into the city today, so I need to be careful.

— Jeff Smith (@JeffSmithMO) January 8, 2014