Rand Paul: Only under “a very loose definition” is Chris Christie a conservative

The Kentucky senator continues his passive-aggressive crusade against the governor of New Jersey

Published November 19, 2013 2:45PM (EST)

Sen. Rand Paul                                   (AP/Reed Saxon)
Sen. Rand Paul (AP/Reed Saxon)

Appearing on Fox News on Monday night, Rand Paul took yet another swipe at Chris Christie, calling the New Jersey governor a conservative only under "a very loose definition" of the term.

"You know, depends on how you define that," Paul said when asked if he considered Christie a conservative. "If you have a very loose definition, probably." Paul cited Christie's decision to accept Obamacare's Medicaid expansion in his state as an example of the governor's habit of making "at best, moderate decisions."

This is far from the first time the two likely 2016 aspirants have taken shots at one another. Earlier in the year, Paul famously called Christie "the king of bacon," and said the New Jersey governor has "been part of this gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme all this money [group]." Paul's zinger was a response to an earlier Christie comment suggesting Paul "start cutting the pork barrel spending that he brings home to Kentucky."

"But I doubt he will," Christie said at the time, "because most Washington politicians only care about bringing home the bacon so that they can get re-elected.”

[h/t Talking Points Memo]


By Elias Isquith

Elias Isquith is a former Salon staff writer.

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Bacon Chris Christie Conservatism Conservative Election 2016 Fox News Pork Rand Paul Talking Points Memo