Teachers union says Christie wrong that billboard claimed he 'hates children'

Claiming in a speech to the NAACP last weekend that he had been unfairly attacked by public worker unions, Gov. Christie said there had been “tens of millions of dollars” of spending by a union in the state on ads “that says things like: Chris Christie: He loves millionaires, hates children

"It is an interesting moment in a public servant’s life when you’re driving down the New Jersey Turnpike, and your children see a billboard that says that their father hates children,” the governor said. “Now, of all the things that I’ve said over time about leaders of our public employee unions, I’ve never said they hate their children. … That’s a big thing to say, everybody.”

Only the billboard didn’t say that, argues the New Jersey Education Association – which says it was the only union to put up billboards about Christie.

The union ran one billboard in 2011 that read, “Tell Governor Christie: protect our schools, not millionaires,” said Steve Wollmer, the union’s communications director.

The billboard was part of a “somewhat tongue-in-cheek” campaign, Wollmer said, featuring a “MillionairesForChristie.com” web address.

Christie was “clearly referring” to the billboard, Wollmer said. He called Christie’s statement that the billboard accused him of hating children “ridiculous.”

Christie’s office did not respond to questions on what billboard the governor was referring to or a request for comment on the union’s assertions.

The governor and teachers union have been battling for years, with Christie once calling the union’s leaders “political thugs.”

The NJEA has spent millions attacking Christie, who has pushed teacher tenure changes and supported charter schools, among other policies.

Source: Philly.com