Chris Christie Voices Support for Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby Ruling
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie recently voiced his support for last month's Supreme Court Hobby Lobby ruling while speaking at a meet-and-greet event in Marion, Iowa this week.
Christie, a potential 2016 presidential contender, made his comments Thursday while responding to a question at MJ's Restaurant in Marion. The east coast governor was visiting Iowa to campaign for incumbent Gov. Terry Branstad (R).
In a video recorded by the Democratic Super PAC American Bridge, Christie was asked if he supported the Supreme Court's decision on Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma-based chain of craft stores. "Do I support the Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case? I do," Christie replied.
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Christie's comment comes weeks after the potential presidential candidate refused to offer his opinion on the case one day after the ruling was released on June 30. When CNBC asked Christie if he felt the court was "right" in its decision, Christie replied: "Who knows?"
"The fact is that when you're an executive, your Supreme Court makes a ruling and you've got to live with it unless you can get the legislative body to change the law or change the Constitution," Christie told CNBC's "Squawk Box."
"The point is: Why should I give an opinion as to whether they were right or wrong? At the end of the day, they did what they did," he continued. "That's now the law of the land, unless people in the legislative branch try to change it."
In his previous interview, Christie added that he didn't think the outcome of the court case was an important topic to discuss. "I don't think that's the most central issue that we need to talk about this morning when you look at the challenges that face this country," he said. "If I allow people to put me in the box, then shame on me. I'm not a good politician. I'm not a good leader."
Other Republican politicians, some potential 2016 presidential candidates, have also expressed their support for the Hobby Lobby ruling. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul released a statement congratulating the Supreme Court on ruling "in favor of religious freedom."
"Religious liberty will remain intact and all Americans can stay true to their faith without fear of big government intervention or punishment," Sen. Paul continued. "Our nation was founded on the principle of freedom, and with this decision, America will continue to serve as a safe haven for those looking to exercise religious liberty."
Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) also hailed the ruling, saying: "A key part of the American dream has always been the ability of our people to freely practice their faiths without government interference."
"Obamacare's mandates have threatened to change this and, in doing so, erode the American dream as we know it and our people's ability to live it. The Supreme Court has correctly recognized that Obamacare's trampling of religious liberty in the Hobby Lobby case should not stand."
On June 30, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5 to 4 decision that for-profit corporations such as Hobby Lobby would be able to deny certain birth control coverage to their employees based on strongly-held religious convictions.
