The second anniversary of Hurricane Sandy witnessed its share of drama at a Jersey Shore ceremony where New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie got into an exchange with a heckler, finally telling him to "sit down and shut up."
On Wednesday, the 52-year-old Republican was speaking to a crowd in Belmar, N.J., a town where Christie's administration has been able to handle the recovery and rebuilding of many destroyed houses, boardwalks and businesses, but has still failed to provide many people with the chance to return back to their homes, the Associated Press reported.
"It seems like a lot longer than two years," Christie said at the commemoration. "This has been a long, long two years and a long struggle. Time doesn't move as quickly as we might like it to."
During the speech, Christie was repeatedly interrupted by a heckler who was protesting the Republican's slow pace of rebuilding while waving a sign that said "Get Sandy Families Back in Their Homes." The continuous heckling eventually led Christie to engage in a banter for more than a minute and a half with the man, prompting him to conclude with "Sit down and shut up."
Heckler Jim Keady, who runs an advocacy group called Finish the Job, which has been critical of the pace of rebuilding in the area, and happens to be a former Asbury Park city councilman, also yelled for Christie to "do your job!" at one point.
"You all know me, so if we're going to get into a debate tonight it's going to be very interesting and very fun," Christie said. "I'd be happy to have a debate with you any time you like, guy. A guy who doesn't know a damn thing about what he's talking about except to show off for the cameras."
"I've been here when the cameras aren't here, buddy, and done the work. ... Turn around, get your fifteen minutes of fame, and then, maybe, take your jacket off, roll up your sleeves, and do something for the people of this state."
In one instance, when Keady attempted to explain how he was here a month after Sandy, the governor interrupted him, The Star-Ledger reported.
" ... and there's been 23 months since then, when all you've been doing is flapping your mouth and not doing anything. So listen, you want to have the conversation later? I'm happy to have it, buddy. But until that time, sit down and shut up."
"There are about 1,000 things I can do tonight, and going to dinner with you is about 1,001," he added when Keady invited the governor to talk about Superstorm Sandy and the aid process over dinner.
Meanwhile, the N.J. governor has a history of engaging in angry confrontations with detractors.
"In 2012, he argued with a heckler on the Seaside Heights boardwalk, waving an ice cream cone and accusing the man of acting like a 'big shot.' Last year, a teacher, Melissa Tomlinson, accused him of wagging his finger at her during a campaign stop and saying 'I'm tired of you people,' an incident he later said was overblown," according to Bloomberg.
Earlier on Wednesday, Christie's event in Toms River was also picketed by a group of 18 people, who claimed that he was too "chicken" to address those left homeless by the storm.
