Finally, a Republican I can respect! He’s not exactly warm & fuzzy, but he stood up and did what was right in this case, wingnut crazies be damned. It’s no wonder he doesn’t want to run for POTUS.

Below is my partial transcription of a press conference that was held by Gov. Christie in New Jersey this past Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011. The video begins with him saying that ignorance is behind the criticism of Sohail Mohammed, his appointee (since sworn in). The Governor then begins describing his accomplishments and continues with why he nominated him:

I was proud to nominate him. I was disgusted, candidly, by some of the questions he was asked by both parties at the Senate Judiciary Committee. I thought it was awful. And, uh, but in the end the Senate did the right thing because the facts were undeniable: that Sohail Mohammed is an outstanding attorney and will be an outstanding judge. And I’m going there to be at his swearing in today because he’s someone who merited my support with my nomination of him, and I am confident that he’ll be an outstanding judge. The second Muslim American to be put on the bench here in New Jersey; I’m proud to have been able to do that, but not just because he’s a Muslim American—I nominated Sohail Mohammed because he’s a good lawyer and an outstanding human being, and that’s what people will get to know about Sohail over his time on the bench.

About 3/4 of the way through the video some reporter makes the mistake of asking him about Sharia, and he just goes off. Below is the second half of his rant:

.…This Sharia Law business is crap. It’s just crazy, and I’m tired of dealin’ with the crazies. And y’know, it’s, it’s just unnecessary to be accusing this guy of things just because of his religious background. And that’s what it’s because…because I’ve known him personally now for nine years, and there is nothing to any of this stuff. I’m not gonna talk about Sharia Law because Sharia Law has nothin’ to do with Sohail Mohammed and his time as a lawyer or his service on the bench in Passaic County, which I know will be long and honorable, and the people of Passaic County and the people of the state will benefit from it. I’m happy that he’s willing to serve after all this b—baloney.