Christie Calls Doctor Who Criticized Weight A 'Hack' Who Should 'Shut Up'
SEA GIRT, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- The subject of Chris Christie's weight is in the headlines once again, but this time, the New Jersey governor wasn't poking fun at himself and playing along.
Christie let former White House doctor Connie Mariano have it after she went on CNN and said, "I'm a physician more than a Democrat or Republican, and I worry about this man dying in office."
"A doctor in Arizona, who's never met me, never examined me, never reviewed my medical history or records, knows nothing about my family history, could make a diagnosis from 2,400 miles away, she must be a genius," Christie told reporters, including 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg. "She should probably be the Surgeon General of the United States."
Christie Responds To Weight Comments By Fmr. White House Doctor
Mariano was interviewed in a segment about the Garden State governor in which she talks about him having a heart attack or a stroke.
"It's almost like a time bomb waiting to happen unless he addresses those issues before he runs for office," Mariano told CNN.
The governor also dismissed the critique by Mariano, calling her "Just another hack who wants five minutes on TV."
Mariano said she is a Republican and told the interviewer "I like Chris Christie a lot," while adding "I want him to run. I just want him to lose weight."
But despite that Christie called Mariano's comments "irresponsible."
"People who have a medical license, who have the privilege of having a medical license, should in my view conduct themselves more responsibly than that," Christie said. "If she wants to get on a plane and come here to New Jersey and ask me if she wants to examine me and review my medical history, I'll have a conversation with her about that. Until that time, she should shut up," Christie said.
What particularly angered Christie was the fact that his children saw the comments made by the doctor. Christie has four children, ranging in age from 9 to 19.
"My 12-year old son comes to me last night and says 'Dad are you going to die?' I mean come on," the governor said.
CBS 2's Maurice DuBois reported Mariano spoke Wednesday night in a follow-up CNN interview. When asked if she regretted the comments she made, she replied, "No, absolutely not."
Christie and Mariano reportedly spoke over the phone Wednesday. Mariano said the governor asked her to keep the details of the conversation confidential.
Christie appeared on David Letterman's "Late Show" earlier this week and joked about his weight, even pulling out and taking a bite of a doughnut at one point during the show.
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