Christie Minstrelsy

ADVICE to NJ Gov. Chris Christie -- Never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel. To call a news reporter "stupid" in public only adds evidence to the already prevalent notion that you are a bully. And the louder you call someone "stupid," the more ink and broadcast time that screed will generate.

In America, anyone -- including journalists -- can ask any question of anybody -- especially politicians -- at any time. You have the right not to answer, and you have the right -- short of slander and libel -- to verbally retaliate with labels such as "stupid." However, the right of free speech also carries with it the responsibility for the consequences of what you say.

Ordinary courtesy calls for restraint, and political astuteness stipulates that to insult a reporter is most unwise. Equally rude, moreover, is when a reporter interrupts a government official during formal remarks, as happened recently to President Obama.

Courtesy on both sides is in order. But for those in public office, "If you can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

ADVOCATE VS ADVERSARY -- Too often, business and political leaders believe that if someone is not an advocate for their position, that person is automatically an adversary. Good journalists are neither. Reporters as tough questions because they need to be asked, in a continuing effort to supply the public with information they need to know. Not what they want to know, but what they need to know.

Recently, TV interviewers have been putting more pointed questions to politicians, and have been pressing for answers when the pol tries to evade, avoid or dance around the question. It's a gratifying change, especially when the reporter is courteous while pressing for an answer.

America was built in a spirit of compromise. Operating from an "us versus them" base creates a "no surrender" environment that can poison for many decades -- even centuries -- any hope for a peaceful society. Northern Ireland and Palestine are two examples of such a poisonous atmosphere. There may be hope in Ulster, however, after a handshake show of friendship between the queen and a former rebel commander. It only took 400 years.