RUSH: People in New Jersey continue to be upset over Governor Christie and the flags at half staff for Whitney Houston. Here’s Governor Christie, sound bite 20. This was yesterday in West New York, New Jersey.
CHRISTIE: I’m disturbed by people who believe that because of her history of substance abuse, that somehow she’s forfeited the good things that she did in her life. I just reject that on a human level. What she is is a cultural icon in the history of this state.
RUSH: And then he continued with more.
CHRISTIE: All of us should learn to be a little more understanding of that, and understand that this is a disease and that we need to help these folks to try to conquer this disease and not ridicule them for it, because it’s a struggle for everybody.
RUSH: So he’s saying that we’re gonna fly the flag at half staff to call attention to this and try to look at this as something that can be a learning experience for people rather than to denigrate her because she perhaps might have fallen victim to her disease.
BREAK TRANSCRIPT
RUSH: This Whitney Houston in New Jersey and the flag at half staff. I have a question. If she did not have in her life a problem with drug abuse and alcohol — take a little out of it — and she died prematurely…? We don’t yet know what the cause of death was, but let’s assume that alcohol and drugs had nothing to do with it. Take that out of it. How many of you would be upset that the flag was lowered to half staff? How many of you are upset about it simply because, in your mind, “She was just an entertainer. Come on! We lower the flag for statesmen, for heroes. What is this entertainer business?” I’ll bet there are some people who have that point of view, but keep in mind: New Jersey lowered the flag for Frank Sinatra and Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band with Bruce Springsteen. So it’s not that uncommon. It really isn’t.
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