Christie Calls Gay NJ Lawmaker 'Numbnuts' After Comparison to Segregationist Governors

On Monday, outspoken New Jersey Governor Chris Christie referred to an openly-gay state lawmaker, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, as "numb nuts" after the Democratic lawmaker compared him to two former segregationist governors from the South.

“You have numb nuts like Reed Gusciora, who put out a statement comparing me to George Wallace and Lester Maddox. Now, come on guys, at some point, you’ve got be able to call B.S. on those kind of press releases,” Christie said.

Gusciora,  a sponsor of marriage equality legislation, was reportedly upset by Christie’s suggestion that gay marriage should be a ballot question instead of being legislated in Trenton.

Christie was also criticized for saying, "I think people would have been happy to have a referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South."

CBS adds:

Christie said those comments were misconstrued and that it was clear such an option would not have been available for those fighting for justice during the Civil Rights movement in the 1960′s because the “political climate in the South didn't give them the option.” [...]

Gusciora took the “numb nuts” label in stride and apparently wasn’t all that offended.  Instead, he chose to focus on the topic of gay marriage during an interview with 1010 WINS on Monday.

Listen to Christie's comments below: