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DN Editorial: Political climate

Superstorm Sandy has made Gov. Christie a rock star. But some environmentalists in his state aren't nearly as smitten with him.

THE MEDIA was delighting last week in the antics of what a headline writer labeled "Jersey Boys II" - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and President Obama strolling the boardwalk, reassuring the public on the eve of summer that the Jersey Shore was open for business.

Superstorm Sandy certainly has made Christie a rock star, with skyrocketing approval ratings and a public fascination that landed him on the cover of People magazine this week.

It's safe to say, however, that environmentalists in his state aren't nearly as smitten with Christie as others seem to be. He may have handled the aftermath of Sandy magnificently, but his leadership on reducing the environmental problems that helped create Sandy in the first place has been unimpressive.

In his first three budgets, it has been reported, Christie diverted $620 million in clean-energy money into the state's general fund. In 2011, he ended New Jersey's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative - a 10-state program that aims to reduce carbon emissions - eliciting sharp criticism from the Environmental Protection Agency, neighboring states and environmental groups.

Environment New Jersey and the Natural Resources Defense Council sued Christie's administration for withdrawing from the program, and the case is pending. Both houses of the legislature voted twice to restore the program, but the legislation was vetoed by Christie, who said the program was "gimmicky" and failed to attain promised results.

Then there's Christie's petulance when he's asked about the link between Superstorm Sandy and climate change. During an interview on the "Today" show, Christie was dismissive when host Matt Lauer asked him about it. "I haven't been shown any definitive proof yet that that's what caused it. And this is just, listen, this is a distraction. I've got a place to rebuild here and people want to talk to me about esoteric theories," said Christie.

Esoteric theories? With $60 billion in damages from Sandy and entire towns in shambles? Really?

Although it's not yet possible to make a specific cause-and-effect link between an isolated weather event and global warming, Sandy's unanticipated fierceness is part of a wild and unusual weather pattern slamming the world that can't be readily explained any other way. "It's a red herring to say climate change didn't cause Sandy," said Doug O'Malley, of Environment New Jersey, "because the reality is, climate change certainly exacerbated its impact."

Some critics see Christie's dismissive attitude as a way to regain his footing with the conservative Republicans he alienated by previously acknowledging the reality of climate change, embracing Obama after Sandy and blaming national GOP leaders for delaying storm relief to his state. Can you say GOP presidential election 2016?

So, alas, the entertaining footage of Christie strolling the boardwalk with President Obama - and even winning a stuffed animal for the president! - is a visual distraction, much like the scantily clad assistant in a magician's act. It keeps us from looking at what's really going on - which is to say, as far as environmental progress in New Jersey, not much.