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Christie Apologizes For Civil Rights Remark, Not Sorry For 'Numb Nuts' Comment

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie has apologized for a remark on civil rights, but he's not sorry for using a slang term to describe a lawmaker who compared him to segregationist Southern governors.

Speaking Wednesday night during TownSquare Media's "Ask the Governor" program on radio station New Jersey 101.5 FM, Christie apologized to anyone offended by his comment that people in the civil rights struggle would have been happier to have the matter settled by public vote rather than by dying in the streets.

Christie was comparing civil rights to the fight for gay marriage.

But he didn't back down from calling Assemblyman Reed Gusciora "numb nuts" after the lawmaker compared him to former Govs. George Wallace and Lester Maddox.

Christie says his mother, now deceased, used to use the term.

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(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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