NJ Gov. Christie Defends Lowering Flags Half Staff For Whitney Houston

February 15, 2012 5:27 PM

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (file / credit: Governor’s Office)

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WEST NEW YORK, NJ (CBSNewYork) - Gov. Chris Christie says he’s been getting a lot of e-mails and calls from people upset over his decision to lower flags to half staff Saturday to honor Newark native Whitney Houston.

WCBS 880′s Levon Putney On The Story

“And I’m disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise, and we don’t know what is the cause of her death yet, but 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,” said Christie in West New York on Wednesday.

“When I’ve seen these messages and e-mails that have come to me, you know, dispariging her for her struggles with substance abuse, and what I say to everybody is, there but for the grace of God go I.”

PHOTOS: Whitney Houston’s Life Remembered

The governor also made further clarification.

“I’m not saying that Whitney Houston is a role model,” he said, adding that she is a cultural icon, whose accomplishments deserve the honor.

He’s also ordered flags lowered for all native soldiers killed, fallen police officers, and the death of the E Street Band’s Clarence Clemons, among others.

Houston’s funeral will be a private ceremony at New Hope Baptist Church on Saturday.

Do you think Christie is right to order the lowering of flags? Sound off in the comments section below!

NJ Gov. Christie Defends Lowering Flags Half Staff For Whitney Houston

Debbie

Whitney Houston had her problems like every other human being does, it does not make a bad person. She donated her money to so many charities and the proceeds for the Star Spangled banner went to the victims of 911 so yes she is a hero. Lower the flag Gov. Christie……

Hillary in 2012

Michael Jackson didn’t get a flag lowering… He was a much bigger star than her. It’s not about the size of the celebrity,it’s about the protocol of the flag. Whitney did amazing things philanthropically, donated millions of dollars to charities in the US as well as in Africa. Much respect for that, but she didn’t do public service by putting her life in jeopardy by serving in the military or as a public servant or government employee, which is historically who the flag os lowered for.

Mick

Gov. Christie what the hell you thinking? Mention Whitney, first thing people think is druggie, alcoholic and 15 years rotten marriage. For this you lower the Flag? What a disgrace for all who died for the Flag. Just another lowering of our standards!! Dam glad you didn’t run for president.
Hillary in 2012

Don’t worry… You don’t have to listen to your constituents… It’s not like you have a CHANCE of winning reelection after how you’ve trashed education anyway… And how is your conservative base going to react to the fact you have lowered the flag for a drug addict? Isn’t that a slap in their faces, when they are so pro military? Good job Christie! KEEP losing votes and chipping away at your base before you try for a presidential run in 2016.
bebe

absolutely honor her with flags at half staff.
that is the humane and right thing to do.

sojo

tell me why its the right think to do she was never in the military thats who this is reserved for not drug addicts

sage

His excellency the Governor of new jersey the Honorable Christopher Christie used his prerogative to lower the flag in a proper gesture to the home grown super star Whitney Houston.
GTMK

No Way!! Christie is a Typical Politician, Lower the Flag for a Junkie , I would not even Lower the Flag for HIM. His Political Carrier will not go any farther He is DONE ,

Debbie

You know what you are a jerk. She had a drug problem like millions of other people. She was not a bad person, she was a great talent and a beauty. Everyone has their problems doesn’t mean they are bad. Yes, he should lower the flag for a native New Jersey.

Sharon

No he should not!
MG

She was a singer,,,that’s it. Did nothing to better the world or her country. Just made a lot of money and threw her God given talent away for drugs. Honor our soldiers who died for our country!!
Mari N

I gave to Big Brother,Big Sister, Lupus and American Heart Foundation. it may not have been millions but it was what i could afford. Will the flag be lowered for me??? I think not.

sage

His excellency the Governor of New Jersey The Honorable Christopher Christie did a magnanimous gesture to order the flag at half mast in honor of super star celebrity actress and singer Ms. Whitney Houston a homegrown daughter of
New Jersey.
Mayor Marion Barry Washington, D.C.

YEAH LIKE WHITNEY WAS MY HOME GIRL. SHE KNEW HOW TO GET DOWN LOW YOU KNOW?
Liberals Are Evil

This will be insult to all those who have lost their lives serving and helping others. Whitney was a junkie who lost her life by popping pills. To fat Christie I say, you are a disgrace!

Debbie

You are a disgrace

Christie is The Prez

Yes but he will be Your President in the next 12 years

Repub in Hawaii

I’m a die-hard Repub…..I won’t vote for him or give him money now….no mattter who is running….

1ProudAmerican

Whitney did not serve her country.

If anything, Christie should acknowledge her death and the epidemic of drug abuse and domestic violence and recommend that people should care . . . that the citizens of NJ need to support its drug rehabilitation and domestic violence outreach programs and provide support . . . then provide a list of organizations to which NJ residents can contribute or support.

His action is hollow, diminishes the honor to which we pay those who have sacrificed their lives in the service of this country . . . and represents a lost opportunity to address the very issues that led to Whitney’s tragic death.
Pete

No disrespect to Whitney or anything she did. The US flag should be flown at half mast to honor those who have fallen while in service to the flag itself. This includes all branvches of the service, firefighters, police officers EMS workers and all who serve.
DM

That honor is supposed to be reserved for fallen heroes…soldiers, police officers, firefighters, as well as statesmen. There are other ways to honor entertainers than to lower the flag in their honor. Clarence Clemons, Whitney Houston and the like are entertainers…they never sacraficed their lives or did anything “heroic” that would dignify the flag being flown at half-staff in their honor..It is a slap in the face to those who have paid the ultimate price…It’s a disgrace that our beloved governor has decided to take this path..But, what do you espect from an idiot.
Teresa White

Governor Christie is breaking the law. Lowering the flag is reserved for military heroes and state officials. Whitney, while a fabulous singer, was neither.
Selah

Whitney Houston donated millions of dollars to organizations in the State of New Jersey including an elementary school and a hospital that has saved many children’s lives. She was not a perfect human being. But even with her flaws, she used the money she made from her celebrity to benefit others unselfishly. She donated ALL of her proceeds from singing the national anthem to the first responders of 911. We never heard about this generosity while she was alive. That makes her a decent human being and a hero to all who benefited from her generosity. Governor Christie absolutely made the right choice to honor her life and the legacy she left.

Whitney who

That means nothing NOTHING the flag should not be lowered for her or any person in entertainment.This is turning into a circus and gives the USA flag no meaning. I am officially not proud to be a American

DD

Nobody cares what you think. the governor made a good decision and you can’t do squat about it. A bunch of you people who are up in arms about this are probably just disgusting racists or jealous haters who are loosers who go around and pick on the dead, Whitney performed the national anthem right after the gulf war started and donated all the money that she got from it to the sept 11 family. She gave a free concert to the military family and donated her proceeds from her Olympic song One moment in time. People should just ignored their patriotic service because they are enterainers. I think that people who are complaining are either racists or jealous haters and it is disgusing when they attack fellow americans and hiding behind patriotism. Look how much injustices americans suffered, and anybody is going use this to say that they are not proud of their country, that is just disgusting.

Teresa White

Yes, there is something that can be done. The people of NJ can vote for someone else for Governor in the next election. The flag is not meant to be lowered for just anyone. You should brush up on what the true meaning of the US Flag is and when it is appropriate for it to be lowered half-way. Education is key.
sojo

its wrong

Joel

JD
You’re 100% correct.
Debbie

I agree 100%
Sharon

You can honor her life, I don’t care she does not deserve to have even one
flag at half staff. She is and never was a HERO!!!!!!!!

charlie68

haters

Brian Branco

And what about the United States Marine Lance Cpl. Osbrany Montes De Oca, 20 years old from North Arlington, NJ who was shot by a sniper in Afghanistan on 2/10 and who is being buried on Satuday?

Where is his his honor for defending OUR country and OUR freedom?

While you stated she was unselfish, she used drugs and alcohol and left her daughter without a mother.

There are many celebrities who donated time and money to the schools and to 9/11 charities are they all heroes or did they just do the right thing? Is the Facebook founder a hero for giving money to the Newark school system?

People use the word hero too much, our military, our first responders are heroes, the civilian who pulled a person out of a buring car is a hero. Someone who uses their fame is not a hero. I am sure she made more than enough money from the national anthem, since that was in 1991 and 10 years later 9/11 happened. What did she do with all the money for those 10 years between and how much did she get paid for singing the national anthem and the success that it bright her?

MG

We should all call the Govs office tomorrow 609-292-6000 and ask what the arrangements are for the funeral of Lance Cpl. Osbrany Montes De Oca of North Arlington. Hopefully they won’t ask “WHO”? Let’s show the Gov who is more important and who the flag should be lowered for! please reshare and pass it on!

RoyBoySays

Lower the flag for the Vets who gave their lives in the continuing fights abroad,not for a women who passed away from a drug overdose

Samantha’s Grandma

Here Here Rob Boy!!!

Joanne

“There but for the grace of God go I,” captures exactly the humanity of the situation. We were blessed to experience the beauty of her voice, of her person-hood, of her deeds, and the lyrics that she sang… “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all…” Yes, it is indeed, and the most difficult of all… And her tragic end validates the humanness of each of our struggles… I venture to say that those who are angered by the lowering of the flag are in denial of their own human frailty. None of us are all “good”, we teeter in a ‘balancing act’ of life. The place we need to go to, is a place of gratitude for the gifts she gave. The lowering of the flag is a good place to start. I never thought I would be saying this, but, thank you, Governor Christie. Namaste.
sojo

the flag should only be lowered for military the key word is she donated thats what all politicians think of money she was just a entertainer just like anybody else she does not deserve this honor i feel bad for her but this is not right
JMHO

SO??? Doesn’t make her a hero. I know many decent, generous human beings too but that still doesn’t make them HEROS who deserve the flag being flown at half mast. No offense intended! JMHO
RoyBoySays

If she donated all the money that she spent on drugs,the state would not be in a finacial deficit,and there would be schools worth attending in Newark
Pole sitter

Hey stupid She’s a crack head.
E. Franklin

Well said Selah! In fact, the Governor of Mississippi and Tennessee lowered the flag for the late, legendary Elvis Presley. In my opinion, Elvis and Whitney deserve the honor because their lives represented so much more than their (alleged) personal abuses. It is always astonishing to me how human beings judge other human beings in life and death. Lest not forget, “We all fall short of the grace of God.” On a side note: For those complaining about the flag lowering, a flag which Whitney Elizabeth Houston sang her heart out for with a beautiful voice, and most respected, she knew the words, I think this honor is befitting.
Sandy

Isn’t it a shame that we never tell people who gave their all to entertain us how we appreciate them enough when they are alive…..Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Clarence Clemons, Whitney Houston, etc.
RittaLynn

Amen! And good call Gov. Christie. You were favored by God prior to Miss Whitneys death and you will continue to be favored.
May God Bless those who follow their hearts to seek the good and not evil.
Sailor Boy

What the hell is this guy thinking about[probably running for prez 2016]Flying the flag at half staff is reserved for our heroes that gave their lives in service of this beautiful country. Sure whitney was a great singer, but never a hero., or in her case heroine
Bryan

Although Whitney may have done a lot of good or not is no reason for the flag to be lowered. I have yet to see or here that the flag is being lowered to Honor the real and true Hero’s of our state and country. The men and women of the US Military, Police, Fire Fighters etc. who have given more then just money back to the state and country. You know the people that sacrifice their own lives every day so you and I can live our lives the way we do! They are the real Hero’s and should be honored not disgraced. Lowering the flag for someone who could sing is not an honor it’s a disgrace to the flag and the people that truly need to be honored. There are more people out there that deserve this Honor more then a singer even if she is from NJ.
Semper Fi til the day I die

I don’t think that anyone with a shred of common sense would not agree with your wonderful tribute to Whitney. While I personally think she was an extraordinary entertainer as well as a “decent” human being, so are thousands of other Americans. I applaud her contributions to this country as well as those to her community. I think it would be a wonderful decision to dedicate a school, hospital wing, or any other memorial in her honor. However…. I do NOT believe that being a decent, kind, caring, giving, person entitles you to the honor of having your death recognized by ANY branch of the United States government by flying this country’s flag at half mast when you pass away. I personally see this as just another slap in the face to every single solider who has made the ultimate sacrifice so that you, me, Whitney Houston, and ever other person in this great country could live with the freedom that most of us take for granted on a daily basis. I hope that you never experience the death of a loved one who laid their life down for this country and was never mentioned in the news, much less had government offices fly the flag they died for at half mast!

ken

THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT IS NOT LOWERING THE FLAG .

The state of NJ is HONORING a citizen of NJ who did a lot of good things for the people and state of NJ. .

People need to stop trying to change the facts so that there argument sounds less ridiculous simply to argue it .

OBAMA did not order the flags lowered the GOVERNOR ORDERED FLAGS IN HER HOME STATE LOWERED .

jim

the flag code of the united states does not allow for lowering the flag for all persons it is very specific on who and when it can be lowered

Dill

Here’s a bit of what I found out about the American Flag being flown at half-staff.

The flag is only displayed at half-staff by presidential decree or act of Congress.

Was there a presidential decree, was there an act of Congress???? or was this just done because Christie decided to do it?
Sorry, but Miss Houston DOES NOT deserve that kind of recognition.

Robert

I am a former resident of New Jersey, and I feel this is an insult to all the people who deserved to have the flag lowered for their accomplishments. There are many people who do wonderful things to aid the people of New Jersey, but they are not having flags lowered for them. I was a big fan of Whiten Houston, and I loved her as an artist. However, she should be honored as a resident of New Jersey, but lowering flags in her honor is a bit much.
Jerry “Butch” McDonald

I am a Vietnam Veteran 5th Special Forces, I lost many friends who gave their lives for their Country, I also have many family members who served there and ww2 who have paid and like me are still paying daily for what we did for our Country and do not regret it one bit. I also have been, and I am still in Law Enforcement and work Drugs daily, Also I am a Musician and an Entertainer, nowhere near the scale of Whitney Huston who I believe is one of the finest singers in my generation, but I believe IN NO WAY SHOULD THE FLAG MYSELF AND OTHERS HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR BE USED IN THAT MANNER, THAT IS A DISGRACE TO NOT ONLY ME AND MY FLAG, BUT EVERYONE WHO HAS DEFENDED IT. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO!!!!!!!!PULL YOUR HEAD OUT GOV….
Debra

As a mother of a soldier who is in Afghanistan. I believe what Gov Christie did was AWESOME. I really did not know how much I loved her music till she was gone.I would hear it and be smiling afterwards.She was a Gift to us all from God.We just don’t appreciate what he gives us till it’s gone.She is now singing in Heaven Standing room only. I agree with the Gov. But for the Grace of God go I…..A Mom
Judy

Whitney Houston does deserve to be honored. Lowering our flag is not the way to do it…especially during a time when we have so many people dying to protect our country. Governor Christie is in no way honoring Whiney by starting a controversy that is so emotional to families that have lost a loved one for our country. We love you Whiney..rest in peace!!
B Stevens

So what if she donated alot of money. Think of the soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice defending her right to do what ever she wanted. That money was made when under the influence of drugs. Christie has lost the respect of millions, especially our military. Lower your state flag but not Old Glory. Shame on you.
julie varner

being 2/20 whats done is done, christy broke the law of flag staffing, i feel mr. christy will never be re-elected , only time will tell, he is pompus and ignorant of the very laws he tookk an oath to protect, i have seen too many politicians acting like they are doing it for us when they didnt ask “US”, in the sixties we tookk to the street not we take to the voting polls, sometime i just miss the street activity, the occupy groups dont seem to be making an impact on our disgruntlements, time to unite and tell them its our government not a greedbag for them to feed off of,,,ms. j. varner, st. louis mo.

Sharon

Whiteny Houson does not deserve a flag at half staff.
This is to honor our fallen heroes!
A Johnson

The NJ state flag ok but not the US flag. It’s not appropriate. That is reserved for those who have served our country, provided service to our citizens, etc. And why is the o missing from God?!
Mari N

I wonder what political group put a bug in his ear?? She was an entertainer, no more no less. Take heed what your supporters are saying Christie. Get down off your all mighty throne, listen to the people and take back that stupid,stupid decision. Don’t become more of a jackass than you already are.
jme

I really like Chris Christie, but this is a mistake – the woman was a mjajor crack
addict not a saint, not a hero, nothing.
W. Greene

Good for you Christie for ignoring the hypocrites.

One without sin cast the first stone. . .

jme

you must be a crack lover
Sharon

No one is being a hypocrite. The flags at half staff are flown that way in
honor of heroes, Soldiers, police officers, firefighters, presidents.
Not Whitney Houston, she sang she did nothing to deserve a flag at half saff.
I’m sorry she has passed but lets not disgrace the City of New Jersey by doing
this act by Gov. Christine.

Sharon

oops I meant Christie
I hope he never get re-elected!

JIM MEYER

lower the flag for her no way that is left for heroesnot drug addicts
Bill

It’s not the point of the substance abuse alone…it’s the fact that he’s lowering the flag for a celebrity that lived a questionable life and not a hero, This gesture is reserved for heros and not singers.

ken

By questionable of course you eman

The Whitney Houston Intensive Care Unit is a thirteen bed multidisciplinary unit which provides high technology intervention for children who have experienced trauma or other life-threatening illnesses. The Newark, N.J.-based hospital named its Pediatric Special Care Unit after Whitney Houston due to her giving. Children in respiratory failure can be managed with conventional or high frequency oscillation. Additionally, the unit is capable of providing non-invasive ventilation for patients with neuromuscular ventilatory failure, invasive hemodynamic monitoring for those requiring cardiovascular support and the monitoring and treating of patients with raised intracranial pressure. The PICU supports the only pediatric liver transplantation program in the state of New Jersey as well as the state wide trauma center of University Hospital. Air and ground transport teams are available to children in need of specialized intervention who are brought to University Hospital from throughout New Jersey.

or the fact that

Whitney Houston donated all of her proceeds from the single and home video sales of her Superbowl XXV rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” to benefit Gulf War troops and their families. Whitney’s record company followed suit. Whitney was elected a member of the American Red Cross Board of Directors in 1991

there are many others the fact that some of you only choose to acknowledge that she was a singer and drug addict is ridiculous

Betty Mc Nair

I’m sorry but people have their priorities mixed up. Yes she was from Jersey,
Yes she gave us much enjoyment. That does not mean you give her, what should be reserved for heros, like soilders, police, fireman, good politicians and the like. How about Doctors who save lives everyday and never get noticed, Honor her for her merits in other ways but not by lowering our flag. You want
to lower NJ flag fine but not Old Glory. Sorry Gov. Christy I do not agree with you.

ken

I would say that everyone here who decided to limit the life of this women to singing in drugs has there priorities mixed up.

Just like that mother in the interview claiming she know how Whitney lived through the media .She dont know this women obviously and maybe she shouldve found out more about here before making those claims

jed

>> there but for the grace of G-d go I

Why is God spelled G-d ?

Rob

The custom of substituting the word “God” with G-d in English is based on the traditional practice in Jewish law of giving God’s Hebrew name a high degree of respect and reverence.

Esmerelda

Christie does not belong in office but on a Jersey Shore show.
She was talented, but since then she was talent on drugs.
She is not deserving of any lowering of the flags.
If that is the case, then every veteran returning should get that too,
since they have at least done something heroic.