David Greenberg: Chris Christie has to watch himself at the convention

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has been tapped as the keynote speaker for the Republican convention later this month. It’s a high profile slot that can sometimes make or break a political career. David Greenberg, associate professor of history and journalism and media studies in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers University, said Christie will have to adapt his rhetoric to fill the role of statesman at the convention. Greenberg studies the American presidency and its reflection in the media and popular culture. He is author of Nixon’s Shadow: the History of an Image, Presidential Doodles and Calvin Coolidge. He is presently working on a book about the history of political spin.

Rutgers Today: Gov. Chris Christie has been named as the keynote speaker for the Republican National Convention. Why Christie?

Greenberg: Mitt Romney’s main problem is that he’s a flawed messenger for the pro-business agenda of the Republican Party. In his biography and his appearance, he comes across as the embodiment of the so-called 1 percent. Christie, to the extent that he’s popular beyond the Republican base, seems to have more of a common-man appeal than Romney. He may be able to deliver the Republican message in terms that regular people can relate to. His major failing as a messenger, however, is that he often comes across as a bully or a loudmouth. Although a certain amount of vituperation is expected at conventions – last time around it came from Rudy Giuliani - the keynote is usually a time for someone more statesmanlike. Christie will have to find a new form of political rhetoric, one that does not alienate people who disagree with him, to succeed as a keynoter....