Christie said he wanted libertarians like Paul to come talk to widows in New Jersey. | AP Photos Christie: Rand Paul 'dangerous'

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is ripping libertarians — including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) — for challenging government surveillance programs and failing to understand the dangers of terrorism.

“This strain of libertarianism that’s going through parties right now and making big headlines I think is a very dangerous thought,” the New Jersey GOP governor said on Thursday at a Republican governors forum in Aspen, Colo. “You can name any number of people and (Paul is) one of them.”


Christie, a potential 2016 candidate who appeared on the panel with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, said lawmakers who are questioning government surveillance programs should hear from the families affected by the Sept. 11 attacks.

( PHOTOS: Rand Paul’s career)

“These esoteric, intellectual debates — I want them to come to New Jersey and sit across from the widows and the orphans and have that conversation. And they won’t, because that’s a much tougher conversation to have,” Christie said.

“The next attack that comes, that kills thousands of Americans as a result, people are going to be looking back on the people having this intellectual debate and wondering whether they put …” Christie said before trailing off.

Paul’s office shot back on Friday, saying Christie may need a “new dictionary.”

“If Gov. Christie believes the constitutional rights and the privacy of all Americans is ‘esoteric’, he either needs a new dictionary, or he needs to talk to more Americans, because a great number of them are concerned about the dramatic overreach of our government in recent years,” Doug Stafford, a senior adviser to Paul, said in a statement to POLITICO. “Defending America and fighting terrorism is the concern of all Americans, especially Sen. Paul. But it can and must be done in keeping with our Constitution and while protecting the freedoms that make America exceptional.”

( PHOTOS: Chris Christie’s career)

“In the words of the governor’s favorite lyricist, ‘You know that flag flying over the courthouse, Means certain things are set in stone. Who we are, what we’ll do and what we won’t,’” Stafford added, citing Bruce Springsteen lyrics.

Paul continued the attacks on Twitter, tweeting from his official Senate account on Friday “Christie worries about the dangers of freedom. I worry about the danger of losing that freedom. Spying without warrants is unconstitutional.”

Paul’s campaign account took the jabs a step further on Friday, writing Christie’s last name as (Crist)ie, perhaps as a suggestion that the New Jersey governor is a party switcher, like former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist who switched from the Republican to Democratic party in 2012.

“Chris (Crist)ie thinks freedom is dangerous. Dangerous is borrowing money from China to send to people who burn our flag,” one tweet read.

“Chris (Crist)ie should hear from more Americans who value both security and privacy,” said another.

At the forum in Aspen, Christie also praised President Barack Obama’s and George W. Bush’s policies used to fight terrorism.

“President Obama has done nothing to change the policies of the Bush administration in the war on terrorism. And I mean practically nothing,” he said. “And you know why? Cause they work.”

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