The Republican party leader, Mitt Romney, has openly condoned shameless public coarseness and disrespect. Be proud, GOP.

Here is how New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Friend of Mitt, treats people. Specifically, a reporter at a press conference:

(CNN) – Reporters were told the governor would only answer questions about a major problem at a water treatment plant, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

Yet one reporter proceeded to ask an unrelated question involving the state legislature, as seen in video of the press conference from Monmouth County.

Christie, cutting him off, said: “Did I say on topic? Are you stupid? On topic, on topic. Next question.”

Then the reporter tried again, so Christie said this, then walked away from the press conference:

“Thank you all very much, and I’m sorry for the idiot over there. Take care.”

If a reporter is persistent, or even impolite, this is the way to handle it:

Imagine what the “librul media” and the GOP would say if President Obama, or even if a 2008 Candidate Obama, had said anything remotely similar to what Christie said. Imagine the 24/7 news cycle outrage.

Know how GOP presidential [sic] candidate Willard Romney feels about Christie’s blatant rudeness? Here’s what he said about it at a Tuesday fundraiser:

“That man really is something, you know that? I was hoping someone in here would start to heckle him so I could watch him go to town here. But you know better, don’t ya? What an extraordinary leader.“

So to Romney, an “extraordinary leader” is someone who insults people who challenge him, without ever answering the actual questions of course.

Had Candidate Obama encouraged such behavior from a possible running mate, we’d see a super PAC smear campaign air within hours. And should President Obama ever say the same thing about a vulgar surrogate, there would be calls for his impeachment.