Christie: No Regret For 'Idiot' Remark

BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (CBS) — "Just because he was a Navy SEAL doesn't give him the right to be a jerk," said New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Christie said he does not regret his response to Rutgers-Camden law student William Brown at a town hall meeting in Florence Thursday. Brown peppered the governor with questions and comments about the Rutgers-Camden and Rowan University merger that Brown opposes. Christie fired back as Brown was escorted out by police

"Let me tell you something, after you graduate from law school, you conduct yourself like that in a courtroom, your rear end's going to be thrown in jail, idiot." Christie said then.

"Every time I tried to answer, he yelled or started to interrupt, he did it four times," Christie said Monday during a press conference at Bordentown Regional High School where the governor talked about his education reform initiatives. Christie talked with students in a financial literacy class then addressed invited guests and the media in the school's gym.

Brown is a former navy seal and Iraq war veteran who has protested the merger alongside hundreds of fellow students at Rutgers-Camden.

"I honor his service," said Christie.

Christie also pointed out Brown was previously a democratic candidate for an 8th district assembly seat.

"This is a guy with a political agenda who came in and wanted to try and make me look bad. I'm not a heavy bag, I have arms too. You want to punch me, I'll punch you back," said Christie.

The governor's comments Thursday though are still garnering attention. Christie should apologize to Brown, said democratic assembly majority leader Lou Greenwald via Skype Monday afternoon.

"Unfortunately this is not the first time the governor has resorted to name calling. We have passed and he has signed legislation on bullying. The reality is we should not use our positions to bully our point of view," said Greenwald.

Greenwald says elected officials work for the "Mr. Browns" of the world.