Gov. Christie's mixed history with Brzezinski-Hoffer family

Gov. Chris Christie never fails to get a fawning reception from Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski when he appears on the MSNBC program “Morning Joe.” But not everyone in the Brzezinski household holds the Republican governor in such high regard.

Christie tangled with Brzezinski’s husband, Jim Hoffer, of WABC in New York, at a news conference Tuesday in Long Branch when the TV reporter challenged how the administration distributed foreclosure funds.

Hoffer wanted to know why the state had distributed only $4 million of $300 million in federal funds from a program called Hardest Hit. Christie said a moratorium on foreclosures slowed the program (though days he later clarified that the once-troubled program has now given out $40 million).

“I’m not sure that really rings true,” Hoffer shouted.

His voice rising before a crowd gathered for a school groundbreaking, Christie said, “If you don’t think it rings true, it’s not a question.”

In the brief back-and-forth, Christie told Hoffer to get his facts straight. “Listen, do me a favor, don’t show up once in every blue moon and think you’re going to dominate my press conference,” he said before moving on.

In the end, the reporter seemed to have gotten what he wanted. The Auditor overheard Hoffer whisper to a Christie aide, “He misplayed it, didn’t he?”