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Posted: 4:47 PM Feb 16, 2012
NJ Gov Strongly Defends Lowering Flags for Houston
Gov. Chris Christie has strongly defended his decision to have flags flown at half-staff Saturday for singer Whitney Houston.
Reporter: From the AP |
Yamda Johnson, watches as her friend Regina Kujemya, both from Staten Island, N.Y. signs a large poster of Whitney Houston. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- Gov. Chris Christie has strongly defended his decision to have flags flown at half-staff Saturday for singer Whitney Houston.
The Republican governor says he rejects complaints that Houston "forfeited the good things that she did" because of her struggles with substance abuse.
"What I would say to everybody is there but for the grace of God go I," he said on Wednesday.
Twitter was abuzz with reaction to Christie's decision. The honor, according to one person, should be reserved for members of the military, first responders and elected officials.
Houston's funeral is Saturday at a Newark church where she sang as a child.
She died in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Saturday at the age of 48.
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