Christie Blasted Over Whitney Tribute

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has ordered the state's flags lowered to mark the death of Whitney Houston, who was born and raised in Newark. Cue the wingnuts.

Heather Clause, a Richmond, Va.-based blogger who writes about teen moms and was tweeting critical comments, said in a telephone interview that she was appalled by the planned flag-lowering. "It's just such a bad example for people," she said. Clause, 23, said the decision was like saying if someone sings well, drug use doesn't matter and "you can still be an idol." Rebecca Eppelmann, a newspaper copy editor in upstate New York, also tweeted her disgust at the Houston honor, then discussed her views. "It should be for major events," she said. "It's horrible that she passed away. It's not something that should warrant this."

Christie: "I am disturbed by people who believe that because her ultimate demise – and we don't know what is the cause of her death yet – but because of her history of substance abuse that somehow she's forfeited the good things that she did in her life. I just reject that on a human level."

RELATED: New York state legislators were also criticized for a resolution honoring Houston. Objections faded when it was pointed out that Houston donated her national anthem sales to 9/11's first responders.