Did ‘Time’ Magazine ‘do an O.J.’ on Chris Christie?

Chris Christie hates his cover on Time. We asked readers on Facebook what they thought: Do you agree with Christie that the magazine cover is “unkind”?

“The Boss”? With this picture, it doesn’t seem like we’re talking about Bruce Springsteen.

N.J. Gov. Chris Christie will appear on the cover of this week’s Time. The article is about Christie’s rise as a popular governor and a likely 2016 GOP presidential candidate.

He hates the cover. He says the stark expressionless close-up with the headline “The boss” makes him look like a mob boss. He told radio personality Don Imus Wednesday morning, “I’m reporting Time Magazine to the, like, anti-Italian defamation league. I mean, look at that thing.”

We asked readers on Facebook what they thought: Do you agree with Christie that the magazine cover is “unkind”?

Tell us in the comments below.

Time got into trouble in 1994 when it showed O.J. Simpson’s darkened photo on its cover. It was obvious to everyone, because Newsweek had used the same photo, but in their version you could see his face.

After filtering out the unfunny fat jokes, here are some of the responses we got.

The country needs more leaders like the Guv!—Mike Readey

Playing on stereotypes is lazy journalism.—Terrie Lynn Bittner

Wish we had leadership in Pennsylvania.—Craig Brewster

I think he’s got a point.—Josh Kodroff

LOVE LOVE LOVE this photo of him. He’s a tough guy & I like that.—Scooter Phoenix

Yeah, not exactly a flattering cover.—Adam Lang

TIME… really? the cover? Not deserved.—Christopher Rebs

I say ride those SOPRANOS comparisons all the way to the White House if you can.—Matt Stevenson

Fits his image. I love it and so should he.—Dennis Sussman

I’m Italian, but I took it as a Springsteen reference, him being the fanboy and all.—Amy Z. Quinn (PlanPhilly reporter and NewsWorks contributor)

Pretty accurate depiction, IMO…—David Orban

It clearly is a Mob reference but who cares? I’m Italian, very proud of my heritage and over sensitivity to these things diverts attention from the fact that Chris Christie is the best Governor my neighbor state has had since, well, never mind. The best. Plus, despite his momentary lapse of gooey bromance with Barack Obama, Christie has hit the pitch perfect tone: a Governor who cares about his state and doesn’t give a damn about the critics. Take the gun, leave the tomato.—Christine Flowers (Daily News columnist and NewsWorks contriubutor)

he looks like a made for tv mob boss……—Jimmy Frank

Tony Danza would have been better with that headline. We don’t need politicians portrayed as thugs. Styled in a tracksuit and a beat up Cadillac, priceless!—Travis Skidmore

How awful. It does imply mob boss.—Zeta Cross

My thoughts went to Springsteen. I think that (as is often the case) Mr. Christie is being overly-sensitive.—Brian Hagan

I dont like the cover at all!!! Im impressed with christy’s efforts. He shows compassion for his state while meaning business. This cover doesnt show his compassionate side at all.—Caile McDonald

Two fellows took up the issue of Italian heritage brought up by Christine Flowers in her assessment. And she responded in kind.

Christine Flowers you are ridiculous. I don’t care about the Time cover but to say the Mob is part of your Italian heritage is just ridiculous. I suppose you think prostitution is part of being a woman. Like I said, you are ridiculous.—Al Patrick

Chrissie: Like saying Rizzo was a member of the mob. But then again some said he was more Gestapo like than Italian. I liked him did not think too much of his brother but it had nothing to do with their ancestry.—Lou Kessler

Louie, we’ve become too hypersensitive to this stuff. TIME is a liberal rag and I have no patience with it anymore but seriously, how does this presumed ‘slur’ against the Italian community hurt us? Are little Italian kids going to weep and pull their hair out and say ‘Oh dio, they’re never gonna take us seriously, we might as well just go to a tanning salon!’? C’mon. Any Italian who doesn’t have a strong enough love and appreciation for our heritage that they can laugh at some perceived slur isn’t as proud of our heritage as they pretend to be.

And that fellow who made the analogy with women and prostitution? I’m still scratching my Italian-Irish head about that one.—Christine Flowers

What do you think of the cover? Is it fair? Is it unfair?

Do you think Christie secretly loves it, and he’s just riding the publicity? Or did the magazine “do an O.J.” on the governor?

Is this offensive to Italian-Americans? Is it fair to stereoytpe New Jersey as the home of HBO’s fictional mob family “The Sopranos”?

Tell us below.