A rant heard round the Internet world

Time to see if "Batgate" has legs.

Gov. Christie heads to Jackson, N.J., on Tuesday for his first town meeting since Democrats went ballistic over his remark about a female legislator. If there's a Ph.D candidate in journalism needing a dissertation topic, how about analyzing the progression of this story: 

1. On Wednesday, Christie went off at a news conference about Democratic State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, who is getting her legislative salary while collecting a pension from her former Bergen County job. Weinberg has chided Christie for going easy on his ally, Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo (also a double-dipper), so Christie said Weinberg deserved a "hypocrisy award."

2. Christie, nearly screaming, accused the press of giving her a free pass: "Can you guys please take the bat out on her for once? . . . This is my unsolicited advice to the press corps. This is the kind of stuff that drives people crazy about you."

3. The story got scant notice, but the blogs seized it, and a headline - "Gov. says he wants to 'take the bat' to a 76-year-old widow" - made the e-rounds.

4. My e-mail box started filling with outrage. From Democratic State Senate President Stephen Sweeney: "In no way, shape, or form should the phrase take the bat out be used on anyone, much less someone who has dedicated her public life to helping women. . . ." From Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D., Union): The comment was "no different than Sarah Palin telling her supporters 'Don't Retreat - Instead Reload!' " From Weinberg herself: The guv was showing his "insensitivity and poor judgment" on women's issues.

What do you think? Sexist? Big story? Non-story? Let's see if the guv apologizes at his town-hall meeting Tuesday - or if anyone in the crowd even brings it up.