In an appearance on ABC News' This Week's Web Extra on January 27, 2013, Facebook co-founder and publisher of The New Republic Chris Hughes answered questions from viewers and said Governor Christie's veto of same-sex marriage matters. The answer came in response to a question about Mark Zuckerberg's hosting of a fundraiser for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Hughes said of Christie's veto, "There are tens of thousands of couples in New Jersey that can't share their love and be recognized under the law because of that decision."

The question came because Governor Christie has been riding a wave of popularity as a result of his response to Hurricane Sandy. He is widely expected to win re-election as governor and then to seek the Republican nomination for President, where his prospects appear somewhat dimmer.

Although Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to host a fundraiser for Christie is apparently an endorsement of the Governor, Hughes said he would have difficulty supporting someone who is opposed to marriage equality.

On February 17, 2012, Christie vetoed New Jersey's marriage equality bill one day after it had been passed by the Democratic-controlled legislature. In his veto message, Christie called for a referendum "on whether to change the definition of marriage in New Jersey."

Hughes has been a creative force in two enormously successful on-line ventures, the social networking site Facebook and the web site My.BarackObama.com, which was key to the President's victory in 2008. In each case, his focus was on the power of community and on facilitating communication among members of groups.

Hughes and his husband Sean Eldridge were married on June 30, 2012 at their home in Garrison, New York. They have lent their voices and resources to the cause of glbtq rights, particularly marriage equality.

In March 2012, Hughes announced that he had acquired a majority stake in The New Republic and would become the liberal journal's publisher and editor-in-chief.

He said at the time that his motive in purchasing the journal was his interest in "the future of high-quality long-form journalism" and by an instinct that such journalism was a natural fit for tablet computers like the iPad. He said he would "expand the amount of rigorous reporting and solid analysis" that the magazine produces and that, while he does not intend to end the printed publication, he expects that "five to 10 years from now, if not sooner, the vast majority of The New Republic readers are likely to be reading it on a tablet."

In addition to the question regarding Zuckerberg's fundraiser for Christie, readers also asked about Hughes's contributions to Facebook, his plans for The New Republic, and his recent interview with President Obama.