This really is pathetic:
New Jersey‘s Republican gubernatorial nominee is using a novel approach to appeal to the state's Democrat-leaning electorate without angering the GOP base — and he’s letting the base in on it. “I'm never gonna disrespect the base, but you guys got to give me a little wiggle room” Jack Ciattarelli told a conservative crowd at a gun range in historically Republican Hunterdon County late last month, according to video footage obtained by POLITICO. “Give me a little wiggle room to spend time going to places Republicans typically don't go. And give me a little wiggle room on how to talk about issues. Because the goal is to win.” Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker who developed a reputation as a moderate, said he told an audience the same thing in even-redder Ocean County — the most pro-Trump county in the state. “What I told them is, if you see me here too often, we're gonna lose,” he said at the gun range. Ciattarelli has tried to walk this tightrope since launching his underdog campaign for governor in early 2020. It’s only gotten more challenging since he won the Republican primary last month after two candidates who ran to his right as Donald Trump acolytes split the MAGA vote. It’s also been a common strategy for any Republican running statewide in deep blue New Jersey.
New Jersey‘s Republican gubernatorial nominee is using a novel approach to appeal to the state's Democrat-leaning electorate without angering the GOP base — and he’s letting the base in on it.
“I'm never gonna disrespect the base, but you guys got to give me a little wiggle room” Jack Ciattarelli told a conservative crowd at a gun range in historically Republican Hunterdon County late last month, according to video footage obtained by POLITICO. “Give me a little wiggle room to spend time going to places Republicans typically don't go. And give me a little wiggle room on how to talk about issues. Because the goal is to win.”
Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker who developed a reputation as a moderate, said he told an audience the same thing in even-redder Ocean County — the most pro-Trump county in the state.
“What I told them is, if you see me here too often, we're gonna lose,” he said at the gun range.
Ciattarelli has tried to walk this tightrope since launching his underdog campaign for governor in early 2020. It’s only gotten more challenging since he won the Republican primary last month after two candidates who ran to his right as Donald Trump acolytes split the MAGA vote. It’s also been a common strategy for any Republican running statewide in deep blue New Jersey.
The problem for Ciattarelli is when you make comments like this:
The Republican nominee for governor in New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli, is vowing to roll back school curricula that centers LGTBQ inclusivity, falsely claiming that “sexual orientation” is being taught to kindergarteners and sixth graders are learning “sodomy.” The comments, made during a campaign stop at a gun range last month according to a video obtained by Gothamist/WNYC, were criticized by the state’s gay-rights group, Garden State Equality. Sodomy is a term referring to sexual acts that people of all sexual orientations engage in, but it has historically been used to equate homosexuality with deviancy, and anti-sodomy laws were long used to prosecute people for their sexual orientation. Ciattarelli is a former Republican assemblyman who last month defeated two more conservative candidates in a GOP primary. He will face Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in November. At the June 26th event, Ciattarelli said: “I feel lucky [our kids] are in their 20s and I don't have to be dealing with what you're dealing with right now. You won't have to deal with it when I'm governor, but we're not teaching gender ID and sexual orientation to kindergarteners. We're not teaching sodomy in sixth grade. And we're going to roll back the LGBTQ curriculum. It goes too far.”
The Republican nominee for governor in New Jersey, Jack Ciattarelli, is vowing to roll back school curricula that centers LGTBQ inclusivity, falsely claiming that “sexual orientation” is being taught to kindergarteners and sixth graders are learning “sodomy.”
The comments, made during a campaign stop at a gun range last month according to a video obtained by Gothamist/WNYC, were criticized by the state’s gay-rights group, Garden State Equality. Sodomy is a term referring to sexual acts that people of all sexual orientations engage in, but it has historically been used to equate homosexuality with deviancy, and anti-sodomy laws were long used to prosecute people for their sexual orientation.
Ciattarelli is a former Republican assemblyman who last month defeated two more conservative candidates in a GOP primary. He will face Democratic Governor Phil Murphy in November. At the June 26th event, Ciattarelli said:
“I feel lucky [our kids] are in their 20s and I don't have to be dealing with what you're dealing with right now. You won't have to deal with it when I'm governor, but we're not teaching gender ID and sexual orientation to kindergarteners. We're not teaching sodomy in sixth grade. And we're going to roll back the LGBTQ curriculum. It goes too far.”
It’s kind of hard to win over more moderate voters in a Blue State like New Jersey. Not to mention, Ciattarelli is already trying to use fear mongering to win people over:
In recent weeks, former state lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli has blamed Murphy for “lawlessness” along the Jersey Shore, claiming that local police have been “disarmed” by Murphy and his former attorney general. A recent high profile endorsement from former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned of “rising crime” in the state. And last week, he released a new ad that claims Murphy is “anti-police” and that “it’s Phil Murphy’s fault” crime is happening in New Jersey. “Crime is up across the state,” Ciattarelli said in an interview, overstating what has been a more localized issue. “All the progressive rhetoric of defunding, disbanding and reimagining police also contributes to what we're seeing in our communities throughout the state. Our local law enforcement need to know that the governor and attorney general have their back.” A focus on public safety has proven successful in recent races across the country. Some argue that Democrats lost seats in the House of Representatives in part by being associated with the “defund the police” movement. And with Eric Adam’s mayoral primary victory in New York City last month —an outcome he achieved largely through a public safety message — some see an issue that appeals to voters across the political spectrum. The deployment of that approach against Murphy — the only governor facing reelection this year — offers another test of the strategy’s effectiveness ahead of the 2022 midterms. Three dozen states hold governor’s races next year, and most of Congress will be on the ballot. Ciattarelli’s path to the governor's mansion depends on winning over moderates and independents in New Jersey, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than a million registered voters. Murphy holds a 15-point lead in the most recent public opinion poll. A recent Rutgers Eagleton poll also shows that Murphy gets middling poll results on crime and drugs. And with 78 percent of Americans believing that violent crime is a “major problem,” there's room for Ciattarelli to win support — or at least energize his Republican base — with the aggressive messaging. “When you see New York City Democrats voting for the law and order candidate who is a former cop … you know crime is an issue with the voters,” said New Jersey state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union), a moderate Republican who is running for state Senate. Statistics paint a more complicated picture of crime in New Jersey. Overall incidents of crime dropped in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020 by around 15 percent, though homicides — a very small portion of total crime — increased by around 40 percent, according to preliminary State Police crime data. Gun violence so far this year, measured by shooting hits and homicides, is also up 41 percent compared to the same time in 2020 and 51 percent compared to 2018, according to data from State Police. But associating crime with Murphy could prove difficult, in part because the uptick in shootings and homicides has been seen in cities across the country. And Murphy’s administration has also shied from calls to defund the police — his lieutenant governor told police last fall that “we will never defund you” and former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has said law enforcement needs more funding.
In recent weeks, former state lawmaker Jack Ciattarelli has blamed Murphy for “lawlessness” along the Jersey Shore, claiming that local police have been “disarmed” by Murphy and his former attorney general. A recent high profile endorsement from former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned of “rising crime” in the state. And last week, he released a new ad that claims Murphy is “anti-police” and that “it’s Phil Murphy’s fault” crime is happening in New Jersey.
“Crime is up across the state,” Ciattarelli said in an interview, overstating what has been a more localized issue. “All the progressive rhetoric of defunding, disbanding and reimagining police also contributes to what we're seeing in our communities throughout the state. Our local law enforcement need to know that the governor and attorney general have their back.”
A focus on public safety has proven successful in recent races across the country. Some argue that Democrats lost seats in the House of Representatives in part by being associated with the “defund the police” movement. And with Eric Adam’s mayoral primary victory in New York City last month —an outcome he achieved largely through a public safety message — some see an issue that appeals to voters across the political spectrum.
The deployment of that approach against Murphy — the only governor facing reelection this year — offers another test of the strategy’s effectiveness ahead of the 2022 midterms. Three dozen states hold governor’s races next year, and most of Congress will be on the ballot.
Ciattarelli’s path to the governor's mansion depends on winning over moderates and independents in New Jersey, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than a million registered voters. Murphy holds a 15-point lead in the most recent public opinion poll.
A recent Rutgers Eagleton poll also shows that Murphy gets middling poll results on crime and drugs. And with 78 percent of Americans believing that violent crime is a “major problem,” there's room for Ciattarelli to win support — or at least energize his Republican base — with the aggressive messaging.
“When you see New York City Democrats voting for the law and order candidate who is a former cop … you know crime is an issue with the voters,” said New Jersey state Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-Union), a moderate Republican who is running for state Senate.
Statistics paint a more complicated picture of crime in New Jersey. Overall incidents of crime dropped in the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020 by around 15 percent, though homicides — a very small portion of total crime — increased by around 40 percent, according to preliminary State Police crime data. Gun violence so far this year, measured by shooting hits and homicides, is also up 41 percent compared to the same time in 2020 and 51 percent compared to 2018, according to data from State Police.
But associating crime with Murphy could prove difficult, in part because the uptick in shootings and homicides has been seen in cities across the country. And Murphy’s administration has also shied from calls to defund the police — his lieutenant governor told police last fall that “we will never defund you” and former Attorney General Gurbir Grewal has said law enforcement needs more funding.
Meanwhile, Murphy is already getting cross over support:
Republican Mayor Anthony E. Vaz said his reason for endorsing Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy's re-election bid is simple: the governor "supports our community." "It's no secret that I am a conservative Republican and he is a progressive Democrat," Vaz said. Vaz's endorsement drew the scorn of Matt Rooney, editor of the conservative news blog Save Jersey, who sent out a tweet saying he'll support any Republican who "wants to step up and challenge" the mayor in the 2023 GOP primary. Vaz declined to comment on Rooney's statement. As for the governor, Vaz said he believes Murphy has "done a lot for Seaside. I have to appreciate that...I have to focus on my constituents," and that's why he chose to endorse him instead of Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. Vaz cited as examples the "good communication" from the governor's office during the pandemic, assistance from the state when YouTube stars the Nelk Boys drew more than 2,000 people to town for an unauthorized event, and help in restoring power to the town after storms last year.
Republican Mayor Anthony E. Vaz said his reason for endorsing Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy's re-election bid is simple: the governor "supports our community."
"It's no secret that I am a conservative Republican and he is a progressive Democrat," Vaz said.
Vaz's endorsement drew the scorn of Matt Rooney, editor of the conservative news blog Save Jersey, who sent out a tweet saying he'll support any Republican who "wants to step up and challenge" the mayor in the 2023 GOP primary.
Vaz declined to comment on Rooney's statement.
As for the governor, Vaz said he believes Murphy has "done a lot for Seaside. I have to appreciate that...I have to focus on my constituents," and that's why he chose to endorse him instead of Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli.
Vaz cited as examples the "good communication" from the governor's office during the pandemic, assistance from the state when YouTube stars the Nelk Boys drew more than 2,000 people to town for an unauthorized event, and help in restoring power to the town after storms last year.
Murphy’s really been a terrific Governor helping his state through the pandemic:
A New Jersey appeals court ruled Tuesday that Gov. Phil Murphy didn’t overstep his authority when he issued an executive order last year allowing tenants to use their security deposits to pay rent. The ruling rejected arguments by several businesses and individual landlords who argued Murphy wasn't authorized to issue the order in April 2020 and that their due process rights were violated. In a tweet, Acting State Attorney General Andrew Bruck praised the ruling and said Murphy's executive order “supported renters and helped keep them in their homes.” The attorney general's office argued the case on behalf of Murphy, a Democrat; former attorney general Gurbir Grewal and state health commissioner Judy Persichilli, who also were named as defendants. Under Murphy's order, landlords were still entitled to reimbursement for expenses that would have been covered by a security deposit, and tenants were obligated to replenish the deposit in full if they renewed the lease. In its 48-page ruling, the three-judge panel concluded that while the state's Emergency Health Powers Act didn't authorize Murphy to issue the order “because it was not directly related to the public health,” the Disaster Control Act — originally aimed at war emergencies but later expanded — did confer that authority.
A New Jersey appeals court ruled Tuesday that Gov. Phil Murphy didn’t overstep his authority when he issued an executive order last year allowing tenants to use their security deposits to pay rent.
The ruling rejected arguments by several businesses and individual landlords who argued Murphy wasn't authorized to issue the order in April 2020 and that their due process rights were violated.
In a tweet, Acting State Attorney General Andrew Bruck praised the ruling and said Murphy's executive order “supported renters and helped keep them in their homes.” The attorney general's office argued the case on behalf of Murphy, a Democrat; former attorney general Gurbir Grewal and state health commissioner Judy Persichilli, who also were named as defendants.
Under Murphy's order, landlords were still entitled to reimbursement for expenses that would have been covered by a security deposit, and tenants were obligated to replenish the deposit in full if they renewed the lease.
In its 48-page ruling, the three-judge panel concluded that while the state's Emergency Health Powers Act didn't authorize Murphy to issue the order “because it was not directly related to the public health,” the Disaster Control Act — originally aimed at war emergencies but later expanded — did confer that authority.
And he’s not afraid to do what’s necessary:
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday urged the state’s unvaccinated residents to get a Covid shot, telling CNBC in an interview that he hopes there will be no need to reimplement public health restrictions such as mask mandates. The Democratic governor’s comments on “Squawk Box” come as U.S. coronavirus cases are rising sharply, while the highly contagious delta variant circulates. However, the recent daily new infection average level remains far below the nation’s peak earlier this year. The rise in infections is particularly impacting areas with low rates of vaccination, according to U.S. officials. President Joe Biden said last week, “Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated.” Murphy used similar language in his CNBC interview Tuesday. “We’ve got probably 350 folks in our hospital. We keep them in our prayers. But I venture to say, they’re all unvaccinated,. So I would just continue to ... plead with people to get vaccinated.” “The variants are all over our state,” he said. “I would beg people to get vaccinated, and if they do so, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get Covid. But it does mean, overwhelmingly, you’re going to stay out of the hospital and please God stay alive.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday urged the state’s unvaccinated residents to get a Covid shot, telling CNBC in an interview that he hopes there will be no need to reimplement public health restrictions such as mask mandates.
The Democratic governor’s comments on “Squawk Box” come as U.S. coronavirus cases are rising sharply, while the highly contagious delta variant circulates. However, the recent daily new infection average level remains far below the nation’s peak earlier this year.
The rise in infections is particularly impacting areas with low rates of vaccination, according to U.S. officials. President Joe Biden said last week, “Look, the only pandemic we have is among the unvaccinated.”
Murphy used similar language in his CNBC interview Tuesday. “We’ve got probably 350 folks in our hospital. We keep them in our prayers. But I venture to say, they’re all unvaccinated,. So I would just continue to ... plead with people to get vaccinated.”
“The variants are all over our state,” he said. “I would beg people to get vaccinated, and if they do so, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get Covid. But it does mean, overwhelmingly, you’re going to stay out of the hospital and please God stay alive.”
Hence why Murphy has high approval ratings:
NJ GOV (Fairleigh Dickinson Univ): Gov Phil Murphy (D) 48%, Jack Ciattarelli (R) 33%, Other 4%— Politics1.com (@Politics1com) July 20, 2021
NJ GOV (Fairleigh Dickinson Univ): Gov Phil Murphy (D) 48%, Jack Ciattarelli (R) 33%, Other 4%
Democracy is on the ballot and we need to keep up the momentum to keep New Jersey Blue. Click below to donate and get involved with Murphy and his fellow New Jersey Democrats campaigns:
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