New Round of Steve Rothman Endorsements

Looks like a good problem to have. (3.00 / 1)

TWO well respected and qualified men vying for the same votes.  The voters in Bergen who know Rothman support him and the voters in Passaic who know Pascrell support him.  I don't plan on helping folks put either of these men down.  We would be well served if EITHER man won this race.  We should treat this like two qualified candidates going for the same job.  One can win WITHOUT destroying the other. I know a campaign can be won without going negative - I've done it.  Lets hope this continues with both men putting their best foot forward in a race that stays civil.  Because the ULTIMATE fight is still going to be in November and we can't give this seat away - we've already lost one already.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 20:39:10 PM UTC

define "going negative" (0.00 / 1)

I think that it is important that progressives know that Pascrell voted to ban late-term abortions while someone else here thinks that it is important that progressives know that Rothman voted for as he/she described them "job-killing" trade agreements (I guess that the ones that both Pascrell and Rothman voted for were job-creating trade agreements).

Is that "going negative" or comparing and contrasting their voting records?  Am I "going negative" when I say that Pascrell was the last Democratic congressman in NJ to agree to sponsor the DOMA repeal legislation and had to be shamed into doing it by Blue Jersey's own Jerseyfresh Jay Lassiter?

Despite the fact that their percentages and raw scores would have us believe that Pascrell and Rothman are equally progressive, based on my experience when I worked for Pascrell back in 2000, I am willing to bet that Pascrell's score is heavy on good labor votes and light on good votes on other issues, while Rothman's voting record is more of that of a full-spectrum progressive.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 21:55:53 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

It sounds as if you have personal issues (0.00 / 0)

against Pascrell specifically that may have nothing to do with his fitness for the office.  Using abortion as a wedge issue is something Republicans do.  Honestly, Bert, you are exasperating lately.  With friends like you, who needs Republicans?

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 22:07:37 PM UTC

I meant to respond to Bert's comment here. (0.00 / 0)

This will be my last response to Bert on this topic.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 22:11:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

wedge issue? (0.00 / 0)

This is a progressive blog.  Progressives tend to support a woman's right to choose and marriage equality.  When a Democrat tends to be weak on these issues, we tend to talk about it here.  I don't know why that is such a big deal.  Whomever wins this primary is going to win the general election, so it should be open season on them until there is a winner.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Thu Jan 12, 2012 at 22:23:59 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

So, you've declared "open season" (0.00 / 0)

on Pascrell, who has broad Democratic support.  The Dems in the 9th don't need your kind of help. What did Pacsrell personally do to you to inspire that kind of wrath?  Especially if you are going to snipe from the sidelines while you have a decent Congressman (Holt) that you are in no danger of losing.  Your incessant harping and sniping at Pascrell and other Blue Jersey Bloggers is really starting to depress me.

One Vote.  Yours.  It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 14:41:36 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

sniping? (0.00 / 1)

I am sorry to depress you, Carol, but it isn't like I am making things up.  Pascrell was the one who voted for a ban on late-term abortions and who had to be dragged, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century on the issue of marriage equality.  Why is it wrong to hold him accountable for his social conservativism?

He didn't do anything to me personally when I worked for him, but being on the inside, I saw that he was someone who was not particularly progressive, except for his support for organized labor and their concerns.  Otherwise, he was pretty weak.  I also found that he was not someone who was nearly as interested in being a leader on any of the important issues of the day, but instead, was more interested in deal-making and horse-trading, which enabled him to deliver a lot of pork to his district.

I could be wrong, but I am going to guess that both my soon-to-be former congressman, Frank Pallone, and my soon-to-be congressman, Rush Holt, lag behind Pascrell when it comes to bringing home the bacon, but I would prefer to have a representative in congress who is a leader on the issues that are important to me than one who gives me things that I may or may not need.

Mind you, I understand that others might feel differently about this.  We are all entitled to rate our elected officials based on the criteria of our own choosing.  Other people who have worked for Pascrell in the past choose to ignore the fact that he is not nearly as progressive as they are and that is their choice.  I did not work for him that long to feel the need to share their blind loyalty.

I understand that what depresses you most is the fact that you're represented by Scott Garrett, but rather than allow that to depress you, I think that you should get excited about the fact that yours could be the only district in the state that is represented by a Democratic congresswoman a year from now.  I think that Connie Wagner is going to run and I think that she has a good chance to win.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Jan 13, 2012 at 15:50:34 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Bill Pascrell (0.00 / 0)

has taken on traumatic brain injury as an issue. It may not be in issue important to the vast majority, but it's an issue that requires our attention. In a political body of 435 members, finding an issue with broad appeal is sometimes difficult.
Bill Pascrell is essentially a constituent oriented Congressman, and he's represented me well, despite my disagreement with some of his votes. Politics is the art of compromise. Another way to characterize the pork Bill Pascrell has brought to his district is jobs, and if you like fewer people employed, Pascrell may not be your guy.  

Restore democracy and the Constitution for which it stands.

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by: The Wizard @ Sat Jan 14, 2012 at 01:06:30 AM UTC