The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey,
in which I take a look at some of the Republican presidential hopefuls and assess
how the 2016 GOP field may take shape:
THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL WANNABES
By:
N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
To a certain extent, running for President of the United States is
a glorified popularity contest. As we know, it is not always the best and the
brightest who seek to secure the highest political office in the nation. While
there are certainly some truly brilliant individuals who excel in the areas of
public policy, international affairs, and the inner workings of the
governmental process, intelligence alone will not propel you to the ultimate political
prize.
In order to become president, there are a variety of character
traits that are unofficial prerequisites. Charisma and charm are on the list.
Good looks and good health are up there. An incredibly thick skin that can
withstand even the most brutal of criticism is essential. An unassailable track
record certainly helps. And the ability to raise ungodly amounts of money could
very well be the determining factor.
With those somewhat superficial criteria, it is difficult to weed
out the presidential wannabes who may not actually be up to the monumental task
of running this country. The reality is, however, that this nation desperately
needs a superstar, not a second-stringer.
As we gear up for the 2016 presidential campaign and brace
ourselves for a highly competitive contest, we ought to take a closer look at
some of the Republican names being bantered about as possible presidential
hopefuls.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is considering entering the race,
tested the waters in the 2012 primaries for the Republican nomination but his
run was short-lived and filled with gaffes. No one will easily forget that
embarrassing debate performance when Perry emphatically declared that he would
eliminate three governmental agencies after he took office, yet was only able
to name two of those agencies.
Mitt Romney’s name is being floated as a possible GOP candidate.
After falling short in his bid to be the GOP nominee in 2008, Romney was the
Republican nominee in 2012, when he lost to Barack Obama in the General
Election. Would Romney really want to endure the stress and scrutiny of yet
another presidential campaign? Does he want to run the risk of being a
three-time loser in presidential politics? My guess is no.
Senator Ted Cruz is working his way into the conversation. Yet,
with his Tea Part label and ultra-conservative makeup, will the darling of the
Republican right be considered a viable candidate? Not if moderate Republicans
have anything to say about it.
After watching his father and brother bask in the glow of the
presidency, is it possible that Jeb Bush is looking to score the presidential
hat trick for his family? The word is that he is indeed contemplating a run for
the White House. However, with the expansion of his private equity enterprise
and news that he has a new offshore private equity fund that is backed by
foreign investors, Jeb Bush is highly susceptible to attacks pertaining to his
financial dealings. In addition, it remains to be seen if the nation is ready
for yet another Bush to occupy the Oval Office.
There are definitely some intriguing GOP stars who may throw their
hats into the ring. Senator Rand Paul looks increasingly likely to launch a
presidential bid. Senator Marco Rubio, who has solidified his spot as an expert
on foreign relations and national security, is reportedly contemplating a run,
as is Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
Yet, perhaps the most fascinating potential GOP candidate hails
from our very own backyard. Governor Chris Christie has spent the past several
years methodically laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign. His
tenure as chairman of the Republican Governors Association was incredibly
successful and raised his profile exponentially. His trips to Israel, Mexico,
and Canada were intended to buttress his foreign affairs resume, which is relatively
thin at this point. Christie’s no-nonsense approach may endear him to some, but
his periodic tirades directed at members of the public and his “my way or the
highway” approach have led to him being labeled a bully.
But for all of the issues that pull at Chris Christie, the one thing
that could potentially lead to his political demise is the Bridgegate scandal.
The controversy continues to percolate in the news, despite Christie’s adamant
denials that he had no knowledge of the George Washington Bridge lane closures.
Taxpayers have had to bear the burden of nearly $10 million in costs relating
to the investigations that ensued in the aftermath of Bridgegate, including
more than $7 million by the Governor’s office and over $1 million by the legislative
committee investigating the lane closures. The shadow of Bridgegate continues
to cast an ominous pall over Chris Christie and his presidential prospects.
The New York Times recently reported that Paul Fishman, the United
States Attorney for New Jersey, who is investigating Bridgegate, is considering
invoking a somewhat obscure fraud statute in connection with this case. Under
this theory, federal charges could be filed against members of a government
agency that receives in excess of $10,000 annually in federal funds, such as
the State of New Jersey or the Port Authority, if it is determined that the
bridge was utilized for something other than what it was intended to be used
for.
This latest revelation is a stark reminder that the Bridgegate
chapter in the tale of Chris Christie’s political career is not yet over. How
it ultimately ends remains to be seen, but it unquestionably has the ability to
singlehandedly quash Christie’s presidential plans.
As the GOP presidential aspirants jockey for position, there are
indications that the person they worry about most is not a Republican, but a
Democrat.
A recent story in The New York Times noted how the prospective
Republican candidates are each strategizing how they are going to attack the
one Democratic candidate who they all believe will present them with the
biggest challenge: Hillary Clinton.
As the 2016 presidential campaign begins to get underway, let us
hope that the GOP candidates will spend more time telling us who they are,
instead of focusing on telling us who they are not. With no clear GOP
headliner, the Republican candidates need to distinguish themselves from one
another and tell us why they are best person for the job. This cannot merely be
a popularity contest or an anti-Hillary skirmish. With real issues facing this
nation, we need a real candidate to rise above the fray and pursue the mantle
of leadership for all of the right reasons.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul
Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm.
Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or
www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter:@troodler
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Lessons From Ferguson
The following is
my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I look back at
the grand jury’s decision not to indict the white police officer in Ferguson
who shot an unarmed black teenager and the violent protests that ensued:
LESSONS FROM FERGUSON
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Innocent until proven guilty. As Americans, we are intimately familiar with this fundamental precept of the justice system. We may form opinions as to an individual’s innocence or guilt in any particular case, but until the matter is adjudicated in a court of law, our personal judgments carry virtually no significance. The court of public opinion is always in session, but it is the court of law whose decision is ultimately binding.
When the grand jury opted not to indict Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown, their much-awaited decision reverberated throughout the nation. The jurors’ conclusion that Wilson, a white police officer who shot and killed Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was not guilty of any crime, was met with shock and utter disbelief by many.
We need to bear in mind that the twelve jurors were privy to details of the incident that the public was not necessarily aware of. They listened to more than seventy hours of testimony and heard from sixty witnesses. The grand jury also did their due diligence by analyzing all of the physical evidence associated with this case. They ultimately rendered a decision which some may disagree with, but which we need to respect.
However, after the grand jury’s decision was made public, chaos ensued. The streets of Ferguson, Missouri were instantly transformed into a veritable war zone. Hundreds of protestors took to the streets to protest the verdict, but any hopes for a peaceful demonstration quickly dissipated as pandemonium reared its ugly head.
The protestors torched police cars and threw objects at police officers. Gunshots were fired, stores were broken into and looted, and a number of businesses were damaged or destroyed by fires set by the protestors. More than sixty people were arrested for a variety of criminal acts. The Ferguson Police Department and the Missouri National Guard tried to disperse the crowds and restore order to the area, but to no avail. The damage was already done.
The violent reaction in Ferguson was appalling. Law and order were put on the back burner in favor of violence and crime. To be clear, I understand why people were disappointed. What I fail to understand is how that disappointment gives license to engage in destruction.
You can disagree with a judicial decision and you can express your displeasure through a peaceful protest. But under no circumstances is it acceptable for your anger and displeasure to manifest itself through violence.
The chaotic situation in Ferguson almost threatened to overshadow the real issue that we ought to be discussing, which is that of race.
Let us not fool ourselves. A racial division still exists in the United States even today. We have a long way to go before we can bridge that ugly divide and achieve a sense of true parity in American society.
Putting an end to prejudice at times appears to be an insurmountable hurdle. There are individuals who possess an inherent sense of bigotry that is part of their very essence. There are undoubtedly people in law enforcement who harbor prejudicial feelings towards blacks. The challenge is how to suppress those innate feelings and get to a place where skin color no longer matters.
I am not a black man who has been stopped by the police perhaps for no other reason than because of the color of his skin. I do not know how it feels to be questioned by a police officer because he thought that I was in the wrong part of town where I did not belong. I have never experienced that feeling of being fearful of law enforcement.
I may not be black, but I am Jewish. As Jews, we unfortunately know how it feels to be persecuted. We are well aware of how it feels to have a bulls-eye on our backs. Our community, perhaps more so than most, should be particularly sympathetic to the dangers that bigotry poses to society.
In fact, the American Jewish community has a long history of standing with the black community in their quest for equal rights. Jews played a pivotal role in the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Jews took part in the famous 1963 March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and were instrumental in its organization. Jews marched side-by-side with Dr. King in the 1965 March on Selma, Alabama.
The Jewish community has stood with the black community before and perhaps it is time for us to do so again.
We are all familiar with the expression “justice is blind.” The idea that justice is impartial is a nice theoretical concept, but in reality, I am not so certain that justice is indeed always blind. To be more specific, justice is certainly not color blind. When there are issues of race, it sometimes seems that the objectivity which we cherish is not always there.
As the protestors flooded the streets in Ferguson, they chanted “No justice, no peace,” as if to imply that in the absence of justice, there can be no peace. I beg to differ. There may be situations where justice appears to be elusive, but that in no way dispenses with the need to maintain a sense of decorum and civility. Justice and peace are not mutually exclusive.
In times of discontent and disillusionment, protesting is an ideal way to express your angst. However, the manner in which you protest is the key. You can demonstrate, but do not destroy. Feel free to protest, but do not plunder. Anything but a peaceful rally is counterproductive.
If you want to achieve progress in the quest for racial equity, arson, vandalism, and assault are not the ways to do it. March in the streets, but do it peacefully. Demonstrate, but act within the parameters of the law.
I may not be a black man, but I am a Jew who is disgusted with bigotry, whether it is directed at Jews or anyone else. When the black community rallies to achieve justice and equity, I hope that members of the Jewish community will be there to stand together with you. It is time to put an end to prejudice, wherever and whenever it exits. Let’s just do it peacefully.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter:@troodler
LESSONS FROM FERGUSON
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Innocent until proven guilty. As Americans, we are intimately familiar with this fundamental precept of the justice system. We may form opinions as to an individual’s innocence or guilt in any particular case, but until the matter is adjudicated in a court of law, our personal judgments carry virtually no significance. The court of public opinion is always in session, but it is the court of law whose decision is ultimately binding.
When the grand jury opted not to indict Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown, their much-awaited decision reverberated throughout the nation. The jurors’ conclusion that Wilson, a white police officer who shot and killed Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was not guilty of any crime, was met with shock and utter disbelief by many.
We need to bear in mind that the twelve jurors were privy to details of the incident that the public was not necessarily aware of. They listened to more than seventy hours of testimony and heard from sixty witnesses. The grand jury also did their due diligence by analyzing all of the physical evidence associated with this case. They ultimately rendered a decision which some may disagree with, but which we need to respect.
However, after the grand jury’s decision was made public, chaos ensued. The streets of Ferguson, Missouri were instantly transformed into a veritable war zone. Hundreds of protestors took to the streets to protest the verdict, but any hopes for a peaceful demonstration quickly dissipated as pandemonium reared its ugly head.
The protestors torched police cars and threw objects at police officers. Gunshots were fired, stores were broken into and looted, and a number of businesses were damaged or destroyed by fires set by the protestors. More than sixty people were arrested for a variety of criminal acts. The Ferguson Police Department and the Missouri National Guard tried to disperse the crowds and restore order to the area, but to no avail. The damage was already done.
The violent reaction in Ferguson was appalling. Law and order were put on the back burner in favor of violence and crime. To be clear, I understand why people were disappointed. What I fail to understand is how that disappointment gives license to engage in destruction.
You can disagree with a judicial decision and you can express your displeasure through a peaceful protest. But under no circumstances is it acceptable for your anger and displeasure to manifest itself through violence.
The chaotic situation in Ferguson almost threatened to overshadow the real issue that we ought to be discussing, which is that of race.
Let us not fool ourselves. A racial division still exists in the United States even today. We have a long way to go before we can bridge that ugly divide and achieve a sense of true parity in American society.
Putting an end to prejudice at times appears to be an insurmountable hurdle. There are individuals who possess an inherent sense of bigotry that is part of their very essence. There are undoubtedly people in law enforcement who harbor prejudicial feelings towards blacks. The challenge is how to suppress those innate feelings and get to a place where skin color no longer matters.
I am not a black man who has been stopped by the police perhaps for no other reason than because of the color of his skin. I do not know how it feels to be questioned by a police officer because he thought that I was in the wrong part of town where I did not belong. I have never experienced that feeling of being fearful of law enforcement.
I may not be black, but I am Jewish. As Jews, we unfortunately know how it feels to be persecuted. We are well aware of how it feels to have a bulls-eye on our backs. Our community, perhaps more so than most, should be particularly sympathetic to the dangers that bigotry poses to society.
In fact, the American Jewish community has a long history of standing with the black community in their quest for equal rights. Jews played a pivotal role in the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Jews took part in the famous 1963 March on Washington with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and were instrumental in its organization. Jews marched side-by-side with Dr. King in the 1965 March on Selma, Alabama.
The Jewish community has stood with the black community before and perhaps it is time for us to do so again.
We are all familiar with the expression “justice is blind.” The idea that justice is impartial is a nice theoretical concept, but in reality, I am not so certain that justice is indeed always blind. To be more specific, justice is certainly not color blind. When there are issues of race, it sometimes seems that the objectivity which we cherish is not always there.
As the protestors flooded the streets in Ferguson, they chanted “No justice, no peace,” as if to imply that in the absence of justice, there can be no peace. I beg to differ. There may be situations where justice appears to be elusive, but that in no way dispenses with the need to maintain a sense of decorum and civility. Justice and peace are not mutually exclusive.
In times of discontent and disillusionment, protesting is an ideal way to express your angst. However, the manner in which you protest is the key. You can demonstrate, but do not destroy. Feel free to protest, but do not plunder. Anything but a peaceful rally is counterproductive.
If you want to achieve progress in the quest for racial equity, arson, vandalism, and assault are not the ways to do it. March in the streets, but do it peacefully. Demonstrate, but act within the parameters of the law.
I may not be a black man, but I am a Jew who is disgusted with bigotry, whether it is directed at Jews or anyone else. When the black community rallies to achieve justice and equity, I hope that members of the Jewish community will be there to stand together with you. It is time to put an end to prejudice, wherever and whenever it exits. Let’s just do it peacefully.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter:@troodler
Thursday, November 20, 2014
ISIS on the Rise
The
following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I
write about ISIS and the real threat that it poses to the United States and to
the legacy that President Obama is working to establish during the final years
of his presidency:
ISIS ON THE RISE
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
As he attempts to counteract the characterizations of him as a “lame duck,” President Obama is facing an array of struggles. As the de facto head of the Democratic Party, he suffered an ignominious defeat in the 2014 midterm elections as Democratic candidates across the country were felled by a Republican tsunami that gave the GOP a sweeping mandate and control of the United States Senate. At home, the President is mired in a debate about immigration reform that puts him at odds with the newly empowered Republican congressional leadership. Our Commander-in-Chief is also desperately seeking to avoid a complete collapse of the nuclear talks with Iran, a sensitive international issue that is on the front burner of his foreign policy agenda.
Yet, for all of the political and policy problems that stand in President Obama’s way, there is one issue that essentially trumps everything else. The elephant in the room is the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or “ISIS” as it is commonly known.
What began as an offshoot of al Qaeda has morphed into one of the biggest terrorist threats facing the world today. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS is spreading its brand of terror far and wide.
As a result of a brazen land grab that seemingly took everyone by surprise, ISIS now exerts control over large portions of northern and western Iraq and has solidified its presence and authority in Syria as well.
In what has become its modus operandi, ISIS routinely carries out mass killings and public executions. Earlier this week, we learned that ISIS beheaded Peter Kassig, an American aid worker, who became the fifth known Western hostage that was decapitated by ISIS in an unthinkable act of barbarism.
The horrific fate that befell Peter Kassig, as well as U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, are shocking not just by virtue of the gruesome fashion in which they were executed, but also by the manner in which we learned of their tragic ends.
In a testament to the sick and sadistic nature of this terrorist group, ISIS informed the world of these deaths by releasing videos showing the beheading of each of the hostages. The audacity of ISIS in proudly publicizing these ghastly murders is staggering, but it is their callous disregard for human life and their proclivity for pain and torture that is especially disconcerting.
What is remarkable is that despite President Obama’s efforts to combat ISIS through the use of targeted air strikes in Iraq and Syria, ISIS appears to be more powerful than ever.
Just one week ago, an audio recording of a man purporting to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was circulated, in which he openly mocked the United States and its coalition partners. Calling the U.S. “terrified, weak and powerless,” al-Baghdadi said that the American effort to destroy ISIS has been a “failure.”
At this juncture, there is a great degree of truth to that statement. We have seen indications that ISIS is expanding, not waning. In September, the CIA declared that although initial intelligence reports indicated that ISIS had approximately 10,000 fighters in its ranks, the number is actually in excess of 31,000 fighters.
Contrary to what you may think, ISIS does not just employ homegrown terrorists. As time goes on, they are drawing terror troops from all around the world. For example, in the video showing the beheading of Peter Kassig, there were men from England and France who were among the executioners. There are estimates that several thousand Westerners have signed up to join ISIS. The idea that foreign-born militants are gravitating to ISIS is a genuine cause for concern and further proof of the allure that this terrorist group has for individuals who possess a sick and twisted penchant for unadulterated evil.
The sophistication and adeptness that ISIS has demonstrated in the social media realm is remarkable. They skillfully utilize platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp to effectively disseminate their propaganda. The videos they circulate are semi-professional in nature. In an effort to reach a vast audience, ISIS sometimes posts statements and materials in multiple languages. We are able to somewhat track ISIS’s actions not necessarily because of American intelligence, but because ISIS is hiding in plain sight in the social media world for everyone to see. We are able to closely follow ISIS’ activities because they consciously and calculatedly make it easy for us to do so.
With a well-oiled PR machine and an infusion of new fighters eager to join their jihad, ISIS presents a real challenge to the United States, and, more specifically, to President Obama. The U.S. air strikes persist, but ISIS perseveres. There is of course the possibility that the President may send in ground troops to supplement the air strikes and attempt to hit the nucleus of ISIS’ terror operations. However, that directive may very well result in a prolonged military conflict that could have dire consequences for American forces.
As President Obama works to cement his legacy over the last two years of his presidency, the public nuisance that is ISIS is going to plague him throughout the duration of his tenure. Regardless of whether he focuses on domestic policy or sets his sights on accomplishments in the foreign policy arena, ISIS is going to cast a long shadow over the President’s endeavors. The grave threat that ISIS poses to the United States and to the world cannot be understated and cannot be overlooked.
ISIS may be sophisticated, but they are not invincible. If President Obama wants to fulfill his pledge to eradicate ISIS, the United States is going to have to do a better job both militarily and in the media. In order for the President to put ISIS on ice and freeze its ability to perpetrate acts of terror, it is going to take much more than air strikes that seemingly have little effect on this enigmatic terrorist organization. How we can best defeat ISIS may be open for debate, but the exigent need to do so is undisputed.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter:@troodler
ISIS ON THE RISE
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
As he attempts to counteract the characterizations of him as a “lame duck,” President Obama is facing an array of struggles. As the de facto head of the Democratic Party, he suffered an ignominious defeat in the 2014 midterm elections as Democratic candidates across the country were felled by a Republican tsunami that gave the GOP a sweeping mandate and control of the United States Senate. At home, the President is mired in a debate about immigration reform that puts him at odds with the newly empowered Republican congressional leadership. Our Commander-in-Chief is also desperately seeking to avoid a complete collapse of the nuclear talks with Iran, a sensitive international issue that is on the front burner of his foreign policy agenda.
Yet, for all of the political and policy problems that stand in President Obama’s way, there is one issue that essentially trumps everything else. The elephant in the room is the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or “ISIS” as it is commonly known.
What began as an offshoot of al Qaeda has morphed into one of the biggest terrorist threats facing the world today. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS is spreading its brand of terror far and wide.
As a result of a brazen land grab that seemingly took everyone by surprise, ISIS now exerts control over large portions of northern and western Iraq and has solidified its presence and authority in Syria as well.
In what has become its modus operandi, ISIS routinely carries out mass killings and public executions. Earlier this week, we learned that ISIS beheaded Peter Kassig, an American aid worker, who became the fifth known Western hostage that was decapitated by ISIS in an unthinkable act of barbarism.
The horrific fate that befell Peter Kassig, as well as U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, are shocking not just by virtue of the gruesome fashion in which they were executed, but also by the manner in which we learned of their tragic ends.
In a testament to the sick and sadistic nature of this terrorist group, ISIS informed the world of these deaths by releasing videos showing the beheading of each of the hostages. The audacity of ISIS in proudly publicizing these ghastly murders is staggering, but it is their callous disregard for human life and their proclivity for pain and torture that is especially disconcerting.
What is remarkable is that despite President Obama’s efforts to combat ISIS through the use of targeted air strikes in Iraq and Syria, ISIS appears to be more powerful than ever.
Just one week ago, an audio recording of a man purporting to be Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was circulated, in which he openly mocked the United States and its coalition partners. Calling the U.S. “terrified, weak and powerless,” al-Baghdadi said that the American effort to destroy ISIS has been a “failure.”
At this juncture, there is a great degree of truth to that statement. We have seen indications that ISIS is expanding, not waning. In September, the CIA declared that although initial intelligence reports indicated that ISIS had approximately 10,000 fighters in its ranks, the number is actually in excess of 31,000 fighters.
Contrary to what you may think, ISIS does not just employ homegrown terrorists. As time goes on, they are drawing terror troops from all around the world. For example, in the video showing the beheading of Peter Kassig, there were men from England and France who were among the executioners. There are estimates that several thousand Westerners have signed up to join ISIS. The idea that foreign-born militants are gravitating to ISIS is a genuine cause for concern and further proof of the allure that this terrorist group has for individuals who possess a sick and twisted penchant for unadulterated evil.
The sophistication and adeptness that ISIS has demonstrated in the social media realm is remarkable. They skillfully utilize platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp to effectively disseminate their propaganda. The videos they circulate are semi-professional in nature. In an effort to reach a vast audience, ISIS sometimes posts statements and materials in multiple languages. We are able to somewhat track ISIS’s actions not necessarily because of American intelligence, but because ISIS is hiding in plain sight in the social media world for everyone to see. We are able to closely follow ISIS’ activities because they consciously and calculatedly make it easy for us to do so.
With a well-oiled PR machine and an infusion of new fighters eager to join their jihad, ISIS presents a real challenge to the United States, and, more specifically, to President Obama. The U.S. air strikes persist, but ISIS perseveres. There is of course the possibility that the President may send in ground troops to supplement the air strikes and attempt to hit the nucleus of ISIS’ terror operations. However, that directive may very well result in a prolonged military conflict that could have dire consequences for American forces.
As President Obama works to cement his legacy over the last two years of his presidency, the public nuisance that is ISIS is going to plague him throughout the duration of his tenure. Regardless of whether he focuses on domestic policy or sets his sights on accomplishments in the foreign policy arena, ISIS is going to cast a long shadow over the President’s endeavors. The grave threat that ISIS poses to the United States and to the world cannot be understated and cannot be overlooked.
ISIS may be sophisticated, but they are not invincible. If President Obama wants to fulfill his pledge to eradicate ISIS, the United States is going to have to do a better job both militarily and in the media. In order for the President to put ISIS on ice and freeze its ability to perpetrate acts of terror, it is going to take much more than air strikes that seemingly have little effect on this enigmatic terrorist organization. How we can best defeat ISIS may be open for debate, but the exigent need to do so is undisputed.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter:@troodler
Thursday, November 13, 2014
The GOP Kingmaker
In my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, I consider
Governor Chris Christie’s strong showing on Election Day in his capacity as chairman
of the Republican Governors Association and assess how his performance will
impact his 2016 presidential prospects:
THE GOP KINGMAKER
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Election Day 2014 is a day that most Democrats would like to forget. The Republicans swept into the majority in the Senate with a huge mandate and a sensational surge that absolutely decimated and disheartened Democrats across the United States.
While much of the attention was on national politics as control of the U.S. Senate hung in the balance, there were many hotly contested gubernatorial races that had huge implications in quite a number of states. When all of the votes were counted, the Republican trend that manifested itself on the national level was replicated in statehouses across the nation.
While the GOP emerged victorious in twenty-six gubernatorial contests, sixteen of those races had a common link. The thread that tied those particular contests together was Chris Christie.
For all of those New Jersey residents who have been wondering where their Governor has been since he was re-elected in November 2013, the answer became very apparent on Election Day. As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Governor Christie has spent approximately a third of his second term outside of the Garden State. Instead of focusing exclusively on governing, Christie has spent a considerable amount of time traversing the country and campaigning on behalf of other Republican gubernatorial candidates.
Out of the shadow of Bridgegate and his state’s fiscal issues, Chris Christie has had the opportunity to bask in the glow of the national spotlight. Under Christie’s leadership, the Republican Governors Association has flourished, raising a staggering $106 million in just one year. As chairman, Christie has traveled to thirty-six states, including an incredible pre-Election Day swing that took him to nineteen states in five days, including such key battlegrounds as Florida, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. With thirty-six gubernatorial races on tap, Chris Christie was a virtual one-man political campaign machine, and when the dust settled on Election Day after the polls closed, it became apparent that Christie had the Midas touch.
Not only did Chris Christie help many incumbent Republican governors retain their seats on Election Day, he also played a pivotal role in enabling the GOP to win the keys to the Governor’s Mansion in Arkansas and Illinois, which had previously been held by Democrats.
In a sign of just how pivotal Chris Christie’s role was in scoring huge wins for Republican candidates, he made triumphant appearances on several national television news shows on the morning after Election Day to trumpet the GOP’s victories and further bolster his image as a key Republican kingmaker.
Other than being able to pat himself on the back, what does all of this mean for Chris Christie? More specifically, how does this impact Christie’s yearning desire to relocate to the big white house on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington?
The fact is that Chris Christie’s tremendous showing on Election Day solidified his spot as a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Not only did he notch some impressive victories on November 4, he also buttressed his growing national network of big GOP donors and top Republican operatives. By visiting so many states that will play critical roles in 2016, Chris Christie got a big jump on his potential Republican presidential rivals by establishing early connections with the voters and political leaders whose support they all covet.
Additionally, there are now Republican elected officials across the country who presumably feel indebted to Chris Christie for his political and financial assistance. When the calendar turns to 2016 and the presidential primary season is in full swing, you can be sure that Chris Christie will make the rounds to collect on all of these invaluable political IOU’s.
Chris Christie’s tenure as chairman of the Republican Governors Association has provided him with a unique opportunity to flaunt his fund raising prowess and display his keen political acumen. It has given him a much needed respite from the controversies that have dogged him in New Jersey and enabled him to prove to big Republican donors and GOP leaders that he is a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.
While other possible Republican presidential candidates jockey for position and contend with one another for media attention and national prominence, for the moment, Chris Christie has set himself apart by skillfully leveraging his chairmanship to get tangible results for GOP candidates.
Although he himself was not on the ballot on Election Day, Chris Christie scored what was perhaps one of the biggest victories of the day. Christie flexed his political muscles and proved that he belongs in the ring with the other GOP hopefuls who are seeking to one day take home the ultimate championship belt.
Yes, Governor Christie undoubtedly has major issues to contend with in New Jersey and all eyes will inevitably be on him as he attempts to navigate the choppy political waters in his home state. However, Christie has the luxury of heading towards 2016 with an aura of invincibility after his virtuoso performance in the midterm elections. He will certainly be judged by his ability to govern effectively, but that will not necessarily be the primary factor that will come to define Chris Christie in the context of presidential conversations.
Chris Christie’s legacy will be his role as a GOP kingmaker, which is what is going to catapult him to the front of the pack. It is safe to assume that there will be a bruising battle for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, but barring any future scandals or major mishaps by the New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie may be positioned to pick up the ultimate win.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
THE GOP KINGMAKER
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Election Day 2014 is a day that most Democrats would like to forget. The Republicans swept into the majority in the Senate with a huge mandate and a sensational surge that absolutely decimated and disheartened Democrats across the United States.
While much of the attention was on national politics as control of the U.S. Senate hung in the balance, there were many hotly contested gubernatorial races that had huge implications in quite a number of states. When all of the votes were counted, the Republican trend that manifested itself on the national level was replicated in statehouses across the nation.
While the GOP emerged victorious in twenty-six gubernatorial contests, sixteen of those races had a common link. The thread that tied those particular contests together was Chris Christie.
For all of those New Jersey residents who have been wondering where their Governor has been since he was re-elected in November 2013, the answer became very apparent on Election Day. As chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Governor Christie has spent approximately a third of his second term outside of the Garden State. Instead of focusing exclusively on governing, Christie has spent a considerable amount of time traversing the country and campaigning on behalf of other Republican gubernatorial candidates.
Out of the shadow of Bridgegate and his state’s fiscal issues, Chris Christie has had the opportunity to bask in the glow of the national spotlight. Under Christie’s leadership, the Republican Governors Association has flourished, raising a staggering $106 million in just one year. As chairman, Christie has traveled to thirty-six states, including an incredible pre-Election Day swing that took him to nineteen states in five days, including such key battlegrounds as Florida, Kansas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin. With thirty-six gubernatorial races on tap, Chris Christie was a virtual one-man political campaign machine, and when the dust settled on Election Day after the polls closed, it became apparent that Christie had the Midas touch.
Not only did Chris Christie help many incumbent Republican governors retain their seats on Election Day, he also played a pivotal role in enabling the GOP to win the keys to the Governor’s Mansion in Arkansas and Illinois, which had previously been held by Democrats.
In a sign of just how pivotal Chris Christie’s role was in scoring huge wins for Republican candidates, he made triumphant appearances on several national television news shows on the morning after Election Day to trumpet the GOP’s victories and further bolster his image as a key Republican kingmaker.
Other than being able to pat himself on the back, what does all of this mean for Chris Christie? More specifically, how does this impact Christie’s yearning desire to relocate to the big white house on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington?
The fact is that Chris Christie’s tremendous showing on Election Day solidified his spot as a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Not only did he notch some impressive victories on November 4, he also buttressed his growing national network of big GOP donors and top Republican operatives. By visiting so many states that will play critical roles in 2016, Chris Christie got a big jump on his potential Republican presidential rivals by establishing early connections with the voters and political leaders whose support they all covet.
Additionally, there are now Republican elected officials across the country who presumably feel indebted to Chris Christie for his political and financial assistance. When the calendar turns to 2016 and the presidential primary season is in full swing, you can be sure that Chris Christie will make the rounds to collect on all of these invaluable political IOU’s.
Chris Christie’s tenure as chairman of the Republican Governors Association has provided him with a unique opportunity to flaunt his fund raising prowess and display his keen political acumen. It has given him a much needed respite from the controversies that have dogged him in New Jersey and enabled him to prove to big Republican donors and GOP leaders that he is a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.
While other possible Republican presidential candidates jockey for position and contend with one another for media attention and national prominence, for the moment, Chris Christie has set himself apart by skillfully leveraging his chairmanship to get tangible results for GOP candidates.
Although he himself was not on the ballot on Election Day, Chris Christie scored what was perhaps one of the biggest victories of the day. Christie flexed his political muscles and proved that he belongs in the ring with the other GOP hopefuls who are seeking to one day take home the ultimate championship belt.
Yes, Governor Christie undoubtedly has major issues to contend with in New Jersey and all eyes will inevitably be on him as he attempts to navigate the choppy political waters in his home state. However, Christie has the luxury of heading towards 2016 with an aura of invincibility after his virtuoso performance in the midterm elections. He will certainly be judged by his ability to govern effectively, but that will not necessarily be the primary factor that will come to define Chris Christie in the context of presidential conversations.
Chris Christie’s legacy will be his role as a GOP kingmaker, which is what is going to catapult him to the front of the pack. It is safe to assume that there will be a bruising battle for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016, but barring any future scandals or major mishaps by the New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie may be positioned to pick up the ultimate win.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Fighting To The Finish In The Fifth
The following is an article that I wrote for The Jewish Link of
Bergen County, in which I take a look at the campaign in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional
District, assess Democrat Roy Cho’s spirited challenge to incumbent Republican
Congressman Scott Garrett, and examine Cho’s relationship with the large Jewish community in the district that he is seeking to represent:
FIGHTING TO THE FINISH IN THE FIFTH
By: N. Aaron Troodler
The race in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District has surprisingly become one of the more closely watched races in the nation. No one thought that this district would be as competitive as it has – that is, no one except Roy Cho.
A 33-year-old first time candidate, Roy Cho, a Hackensack resident and a Manhattan attorney, has closed the gap with incumbent Republican Congressman Scott Garrett and has been winning over people throughout the district and across the state.
At a recent event of the New Jersey State Democratic Committee’s Jewish Caucus in Teaneck, Cho spent several hours shaking hands and engaging in conversation with the Jewish Democrats who were eager to speak with him. After addressing the crowd, Cho got a standing ovation accompanied by thunderous applause.
Roy Cho’s energy and excitement have won him a lot of fans, not only in the district that he’s seeking to represent in Washington, but also among the state’s political establishment.
“We are absolutely delighted with how the race has gone and with Roy Cho as our candidate,” Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg told me. “He’s an excellent candidate, he’s articulate about the issues, and he’s been able to raise enough money to get his message out. He’s made me very proud.”
After referring to Roy Cho as “one of the great up and coming stars,” Senator Cory Booker said that his mother and brother both told him that, “the most exciting politician in the state is Roy Cho.”
“This is a truly amazing human being,” said Senator Booker, referring to Cho. “His grit and determination has dramatically closed the gap with his opponent.”
“If we get him to Congress, I guarantee you this – 10 years from now, 15 years from now, you will see one of the more influential leaders in this country,” Senator Booker said.
Referring to the momentum that Cho’s campaign is carrying into the final days of the campaign, Bergen County Democratic Chairman Lou Stellato said that, “Roy Cho’s train is full speed ahead and it’s not stopping until next Tuesday.”
Roy Cho, who has garnered valuable endorsements by The Bergen Record and The Star Ledger, has raised an impressive $1.2 million thus far for his campaign.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Roy Cho about his campaign and to discuss his relationship with the Jewish community. Throughout the course of the interview, Cho spoke quickly as he displayed the sense of energy and enthusiasm that has come to define his campaign.
“The support that I’ve been receiving from constituents in the district who are Jewish has been truly incredible,” Cho said.
Cho and I discussed his recent journey to Israel, which was his first trip to the Jewish State, where he was able to gain a better understanding of the challenges that the Israeli people are living with on a daily basis.
Cho described his trip to Israel as “really impactful and a very important part of this campaign journey.” “It was a trip that I really wanted to take and I was honored to be able to go there,” he said. “It was a learning experience for me.”
He recounted to me the details of his visit to the Israeli city of Sderot. Although Cho had attended an AIPAC Young Leadership event several years ago where he heard the chief engineer of the Iron Dome speak about the remarkable life-saving technology, it did not compare to traveling to Sderot, seeing how the people live, talking to the residents, and witnessing how they integrate bomb shelters into the children’s play areas.
“My favorite defining childhood memory was jumping onto a bicycle in the suburbs and disappearing for a couple of hours and then coming back for dinner,” Cho said. “The kids in Sderot don’t have that same opportunity.”
“It was a very jarring experience to be able to see what the Israeli people are dealing with on a daily basis,” Cho told me. “Despite all of that, to see how welcoming and open and how friendly, hopeful, and optimistic the Israeli people were was something that was so refreshing to me.”
I asked Cho how he could play a role in taking steps to ensure the safety and security of Israel as a Member of Congress.
“Israel needs money,” Cho said. “It needs federal funding from the United States to be able to implement programs like Iron Dome and to also allay their security costs that they have to deal with on a daily basis.”
Roy Cho discussed the $3.1 billion of annual foreign aid to Israel, which he called “necessary dollars.” “As a Member of Congress, I want to aggressively advocate for that federal funding,” he said.
“From a foreign policy perspective, I want to be a leader in this debate and I want to advocate aggressively in favor of Israel’s interests, because we recognize that Israel’s interests are America’s interests,” Cho said.
Cho addressed the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and noted that that we are seeing Islamist fundamentalists crop up all over the world. “This is something that we have to be very vigilant against, and as a Member of Congress, I want to be able to push past the political rhetoric and recognize that from just a hard security perspective, our interests are Israel’s interests,” he said.
“We have to make sure that we are aggressively advocating on behalf of Israel’s interests because our interests are intertwined,” said Cho. “From a foreign policy perspective as well from a larger cultural perspective, the importance of Israel to America is very, very clear.”
Cho and I discussed the importance of the Jewish community, both in the context of the broader political arena and within the 5th Congressional District.
“The Jewish community is a very sophisticated community that is involved in the issues, whether it’s the cost of day schools, whether it is foreign policy – all the way from local, state to federal issues, American Jewry across the country is very engaged in political issues,” Cho said. “It is a very natural and important constituency, and it also happens to be a large constituency in the 5th Congressional District.”
Roy Cho, a Korean-American who is the son of immigrants, drew interesting parallels between the Korean-American community and the Jewish community.
“I want to be able to find an overlap that does exist between Jewish values and Korean-American values, because there is a tremendous amount of overlap,” he said. “The emphasis on education, the emphasis on a close-knit family, and the emphasis on giving back to the community if you are successful in the private sector – all of these values are shared values that we have.”
“A lot of Korean-Americans have modeled themselves after what American Jewry has been able to accomplish in this country,” noted Cho.
Noting that he appears to be heading into the homestretch of his campaign with a great deal of momentum, I asked Cho what his approach is going to be between now and Election Day.
“Going into the homestretch, we’re going to continue to stay on message and talk about the issues,” he said. “The reality is that people saw this as being an uphill battle for a long period of time, but we recognize the mismatch that exists between Scott Garrett’s representation and the interests and beliefs of the people who live in the 5th Congressional District, and we knew that our message could penetrate.”
“In the 5th Congressional District, we have one of the most highly educated congressional districts in the entire country,” remarked Cho. “The voters who live in this district are not just going to blindly vote on party lines – they’re going to vote on the issues that are important to them – the bread and butter issues that matter.”
“When I walk around the district, I’m talking about the local issues and what impacts them, and asking whether their representative is making votes that are fundamentally mismatched with their own beliefs,” Cho said. “If that is the case, then it’s time for somebody else.”
Noting that he is not only getting support from the Democratic base, but also from moderate Republicans, Cho told me that, “the notion of having someone who can govern from the center has really been resonating.”
Cho called his message “complex and nuanced” but said “he’s fortunate to have a voting electorate that is incredibly sophisticated” and that his message “is penetrating.”
“We believe that we are peaking at just the right time, going into the homestretch,” he said.
Scott Garrett has criticized Cho during the course of the campaign, alleging that he only recently moved into the district solely in order to run for Congress. Cho and his campaign have vehemently rejected this charge and painted it as an attempt by Garrett to distract voters from the real issues in the campaign.
“Scott Garrett’s allegations that Roy did anything improper are completely false,” Cho’s campaign spokesman Derek Roseman told me. “Roy has never lived his life like career politicians like Scott Garrett who plans every move based on serving his political interests. In fact, Roy only decided to run for Congress after deciding to set his roots in Bergen County and realizing how Scott Garrett does not represent the interests of the 5th Congressional District at all.
“Roy is a person just like millions of others who have moved around before finding their permanent home,” Roseman added. “Political and legal experts alike have said he did absolutely nothing improper.
“It’s not surprising that Scott Garrett, the career politician who continues to lie to voters about dragging his feet on Sandy relief in order to distract them from his extreme record of voting against women, veterans, seniors and the majority of his constituents, would turn to such sleazy tactics as a last-ditch effort to save his flailing campaign,” Roseman said.
As he endeavors to deflect his opponent’s political attacks, Roy Cho continues to do what he can to connect with the people in the district and win their support. We will soon see whether or not he will emerge victorious on Election Day, but regardless of the outcome, Roy Cho has demonstrated to everyone that he belongs in the political arena. As he fights to the finish in the 5th Congressional District, this young man has proven his political prowess and solidified his position as a rising star within the Democratic Party.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
FIGHTING TO THE FINISH IN THE FIFTH
By: N. Aaron Troodler
The race in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District has surprisingly become one of the more closely watched races in the nation. No one thought that this district would be as competitive as it has – that is, no one except Roy Cho.
A 33-year-old first time candidate, Roy Cho, a Hackensack resident and a Manhattan attorney, has closed the gap with incumbent Republican Congressman Scott Garrett and has been winning over people throughout the district and across the state.
At a recent event of the New Jersey State Democratic Committee’s Jewish Caucus in Teaneck, Cho spent several hours shaking hands and engaging in conversation with the Jewish Democrats who were eager to speak with him. After addressing the crowd, Cho got a standing ovation accompanied by thunderous applause.
Roy Cho’s energy and excitement have won him a lot of fans, not only in the district that he’s seeking to represent in Washington, but also among the state’s political establishment.
“We are absolutely delighted with how the race has gone and with Roy Cho as our candidate,” Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg told me. “He’s an excellent candidate, he’s articulate about the issues, and he’s been able to raise enough money to get his message out. He’s made me very proud.”
After referring to Roy Cho as “one of the great up and coming stars,” Senator Cory Booker said that his mother and brother both told him that, “the most exciting politician in the state is Roy Cho.”
“This is a truly amazing human being,” said Senator Booker, referring to Cho. “His grit and determination has dramatically closed the gap with his opponent.”
“If we get him to Congress, I guarantee you this – 10 years from now, 15 years from now, you will see one of the more influential leaders in this country,” Senator Booker said.
Referring to the momentum that Cho’s campaign is carrying into the final days of the campaign, Bergen County Democratic Chairman Lou Stellato said that, “Roy Cho’s train is full speed ahead and it’s not stopping until next Tuesday.”
Roy Cho, who has garnered valuable endorsements by The Bergen Record and The Star Ledger, has raised an impressive $1.2 million thus far for his campaign.
I recently had the opportunity to talk with Roy Cho about his campaign and to discuss his relationship with the Jewish community. Throughout the course of the interview, Cho spoke quickly as he displayed the sense of energy and enthusiasm that has come to define his campaign.
“The support that I’ve been receiving from constituents in the district who are Jewish has been truly incredible,” Cho said.
Cho and I discussed his recent journey to Israel, which was his first trip to the Jewish State, where he was able to gain a better understanding of the challenges that the Israeli people are living with on a daily basis.
Cho described his trip to Israel as “really impactful and a very important part of this campaign journey.” “It was a trip that I really wanted to take and I was honored to be able to go there,” he said. “It was a learning experience for me.”
He recounted to me the details of his visit to the Israeli city of Sderot. Although Cho had attended an AIPAC Young Leadership event several years ago where he heard the chief engineer of the Iron Dome speak about the remarkable life-saving technology, it did not compare to traveling to Sderot, seeing how the people live, talking to the residents, and witnessing how they integrate bomb shelters into the children’s play areas.
“My favorite defining childhood memory was jumping onto a bicycle in the suburbs and disappearing for a couple of hours and then coming back for dinner,” Cho said. “The kids in Sderot don’t have that same opportunity.”
“It was a very jarring experience to be able to see what the Israeli people are dealing with on a daily basis,” Cho told me. “Despite all of that, to see how welcoming and open and how friendly, hopeful, and optimistic the Israeli people were was something that was so refreshing to me.”
I asked Cho how he could play a role in taking steps to ensure the safety and security of Israel as a Member of Congress.
“Israel needs money,” Cho said. “It needs federal funding from the United States to be able to implement programs like Iron Dome and to also allay their security costs that they have to deal with on a daily basis.”
Roy Cho discussed the $3.1 billion of annual foreign aid to Israel, which he called “necessary dollars.” “As a Member of Congress, I want to aggressively advocate for that federal funding,” he said.
“From a foreign policy perspective, I want to be a leader in this debate and I want to advocate aggressively in favor of Israel’s interests, because we recognize that Israel’s interests are America’s interests,” Cho said.
Cho addressed the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and noted that that we are seeing Islamist fundamentalists crop up all over the world. “This is something that we have to be very vigilant against, and as a Member of Congress, I want to be able to push past the political rhetoric and recognize that from just a hard security perspective, our interests are Israel’s interests,” he said.
“We have to make sure that we are aggressively advocating on behalf of Israel’s interests because our interests are intertwined,” said Cho. “From a foreign policy perspective as well from a larger cultural perspective, the importance of Israel to America is very, very clear.”
Cho and I discussed the importance of the Jewish community, both in the context of the broader political arena and within the 5th Congressional District.
“The Jewish community is a very sophisticated community that is involved in the issues, whether it’s the cost of day schools, whether it is foreign policy – all the way from local, state to federal issues, American Jewry across the country is very engaged in political issues,” Cho said. “It is a very natural and important constituency, and it also happens to be a large constituency in the 5th Congressional District.”
Roy Cho, a Korean-American who is the son of immigrants, drew interesting parallels between the Korean-American community and the Jewish community.
“I want to be able to find an overlap that does exist between Jewish values and Korean-American values, because there is a tremendous amount of overlap,” he said. “The emphasis on education, the emphasis on a close-knit family, and the emphasis on giving back to the community if you are successful in the private sector – all of these values are shared values that we have.”
“A lot of Korean-Americans have modeled themselves after what American Jewry has been able to accomplish in this country,” noted Cho.
Noting that he appears to be heading into the homestretch of his campaign with a great deal of momentum, I asked Cho what his approach is going to be between now and Election Day.
“Going into the homestretch, we’re going to continue to stay on message and talk about the issues,” he said. “The reality is that people saw this as being an uphill battle for a long period of time, but we recognize the mismatch that exists between Scott Garrett’s representation and the interests and beliefs of the people who live in the 5th Congressional District, and we knew that our message could penetrate.”
“In the 5th Congressional District, we have one of the most highly educated congressional districts in the entire country,” remarked Cho. “The voters who live in this district are not just going to blindly vote on party lines – they’re going to vote on the issues that are important to them – the bread and butter issues that matter.”
“When I walk around the district, I’m talking about the local issues and what impacts them, and asking whether their representative is making votes that are fundamentally mismatched with their own beliefs,” Cho said. “If that is the case, then it’s time for somebody else.”
Noting that he is not only getting support from the Democratic base, but also from moderate Republicans, Cho told me that, “the notion of having someone who can govern from the center has really been resonating.”
Cho called his message “complex and nuanced” but said “he’s fortunate to have a voting electorate that is incredibly sophisticated” and that his message “is penetrating.”
“We believe that we are peaking at just the right time, going into the homestretch,” he said.
Scott Garrett has criticized Cho during the course of the campaign, alleging that he only recently moved into the district solely in order to run for Congress. Cho and his campaign have vehemently rejected this charge and painted it as an attempt by Garrett to distract voters from the real issues in the campaign.
“Scott Garrett’s allegations that Roy did anything improper are completely false,” Cho’s campaign spokesman Derek Roseman told me. “Roy has never lived his life like career politicians like Scott Garrett who plans every move based on serving his political interests. In fact, Roy only decided to run for Congress after deciding to set his roots in Bergen County and realizing how Scott Garrett does not represent the interests of the 5th Congressional District at all.
“Roy is a person just like millions of others who have moved around before finding their permanent home,” Roseman added. “Political and legal experts alike have said he did absolutely nothing improper.
“It’s not surprising that Scott Garrett, the career politician who continues to lie to voters about dragging his feet on Sandy relief in order to distract them from his extreme record of voting against women, veterans, seniors and the majority of his constituents, would turn to such sleazy tactics as a last-ditch effort to save his flailing campaign,” Roseman said.
As he endeavors to deflect his opponent’s political attacks, Roy Cho continues to do what he can to connect with the people in the district and win their support. We will soon see whether or not he will emerge victorious on Election Day, but regardless of the outcome, Roy Cho has demonstrated to everyone that he belongs in the political arena. As he fights to the finish in the 5th Congressional District, this young man has proven his political prowess and solidified his position as a rising star within the Democratic Party.
N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)