The
following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I take
a look at the most recent developments in the 2016 presidential race:
AND
THEY’RE OFF!
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
After months of speculation and conjecture, the race is officially
underway. The starter pistol has been fired, the starting gate has opened, and
the candidates have begun their run around the track. The 2016 presidential
contest has formally commenced.
With much anticipated formal campaign announcements, newly unveiled
websites, and fresh logos, a number of recently declared presidential
candidates have hit the road to take their case directly to the voters.
On the Republican side, there is no shortage of declared
candidates, with several others waiting not so quietly in the wings.
Conversely, on the Democratic side there is but one confirmed entrant in the
presidential race, setting up what may be one of the most anti-climactic
primary seasons ever.
The
first one to throw his hat into the ring was Ted Cruz, a Senator from Texas.
With his ultra-conservative views and close association with Tea Party figures
and ideals, Cruz will have an extraordinarily difficult time trying to get the
various factions in the Republican Party to coalesce around his candidacy. Even
if lightening was to strike and he somehow secures his party’s nomination, the
Democratic candidate running against him in the General Election would quickly
embrace the opportunity to paint his or her GOP opponent as a conservative
radical who is completely out of touch with mainstream America. Running for
president may boost Ted Cruz’s national profile, but it will not earn him a
ticket to the White House.
Kentucky
Senator Rand Paul was the next Republican to jump into the race. A libertarian
who preaches fiscal conservatism and is a strong advocate for smaller
government, Paul is also aligned with the Tea Party wing of the Republican
Party. As he tries to appeal to mainstream Republicans in an effort to garner
their support, Paul runs the risk of alienating his base if he deviates from
his conservative ideals in a substantive manner. It is a tough balancing act
that I believe will fall short.
Perhaps
the most intriguing candidate to enter the race thus far is Senator Marco Rubio
of Florida. With his youthful exuberance, unbridled optimism, and boundless
energy, Rubio is a candidate that is worth watching as he works to build a
broad coalition within his party. With a pledge to look ahead and not dwell on
the past, Marco Rubio is not only taking a dig at his once-mentor Jeb Bush and
the 67-year-old Hillary Clinton, he is also endeavoring to blaze a trail to a
better and stronger America that he hopes will lead him straight to the White
House.
In
the “I am strongly considering running for president” category, there is an
array of other Republicans, all of whom believe that they are capable of being
the standard bearer for the GOP and in the best position to retake the White
House.
The
aforementioned Jeb Bush, a scion of a powerful political family that has already
seen two of its members take up residence in the White House, is expected to
enter the race. With a vast fundraising network and a famous last name, it is
anticipated that he will be a serious contender, though Jeb has his work cut
out for him if he wants to successfully paint himself as his own person and not
just another “Bush.”
Wisconsin
Governor Scott Walker is another likely GOP presidential hopeful who has the
ability to capture the spotlight as well as support. After recently leading a
trade mission to France, Spain and Germany in a not-so-subtle effort to
buttress his foreign policy experience, Walker is talking and acting like a
person who is preparing to formalize his candidacy for the presidency.
New
Jersey’s own Chris Christie is ramping up his presidential exploratory efforts
as he inches closer to a formal announcement. With a recent trip to New
Hampshire where he held a town hall style meeting, Christie is testing the
presidential primary waters and assessing if his blunt approach to retail
politics is the fresh approach that Republican voters in key states are looking
for.
In
addition, there is a long list of other Republicans who are purportedly
contemplating running for president, including Bobby Jindal, Rick Santorum,
Mike Huckabee, Rick Perry, Dr. Ben Carson, and Carly Fiorina, although I do not
believe that any of these folks has the wherewithal to break through what it is
already a crowded and competitive GOP field.
On
the Democratic side, there are a number of people who are reportedly
considering a presidential run. Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, former
Virginia Senator Jim Webb, and former Senator and Rhode Island Governor Lincoln
Chafee have all expressed interest in running. Vice President Joe Biden is
often mentioned as a possibility, although I do not think that he is serious
about a White House run at this point. The problem for all of these Democrats
is that there is another Democrat that has already staked her claim to the
spotlight. That Democrat is Hillary Clinton.
With
her much-anticipated announcement this week that she is indeed running for
president, Hillary arguably locked up the nomination before a single vote has
been cast in a primary. Almost immediately after she made her candidacy
official through a web video, the endorsements started rolling in from scores
of other prominent Democrats.
As
she attempts to avoid the missteps that felled her 2008 presidential run,
Hillary and her army of supporters are going to desperately try to dispel the
widespread notion that this is a coronation and not a campaign. Securing a
presidential nomination is not about entitlement; it is about exerting an
extraordinary effort to sell oneself to the voters. As a former First Lady,
Senator, and Secretary of State, Hillary is undoubtedly qualified to lead. However,
the devil is in the details, and many voters are waiting for Hillary to
articulate her vision for the future of this country before they commit to
supporting the presumptive Democratic nominee.
With
Hillary a virtual certainty to be on the ballot in the general election, it is
the Republican contest that has the ability to captivate the nation in the
months ahead. Should he decide to run, Jeb Bush has the ability to catapult to
the front of the GOP pack. That being said, he should keep looking over his
shoulder at the candidate that I believe is capable of shocking the Republican
establishment.
In
2008, a young and relatively obscure senator named Barack Obama came out of
nowhere to win his party’s nomination, and ultimately the presidency. In 2016,
there is again the possibility that a young and relatively obscure senator
could come out of nowhere to win his party’s nomination. That senator’s name is
Marco Rubio.
With
several candidates already having declared their candidacies and others sure to
follow, the 2106 presidential race has officially begun. Hang on to your seat –
this should be an exhilarating (and exhausting!) ride.
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, April 16, 2015
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Merci Beaucoup
The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey,
in which I reflect on my recent trip to Paris and examine the challenges that
face the French Jewish community and European Jewry in light of the frightening
rise in anti-Semitism there:
MERCI BEAUCOUP
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
I did not even get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. Not only did I not see the Eiffel Tower, I also did not see The Lourve, Champs-Elysees, Musee d’Osray, or the Arc de Triomphe. Though it was my first trip to Paris, I did not see any of the sights that this enchanted city is famous for. What I did see, however, was something that was far more important and meaningful than French tourist attractions.
My inaugural trip to Paris, which was professional in nature, lasted less than twenty-four hours. I landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and before I knew it, I was back at the airport early the next morning to catch my return flight to the United States. My trip may have been a whirlwind, but it was magical in a spiritually uplifting way.
It is a tumultuous time for the Jewish community in France. In January, just days after the brutal attack at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which twelve people were killed, an Islamic extremist entered the Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket near Porte de Vincennes and began a day-long siege during which the gunman murdered four Jewish hostages.
In February, approximately 300 graves were desecrated in a Jewish cemetery in Sarre-Union, and there were swastikas drawn on headstones in Jewish cemeteries in Challans and Issoudun.
It was only three years ago that a gunman opened fire in a Jewish school in Toulouse, killing a teacher and three children.
Anti-Semitic attacks in France have risen drastically. In fact, there were twice as many anti-Semitic attacks in 2014 than in 2013.
The situation has deteriorated to the point that Prime Minister Netanyahu made a public plea for French Jews to leave their country and emigrate to Israel.
It was against this frightening backdrop that I made my first journey to France.
My first stop in Paris was not a famed Parisian landmark; rather, it was Les Docks de Paris, a convention center located on the outskirts of the city. It was there that my French spiritual journey began and ended.
Thousands of people filed into the cavernous convention hall with much anticipation and amidst a great deal of security. They were gathering to celebrate the conclusion of the seven-year cycle of the Daf Yomi B’Halacha, in which participants worldwide engage in daily learning of Jewish law. Dirshu, an organization that encourages Torah study in a wide array of subject matters with a particular emphasis on review and retention of the material learned, organized a worldwide siyum celebration, with events being held in the United States, Israel, England, South Africa, and France.
When the world-renowned rabbinic figures featured at the event entered the room and took their places at the tiered-dais, the band began to play and the crowd broke into festive song. People were clamoring to see the rabbis and excitedly taking pictures and videos on their cell phones in order to record the moment for posterity.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, the attendees heard remarks from a number of prominent rabbis. There was a great deal of inspirational singing and dancing throughout the program. It was truly a celebration to behold.
When Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, the founder of the Dirshu organization, rose to speak, he received a tremendous ovation from the capacity crowd. In my view, that incredible reception was a heartfelt expression of gratitude to a child of Holocaust survivors who brought this momentous event to their community in order to help lift the cloud of uncertainty that has been hovering over them as they struggle to cope with the anti-Semitism that has plagued them.
“The first thing that we have to remember is that God is with us and we cannot be afraid,” Rabbi Hofstedter told the crowd.
The event that day was a true celebration of the resiliency and resurgence of the Jewish people. As members of the French Jewish community grapple with frequent attacks intended to break their spirit, this momentous event gave them a unique opportunity to present a unified front and demonstrate to the world that they will not succumb to the hate.
On the same day as the Dirshu event, residents of Paris went to the polls to cast their votes in the local elections. As Rabbi Avraham Weill, the Chief Rabbi of Toulouse, entered his local polling place, he was stopped and told that he needed to remove his yarmulke. Although the situation was ultimately resolved and he was permitted to vote while wearing his head covering, the mere fact that this occurred is undoubtedly a cause for alarm and a stark reminder of the bigotry that exists.
Europe in 2015 is a far different place than Europe was in the late 1930s and early 1940s, yet the underlying anti-Semitism that was exhibited in horrific and unspeakable ways during the Holocaust exists even today, seventy years later.
Jews should not have to walk through the streets of Paris with the fear that they may be targeted and attacked solely because they are Jews. European Jewry may be alive and well despite Hitler’s ruthless attempt to destroy them, but they are under siege.
In the face of growing anti-Semitism, do European Jews need to remain vigilant at all times? Of course. Should European Jews pick up and flee their homes and countries, as has been suggested by some? The answer, in my opinion, is absolutely not.
After witnessing the mass gathering in Paris, during which French Jews gathered to celebrate their faith in a proud and public fashion, I was reminded just how strong and resolute the Jewish soul is. European Jews steadfastly refuse to allow the racism and hate that they encounter to adversely affect their religious observance or negatively impact their Jewish identity and pride.
Anti-Semitism is gaining traction in Europe and bigotry is rearing its ugly head all too often, yet our Jewish brethren in Europe refuse to succumb to the hate. I felt extremely privileged to observe the unyielding nature of the French Jewish community as they assembled to celebrate Jewish learning and Jewish life, despite the anti-Semitism that lurks in the shadows.
I arrived in Paris with a touch of apprehension. I left Paris with a great degree of spiritual satisfaction. To the French Jewish community, I say “merci beaucoup.”
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
MERCI BEAUCOUP
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
I did not even get a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower. Not only did I not see the Eiffel Tower, I also did not see The Lourve, Champs-Elysees, Musee d’Osray, or the Arc de Triomphe. Though it was my first trip to Paris, I did not see any of the sights that this enchanted city is famous for. What I did see, however, was something that was far more important and meaningful than French tourist attractions.
My inaugural trip to Paris, which was professional in nature, lasted less than twenty-four hours. I landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport, and before I knew it, I was back at the airport early the next morning to catch my return flight to the United States. My trip may have been a whirlwind, but it was magical in a spiritually uplifting way.
It is a tumultuous time for the Jewish community in France. In January, just days after the brutal attack at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in which twelve people were killed, an Islamic extremist entered the Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket near Porte de Vincennes and began a day-long siege during which the gunman murdered four Jewish hostages.
In February, approximately 300 graves were desecrated in a Jewish cemetery in Sarre-Union, and there were swastikas drawn on headstones in Jewish cemeteries in Challans and Issoudun.
It was only three years ago that a gunman opened fire in a Jewish school in Toulouse, killing a teacher and three children.
Anti-Semitic attacks in France have risen drastically. In fact, there were twice as many anti-Semitic attacks in 2014 than in 2013.
The situation has deteriorated to the point that Prime Minister Netanyahu made a public plea for French Jews to leave their country and emigrate to Israel.
It was against this frightening backdrop that I made my first journey to France.
My first stop in Paris was not a famed Parisian landmark; rather, it was Les Docks de Paris, a convention center located on the outskirts of the city. It was there that my French spiritual journey began and ended.
Thousands of people filed into the cavernous convention hall with much anticipation and amidst a great deal of security. They were gathering to celebrate the conclusion of the seven-year cycle of the Daf Yomi B’Halacha, in which participants worldwide engage in daily learning of Jewish law. Dirshu, an organization that encourages Torah study in a wide array of subject matters with a particular emphasis on review and retention of the material learned, organized a worldwide siyum celebration, with events being held in the United States, Israel, England, South Africa, and France.
When the world-renowned rabbinic figures featured at the event entered the room and took their places at the tiered-dais, the band began to play and the crowd broke into festive song. People were clamoring to see the rabbis and excitedly taking pictures and videos on their cell phones in order to record the moment for posterity.
Throughout the afternoon and evening, the attendees heard remarks from a number of prominent rabbis. There was a great deal of inspirational singing and dancing throughout the program. It was truly a celebration to behold.
When Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, the founder of the Dirshu organization, rose to speak, he received a tremendous ovation from the capacity crowd. In my view, that incredible reception was a heartfelt expression of gratitude to a child of Holocaust survivors who brought this momentous event to their community in order to help lift the cloud of uncertainty that has been hovering over them as they struggle to cope with the anti-Semitism that has plagued them.
“The first thing that we have to remember is that God is with us and we cannot be afraid,” Rabbi Hofstedter told the crowd.
The event that day was a true celebration of the resiliency and resurgence of the Jewish people. As members of the French Jewish community grapple with frequent attacks intended to break their spirit, this momentous event gave them a unique opportunity to present a unified front and demonstrate to the world that they will not succumb to the hate.
On the same day as the Dirshu event, residents of Paris went to the polls to cast their votes in the local elections. As Rabbi Avraham Weill, the Chief Rabbi of Toulouse, entered his local polling place, he was stopped and told that he needed to remove his yarmulke. Although the situation was ultimately resolved and he was permitted to vote while wearing his head covering, the mere fact that this occurred is undoubtedly a cause for alarm and a stark reminder of the bigotry that exists.
Europe in 2015 is a far different place than Europe was in the late 1930s and early 1940s, yet the underlying anti-Semitism that was exhibited in horrific and unspeakable ways during the Holocaust exists even today, seventy years later.
Jews should not have to walk through the streets of Paris with the fear that they may be targeted and attacked solely because they are Jews. European Jewry may be alive and well despite Hitler’s ruthless attempt to destroy them, but they are under siege.
In the face of growing anti-Semitism, do European Jews need to remain vigilant at all times? Of course. Should European Jews pick up and flee their homes and countries, as has been suggested by some? The answer, in my opinion, is absolutely not.
After witnessing the mass gathering in Paris, during which French Jews gathered to celebrate their faith in a proud and public fashion, I was reminded just how strong and resolute the Jewish soul is. European Jews steadfastly refuse to allow the racism and hate that they encounter to adversely affect their religious observance or negatively impact their Jewish identity and pride.
Anti-Semitism is gaining traction in Europe and bigotry is rearing its ugly head all too often, yet our Jewish brethren in Europe refuse to succumb to the hate. I felt extremely privileged to observe the unyielding nature of the French Jewish community as they assembled to celebrate Jewish learning and Jewish life, despite the anti-Semitism that lurks in the shadows.
I arrived in Paris with a touch of apprehension. I left Paris with a great degree of spiritual satisfaction. To the French Jewish community, I say “merci beaucoup.”
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, March 12, 2015
Sounding the Alarm
The
following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I assess
how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fared in the context of his recent speech
to a joint meeting of Congress about the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran:
SOUNDING THE ALARM
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
“As far as I can tell, there was nothing new.” With those ten terse words, President Obama casually and callously dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress.
In an interview after the speech, the President noted that he did not watch Netanyahu’s address. However, after stating that he read the transcript of the remarks, he declared that Netanyahu failed to “offer any viable alternatives” with regard to a possible deal with Iran, which is intended to address the rogue state’s nuclear program.
The President completely missed the point. In order for his efforts to be deemed successful, Prime Minister Netanyahu did not have to come to the United States and propose alternatives to the deal currently being negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 countries, which are the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia. Netanyahu was in no way required to lay out a detailed plan on how to best address the Iranian nuclear threat in order for his remarks to be effective.
All the Prime Minister had to do in order for his mission to be considered efficacious was raise a red flag, spotlight the specter of a bad deal, and sound the alarm. Looking at it from that perspective, Netanyahu’s unquestionably accomplished his goal.
The Prime Minister entered the House Chamber to a reception that was reminiscent of the incredible ovation that greets the President when he enters that same majestic room each year to deliver his State of the Union address. Lawmakers clamored to shake Netanyahu’s hand and the applause for the Israeli leader was quite vociferous. Despite the politics that had enveloped Netanyahu’s visit, there was a palpable sense of excitement and intrigue as he took to the rostrum to deliver his remarks.
And then the Prime Minister did exactly what he needed to do – he sounded the alarm.
During his speech, which generated two-dozen standing ovations and frequent sustained applause, Netanyahu pointed out that we are not dealing with a nation comprised of boy scouts – we are dealing with Iran. Referring to it as “[t]he foremost sponsor of global terrorism,” the Prime Minister rightfully reminded the world of Iran’s past transgressions of terror.
Besides citing its “goons in Gaza, its lackeys in Lebanon, (and) its revolutionary guards on the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu recalled the hostage crisis in Tehran, the murder of American soldiers and Marines in Beirut, and the deadly role Iran played in the bombing of the Jewish community center and the Israeli embassy in Argentina.
After rehashing Iran’s notorious track record of terror, Netanyahu explained why the deal presently being negotiated is a bad deal. He mentioned two major concessions that he believes make this deal fundamentally flawed. First, the deal reportedly would leave Iran’s “vast nuclear infrastructure” intact. Netanyahu voiced his concern that “[t]housands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium would be left spinning,” thereby making it fairly simple for Iran to continue stockpiling enough uranium which could be used to develop a nuclear bomb in a relatively short period of time. Second, the Prime Minister expressed his dismay at the fact that the proposed deal purportedly contains a sunset provision, which provides that the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program will expire in ten years.
In addition, the Prime Minister set forth a number of conditions that he believes Iran must meet prior to having the sanctions eased, independent of its nuclear program. Netanyahu said that at the very least, Iran should be required to “stop its aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East,” “stop supporting terrorism around the world,” and “stop threatening to annihilate…Israel, the one and only Jewish state.”
With his historic address to Congress, Prime Minister skillfully and successfully sounded the alarm. He used what was perhaps the biggest stage available to him to broadcast the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran and to caution against entering into “a very bad deal.”
Telling Congress that the deal could ultimately lead to “a Middle East littered with nuclear bombs and a countdown to a potential nuclear nightmare,” Netanyahu said that the proposed agreement “doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb; it paves Iran’s path to the bomb.”
As the negotiations with Iran continue and the train hurtles down the track at an extraordinary rate of speed towards a possible deal, Netanyahu did everything he could to convince the United States and the world that the train desperately needs to slow down and reassess the direction in which it is headed.
“The alternative to this bad deal is a much better deal,” said the Prime Minister.
With the future of his country at stake and the safety and security of his people at risk of being compromised even further, the Prime Minister did exactly what he needed to at this critical juncture. Netanyahu’s speech to Congress was not about politics, it was about perseverance in the face of tremendous adversity for the sake of his nation.
Despite the warm response that Netanyahu’s speech engendered from many members of Congress, there were certainly those who were not as enamored with his remarks.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said after Netanyahu’s address that she “was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech – saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.”
In addition to being somewhat puerile, the remarks by the House Minority Leader summed up what I believe to be the core of the issue. Rep. Pelosi and others apparently view the Iranian nuclear issue through a lens that is clouded by politics. What she failed to comprehend is that Prime Minister Netanyahu views this issue through a lens that is clearly focused on survival.
Israel and the world cannot afford a deal with Iran that comes about just because some folks want to be able to say that they reached an accord. A bad deal with Iran that fails to adequately address the salient points raised by Netanyahu is not worth the paper that it is written on. Anyone who truly listened to the Prime Minister’s address and heard him effectively sound the alarm knows that to be the case.
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
SOUNDING THE ALARM
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
“As far as I can tell, there was nothing new.” With those ten terse words, President Obama casually and callously dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress.
In an interview after the speech, the President noted that he did not watch Netanyahu’s address. However, after stating that he read the transcript of the remarks, he declared that Netanyahu failed to “offer any viable alternatives” with regard to a possible deal with Iran, which is intended to address the rogue state’s nuclear program.
The President completely missed the point. In order for his efforts to be deemed successful, Prime Minister Netanyahu did not have to come to the United States and propose alternatives to the deal currently being negotiated between Iran and the P5+1 countries, which are the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia. Netanyahu was in no way required to lay out a detailed plan on how to best address the Iranian nuclear threat in order for his remarks to be effective.
All the Prime Minister had to do in order for his mission to be considered efficacious was raise a red flag, spotlight the specter of a bad deal, and sound the alarm. Looking at it from that perspective, Netanyahu’s unquestionably accomplished his goal.
The Prime Minister entered the House Chamber to a reception that was reminiscent of the incredible ovation that greets the President when he enters that same majestic room each year to deliver his State of the Union address. Lawmakers clamored to shake Netanyahu’s hand and the applause for the Israeli leader was quite vociferous. Despite the politics that had enveloped Netanyahu’s visit, there was a palpable sense of excitement and intrigue as he took to the rostrum to deliver his remarks.
And then the Prime Minister did exactly what he needed to do – he sounded the alarm.
During his speech, which generated two-dozen standing ovations and frequent sustained applause, Netanyahu pointed out that we are not dealing with a nation comprised of boy scouts – we are dealing with Iran. Referring to it as “[t]he foremost sponsor of global terrorism,” the Prime Minister rightfully reminded the world of Iran’s past transgressions of terror.
Besides citing its “goons in Gaza, its lackeys in Lebanon, (and) its revolutionary guards on the Golan Heights,” Netanyahu recalled the hostage crisis in Tehran, the murder of American soldiers and Marines in Beirut, and the deadly role Iran played in the bombing of the Jewish community center and the Israeli embassy in Argentina.
After rehashing Iran’s notorious track record of terror, Netanyahu explained why the deal presently being negotiated is a bad deal. He mentioned two major concessions that he believes make this deal fundamentally flawed. First, the deal reportedly would leave Iran’s “vast nuclear infrastructure” intact. Netanyahu voiced his concern that “[t]housands of centrifuges used to enrich uranium would be left spinning,” thereby making it fairly simple for Iran to continue stockpiling enough uranium which could be used to develop a nuclear bomb in a relatively short period of time. Second, the Prime Minister expressed his dismay at the fact that the proposed deal purportedly contains a sunset provision, which provides that the restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program will expire in ten years.
In addition, the Prime Minister set forth a number of conditions that he believes Iran must meet prior to having the sanctions eased, independent of its nuclear program. Netanyahu said that at the very least, Iran should be required to “stop its aggression against its neighbors in the Middle East,” “stop supporting terrorism around the world,” and “stop threatening to annihilate…Israel, the one and only Jewish state.”
With his historic address to Congress, Prime Minister skillfully and successfully sounded the alarm. He used what was perhaps the biggest stage available to him to broadcast the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran and to caution against entering into “a very bad deal.”
Telling Congress that the deal could ultimately lead to “a Middle East littered with nuclear bombs and a countdown to a potential nuclear nightmare,” Netanyahu said that the proposed agreement “doesn’t block Iran’s path to the bomb; it paves Iran’s path to the bomb.”
As the negotiations with Iran continue and the train hurtles down the track at an extraordinary rate of speed towards a possible deal, Netanyahu did everything he could to convince the United States and the world that the train desperately needs to slow down and reassess the direction in which it is headed.
“The alternative to this bad deal is a much better deal,” said the Prime Minister.
With the future of his country at stake and the safety and security of his people at risk of being compromised even further, the Prime Minister did exactly what he needed to at this critical juncture. Netanyahu’s speech to Congress was not about politics, it was about perseverance in the face of tremendous adversity for the sake of his nation.
Despite the warm response that Netanyahu’s speech engendered from many members of Congress, there were certainly those who were not as enamored with his remarks.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said after Netanyahu’s address that she “was near tears throughout the Prime Minister’s speech – saddened by the insult to the intelligence of the United States as part of the P5 +1 nations, and saddened by the condescension toward our knowledge of the threat posed by Iran and our broader commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation.”
In addition to being somewhat puerile, the remarks by the House Minority Leader summed up what I believe to be the core of the issue. Rep. Pelosi and others apparently view the Iranian nuclear issue through a lens that is clouded by politics. What she failed to comprehend is that Prime Minister Netanyahu views this issue through a lens that is clearly focused on survival.
Israel and the world cannot afford a deal with Iran that comes about just because some folks want to be able to say that they reached an accord. A bad deal with Iran that fails to adequately address the salient points raised by Netanyahu is not worth the paper that it is written on. Anyone who truly listened to the Prime Minister’s address and heard him effectively sound the alarm knows that to be the case.
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, February 26, 2015
President 'Sugarcoats' Terrorism
The following is a letter to the editor that I
wrote, which appears in the current edition of The Jewish Week:
President ‘Sugarcoats’ Terrorism
Wed, 02/25/2015
N. Aaron Troodler
The important sentiments expressed by Gary Rosenblatt in his column last week, “First Step To Defeating Terror: Call It What It Is,” were right on the mark. As Jews in the United States, we are privileged to enjoy the religious protections afforded to us by the U.S. Constitution and are fortunate to be able to openly practice our faith without fear of reprisal. That being said, it behooves all of us to recognize that terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Europe are on the rise and the brazen anti-Semitism being exhibited in European countries is becoming rather commonplace.
Although I understand President Obama’s reluctance to impugn the entire Muslim religion, I cannot comprehend how he can in good conscience sugarcoat acts of terror perpetrated by Islamic extremists and downplay the violence that is aimed at Jews solely because they are Jews. When it comes to targeting Jews, there is no degree of randomness, as suggested by President Obama.
If it looks like anti-Semitism and feels like anti-Semitism, we need to readily acknowledge that it is indeed anti-Semitism. We cannot shy away from confronting anti-Semitism whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head and we are certainly not going to win the war against anti-Semitic terror if we cannot even admit that there is a battle that we need to fight.
Teaneck, N.J.
The writer is a publicist for the National Council of Young Israel.
President ‘Sugarcoats’ Terrorism
Wed, 02/25/2015
N. Aaron Troodler
The important sentiments expressed by Gary Rosenblatt in his column last week, “First Step To Defeating Terror: Call It What It Is,” were right on the mark. As Jews in the United States, we are privileged to enjoy the religious protections afforded to us by the U.S. Constitution and are fortunate to be able to openly practice our faith without fear of reprisal. That being said, it behooves all of us to recognize that terrorist attacks targeting Jews in Europe are on the rise and the brazen anti-Semitism being exhibited in European countries is becoming rather commonplace.
Although I understand President Obama’s reluctance to impugn the entire Muslim religion, I cannot comprehend how he can in good conscience sugarcoat acts of terror perpetrated by Islamic extremists and downplay the violence that is aimed at Jews solely because they are Jews. When it comes to targeting Jews, there is no degree of randomness, as suggested by President Obama.
If it looks like anti-Semitism and feels like anti-Semitism, we need to readily acknowledge that it is indeed anti-Semitism. We cannot shy away from confronting anti-Semitism whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head and we are certainly not going to win the war against anti-Semitic terror if we cannot even admit that there is a battle that we need to fight.
Teaneck, N.J.
The writer is a publicist for the National Council of Young Israel.
Exclusive: Senator Cory Booker to Attend Israeli Prime Minister's Speech to Congress
The following is a news story that broke earlier
today, which I got exclusively from Senator Cory Booker for The Jewish Link of
New Jersey about his plans relating to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress:
Exclusive to JLNJ: Senator Cory Booker to Attend Israeli Prime Minister’s Speech to Congress
Thursday, February 26, 2015
By N. Aaron Troodler
As the controversy surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress about the global threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran has risen to fever pitch, many Democratic members of Congress have come forth and publicly declared their intention to either attend the highly publicized speech, or, alternatively, skip the Israeli Prime Minister’s address. One notable exception from the chorus of prominent lawmakers who have opined about Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech is Senator Cory Booker.
In light of his profound affinity for Israel and the Jewish community, Senator Booker’s silence thus far regarding Netanyahu’s highly politicized address was particularly noteworthy and led to speculation whether or not the high-profile lawmaker would attend the speech. Complicating matters is the fact that Booker is the only senator in the Congressional Black Caucus, which has seen a number of its members declare their intent to boycott Netanyahu’s speech.
Senator Booker ended his silence this week. In an exclusive statement to JLNJ, the Senator said he will attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress and explained his rationale for doing so.
“I am deeply troubled by the politicization of America’s vital relationship with Israel, and the disregard for longstanding diplomatic protocol displayed by House Republican leadership,” said Senator Booker. “This is an affront to our president, to members of congress, and a betrayal of the long-held American principle that when it comes to national security, politics ends at the water’s edge. I am committed to upholding that principle -- when America’s and Israel’s security is on the line, and we’re dealing with a situation as dire and complex as Iranian nuclear negotiations, I will listen to all sides, and will not miss an opportunity to hear from the prime minister of one of America’s closest and most important allies.”
Citing the importance of the US-Israel connection, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, a leading advocate for strengthening the United States’ bond with Israel, noted that he will attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address, despite his displeasure with the manner in which it came about. Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and a staunch defender of the State of Israel, exhorted his Democratic colleagues to attend the speech and not allow partisan politics to stand in the way of the US-Israel relationship.
Senator Booker’s deep connections to the Jewish community are well known and he is widely recognized as a strong supporter of the State of Israel. “The Jewish community is extraordinarily important,” Senator Booker said in a 2014 interview. In 2013 he said, “I have a very strong desire that we do everything for the continuance of, and the establishment of, a real secure Jewish state of Israel. That’s very, very important to me and drives a lot of my thinking about foreign policy in terms of the Middle East situation.”
Exclusive to JLNJ: Senator Cory Booker to Attend Israeli Prime Minister’s Speech to Congress
Thursday, February 26, 2015
By N. Aaron Troodler
As the controversy surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu’s upcoming address to Congress about the global threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran has risen to fever pitch, many Democratic members of Congress have come forth and publicly declared their intention to either attend the highly publicized speech, or, alternatively, skip the Israeli Prime Minister’s address. One notable exception from the chorus of prominent lawmakers who have opined about Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech is Senator Cory Booker.
In light of his profound affinity for Israel and the Jewish community, Senator Booker’s silence thus far regarding Netanyahu’s highly politicized address was particularly noteworthy and led to speculation whether or not the high-profile lawmaker would attend the speech. Complicating matters is the fact that Booker is the only senator in the Congressional Black Caucus, which has seen a number of its members declare their intent to boycott Netanyahu’s speech.
Senator Booker ended his silence this week. In an exclusive statement to JLNJ, the Senator said he will attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress and explained his rationale for doing so.
“I am deeply troubled by the politicization of America’s vital relationship with Israel, and the disregard for longstanding diplomatic protocol displayed by House Republican leadership,” said Senator Booker. “This is an affront to our president, to members of congress, and a betrayal of the long-held American principle that when it comes to national security, politics ends at the water’s edge. I am committed to upholding that principle -- when America’s and Israel’s security is on the line, and we’re dealing with a situation as dire and complex as Iranian nuclear negotiations, I will listen to all sides, and will not miss an opportunity to hear from the prime minister of one of America’s closest and most important allies.”
Citing the importance of the US-Israel connection, New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, a leading advocate for strengthening the United States’ bond with Israel, noted that he will attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address, despite his displeasure with the manner in which it came about. Senator Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and a staunch defender of the State of Israel, exhorted his Democratic colleagues to attend the speech and not allow partisan politics to stand in the way of the US-Israel relationship.
Senator Booker’s deep connections to the Jewish community are well known and he is widely recognized as a strong supporter of the State of Israel. “The Jewish community is extraordinarily important,” Senator Booker said in a 2014 interview. In 2013 he said, “I have a very strong desire that we do everything for the continuance of, and the establishment of, a real secure Jewish state of Israel. That’s very, very important to me and drives a lot of my thinking about foreign policy in terms of the Middle East situation.”
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Can’t We All Just Get Along?
The
following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I
write about the controversy surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu’s scheduled address to Congress and discuss the importance of
bipartisan cooperation in order to maintain the strength of the US-Israel
relationship:
CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Diplomatic protocol is sacrosanct to world leaders. Adherence to the unofficial rules of international diplomacy is universally expected and any deviation from those rubrics is viewed as a serious breach of this unwritten code.
As savvy as he is, Ron Dermer, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, committed a big blunder when he worked exclusively with House Speaker John Boehner to arrange for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress in March.
Let us forget for a moment that the speech was scheduled to take place just a short time prior to the upcoming Israeli elections for the Knesset. That alone elevated the Ambassador’s actions to a major faux pas. Let us instead focus on what the core of the problem appears to be, namely, that the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress were kept in the dark until just shortly before the Prime Minister’s plans were made public.
By collaborating with Speaker Boehner, to the exclusion of his colleagues across the political aisle and without involving the President, Ambassador Dermer committed a gross miscalculation that appears to have thrown the state of the U.S.-Israel relationship into utter turmoil. Amidst angry statements from the White House and threats from Democratic lawmakers that they will boycott the Prime Minister’s address, the once seemingly unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel appears to have ruptured to a certain extent.
Vice President Biden announced that he would not attend the speech, and a slew of Senators and Representatives stated that they would boycott the address. Viewing the speech as a sign of disrespect to President Obama, many members of the Congressional Black Caucus declared their intent to boycott the Prime Minister’s address, including renowned civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis.
I understand why the White House and the Democratic lawmakers, many of whom are strong supporters of Israel, are angry. This entire situation was handled poorly from the outset and the controversy that ultimately arose could have easily been avoided. That being said, it is time to move on and to look at the bigger picture.
U.S. Congressional leaders need to coalesce around Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned speech to Congress and not allow the partisan debate surrounding the speech to undercut the strong U.S.-Israel relationship. The Prime Minister’s address, which is scheduled to take place shortly before the March 31 deadline to reach a deal concerning Iran’s nuclear program, is expected to focus on the grave threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran and spotlight the ramifications of a potential agreement that softens the sanctions and empowers one of the world’s most notorious and active state sponsors of terrorism.
With the deadline to reach an agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear capabilities rapidly approaching, an address by the Israeli Prime Minister, who has long warned about the existential threat that a nuclear Iran poses to the world, not only makes sense, but is vitally important. As someone who has closely monitored the Iranian situation and whose country and citizens have repeatedly been the targets of terrorist groups intent on destroying them, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s perspective on Iran is a credible and critical piece to a very complex diplomatic puzzle.
At the same time, while I fully support Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to accept an invitation to address Congress, I am deeply troubled by the partisan divide that has ensued and the political rancor that it has engendered.
I am extraordinarily grateful for the United States’ longstanding and resolute relationship with the State of Israel and recognize that the enduring nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship has always been rooted in bipartisan support. It is my hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu will proceed with his address to Congress as planned and that lawmakers from both major political parties will attend and listen to what he has to say on an issue that has global implications and with which the Prime Minister is intimately familiar.
We cannot afford to allow partisan politics to overshadow a key issue that warrants bipartisan support. In this instance, where the status of the United States’ relationship with its key ally in the Middle East seemingly hangs in the balance, bipartisanship and cooperation must transcend party politics.
“Israel’s survival is not a partisan issue, not in Israel nor in the United States,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “I am going to the United States not because I seek a confrontation with the President, but because I must fulfill my obligation to speak up on a matter that affects the very survival of my country.”
There is no question that the planning process surrounding the Prime Minister’s Congressional address may have been flawed, but that should not diminish the importance of the subject matter to be discussed. Lawmakers in Washington, DC need to break through the partisan squabble that developed after plans for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech were announced, check their egos and emotions at the door, and come hear what he has to say.
Can’t we all just get along? For Israel’s sake, I hope that the answer is “yes.”
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
CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Diplomatic protocol is sacrosanct to world leaders. Adherence to the unofficial rules of international diplomacy is universally expected and any deviation from those rubrics is viewed as a serious breach of this unwritten code.
As savvy as he is, Ron Dermer, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, committed a big blunder when he worked exclusively with House Speaker John Boehner to arrange for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress in March.
Let us forget for a moment that the speech was scheduled to take place just a short time prior to the upcoming Israeli elections for the Knesset. That alone elevated the Ambassador’s actions to a major faux pas. Let us instead focus on what the core of the problem appears to be, namely, that the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress were kept in the dark until just shortly before the Prime Minister’s plans were made public.
By collaborating with Speaker Boehner, to the exclusion of his colleagues across the political aisle and without involving the President, Ambassador Dermer committed a gross miscalculation that appears to have thrown the state of the U.S.-Israel relationship into utter turmoil. Amidst angry statements from the White House and threats from Democratic lawmakers that they will boycott the Prime Minister’s address, the once seemingly unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel appears to have ruptured to a certain extent.
Vice President Biden announced that he would not attend the speech, and a slew of Senators and Representatives stated that they would boycott the address. Viewing the speech as a sign of disrespect to President Obama, many members of the Congressional Black Caucus declared their intent to boycott the Prime Minister’s address, including renowned civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis.
I understand why the White House and the Democratic lawmakers, many of whom are strong supporters of Israel, are angry. This entire situation was handled poorly from the outset and the controversy that ultimately arose could have easily been avoided. That being said, it is time to move on and to look at the bigger picture.
U.S. Congressional leaders need to coalesce around Prime Minister Netanyahu’s planned speech to Congress and not allow the partisan debate surrounding the speech to undercut the strong U.S.-Israel relationship. The Prime Minister’s address, which is scheduled to take place shortly before the March 31 deadline to reach a deal concerning Iran’s nuclear program, is expected to focus on the grave threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran and spotlight the ramifications of a potential agreement that softens the sanctions and empowers one of the world’s most notorious and active state sponsors of terrorism.
With the deadline to reach an agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear capabilities rapidly approaching, an address by the Israeli Prime Minister, who has long warned about the existential threat that a nuclear Iran poses to the world, not only makes sense, but is vitally important. As someone who has closely monitored the Iranian situation and whose country and citizens have repeatedly been the targets of terrorist groups intent on destroying them, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s perspective on Iran is a credible and critical piece to a very complex diplomatic puzzle.
At the same time, while I fully support Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to accept an invitation to address Congress, I am deeply troubled by the partisan divide that has ensued and the political rancor that it has engendered.
I am extraordinarily grateful for the United States’ longstanding and resolute relationship with the State of Israel and recognize that the enduring nature of the U.S.-Israel relationship has always been rooted in bipartisan support. It is my hope that Prime Minister Netanyahu will proceed with his address to Congress as planned and that lawmakers from both major political parties will attend and listen to what he has to say on an issue that has global implications and with which the Prime Minister is intimately familiar.
We cannot afford to allow partisan politics to overshadow a key issue that warrants bipartisan support. In this instance, where the status of the United States’ relationship with its key ally in the Middle East seemingly hangs in the balance, bipartisanship and cooperation must transcend party politics.
“Israel’s survival is not a partisan issue, not in Israel nor in the United States,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu. “I am going to the United States not because I seek a confrontation with the President, but because I must fulfill my obligation to speak up on a matter that affects the very survival of my country.”
There is no question that the planning process surrounding the Prime Minister’s Congressional address may have been flawed, but that should not diminish the importance of the subject matter to be discussed. Lawmakers in Washington, DC need to break through the partisan squabble that developed after plans for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech were announced, check their egos and emotions at the door, and come hear what he has to say.
Can’t we all just get along? For Israel’s sake, I hope that the answer is “yes.”
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, February 5, 2015
Feeling Like the Neglected Child
The
following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of New Jersey, in which I examine
how Governor Chris Christie’s presidential ambitions are impacting New Jersey:
FEELING LIKE THE NEGLECTED CHILD
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Some may say that New Jersey residents have a bit of a complex. They often feel a sense of inferiority when compared to the flashy and famous neighboring state of New York which is right across the Hudson River. Despite all that the Garden State has to offer, many New Jerseyans have grown accustomed to playing second fiddle to their neighbor known as the Empire State.
Yet, there is a renewed sense of inferiority among New Jersey residents these days when they turn their eyes towards Trenton. The one person who should theoretically be their biggest cheerleader and offer them infinite consideration and endless support has sadly turned his attention elsewhere. Governor Chris Christie has seemingly moved on to bigger and better things and appears to have left New Jersey in his rear view mirror as he continues his national tour.
Perhaps if New Jersey was named “Iowa” or “New Hampshire,” Chris Christie might pay more attention to it. If New Jersey boasted the first presidential primary election or caucus in the nation, maybe Chris Christie would give it a second look. After spending all or part of nearly 140 days traveling outside of New Jersey last year, Governor Christie’s apparent desire to put as much distance as possible between himself and the Garden State is a stinging rebuke to the people who elected him to govern, not once, but twice.
Christie’s fascination with the national stage, and, in particular, with the key battleground states, is attributable to his not-so-secret desire to ascend to the presidency and take up residence in the White House. Instead of thinking of ways to make New Jersey better, Chris Christie is spending his days contemplating ways to make Chris Christie better.
New Jersey residents are not taking too kindly to their absentee governor who harbors national ambitions. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that Christie’s approval rating is at the lowest point that it has been in nearly four years. One year after the Bridgegate controversy exploded, just 46 percent of New Jersey voters approve of the job Chris Christie is doing as governor, while 48 percent disapprove of his performance. The last time that Christie eclipsed the 50-percent mark was when he garnered a 55-percent approval rating one year ago.
In fact, the majority of New Jersey voters do not believe that Christie should run for president. Another recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 56-percent of Garden State voters say that he should not embark on a White House run, 57-percent say he would not make a good Commander-in-Chief, and 52-percent believe that a presidential campaign is distracting Christie from properly performing his duties as governor. In addition, in the event that Chris Christie formally enters the race, 66-percent of New Jersey voters are of the opinion that he should resign as governor.
In what amounts to a strong indication that he is seriously leaning towards a presidential run, we learned recently that Chris Christie has established a political action committee (PAC) that would allow him to start hiring staff members for a 2016 campaign. Christie, who named his PAC “Leadership Matters for America,” could utilize this new tool to fund his travel expenses and other miscellaneous activities.
Yes, “Leadership Matters for America.” However, my dear Governor, in case you have not yet realized it, leadership matters for New Jersey as well. While you seek to exhibit leadership on a national level, you seem to have forsaken the mantle of leadership that you were handed by the electorate in New Jersey.
While you jet around the country and lay the groundwork for what appears to be an inevitable presidential run, you inexplicably and inconsiderately turned your back on the people that you pledged to represent in New Jersey. It seems as if you would prefer to be in any other state in the union but the state that you were charged with managing. New Jersey has gone from being the “Garden State” to becoming the “Forgotten State.”
Instead of hobnobbing with Jerry Jones in the posh owner’s suite and on the sidelines at Dallas Cowboys games, perhaps you should focus on the job that you have to do at home.
Aside from engaging in damage control measures as a result of self-inflicted controversies and scandals, there is real work to be done here and important issues that need to be addressed.
With improvements needed to the state’s transportation infrastructure, including many of its roads and bridges, money needs to be restored to the Transportation Trust Fund. With so many New Jersey residents still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, more help is needed for those whose lives were torn apart by the storm. With New Jerseyans struggling under a crushing property tax burden, relief is desperately needed. With the state pension fund in dire straits, stabilization of the fund is imperative.
New Jersey residents did not elect Chris Christie to be their governor for the 62-percent of the time that he was actually in his home state last year; they elected him to be their governor for 100-percent of the time. With a governor that is going more than he is coming, New Jerseyans feel like a neglected child whose parent has abandoned them.
Leadership requires one to lead, not leave. It is okay for Governor Christie to have political ambitions; however, his professional dreams cannot come at New Jerseyans’ personal expense. An absentee governor is not the answer to solving New Jersey’s problems. Someone ought to tell that to Chris Christie.
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
FEELING LIKE THE NEGLECTED CHILD
By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.
Some may say that New Jersey residents have a bit of a complex. They often feel a sense of inferiority when compared to the flashy and famous neighboring state of New York which is right across the Hudson River. Despite all that the Garden State has to offer, many New Jerseyans have grown accustomed to playing second fiddle to their neighbor known as the Empire State.
Yet, there is a renewed sense of inferiority among New Jersey residents these days when they turn their eyes towards Trenton. The one person who should theoretically be their biggest cheerleader and offer them infinite consideration and endless support has sadly turned his attention elsewhere. Governor Chris Christie has seemingly moved on to bigger and better things and appears to have left New Jersey in his rear view mirror as he continues his national tour.
Perhaps if New Jersey was named “Iowa” or “New Hampshire,” Chris Christie might pay more attention to it. If New Jersey boasted the first presidential primary election or caucus in the nation, maybe Chris Christie would give it a second look. After spending all or part of nearly 140 days traveling outside of New Jersey last year, Governor Christie’s apparent desire to put as much distance as possible between himself and the Garden State is a stinging rebuke to the people who elected him to govern, not once, but twice.
Christie’s fascination with the national stage, and, in particular, with the key battleground states, is attributable to his not-so-secret desire to ascend to the presidency and take up residence in the White House. Instead of thinking of ways to make New Jersey better, Chris Christie is spending his days contemplating ways to make Chris Christie better.
New Jersey residents are not taking too kindly to their absentee governor who harbors national ambitions. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found that Christie’s approval rating is at the lowest point that it has been in nearly four years. One year after the Bridgegate controversy exploded, just 46 percent of New Jersey voters approve of the job Chris Christie is doing as governor, while 48 percent disapprove of his performance. The last time that Christie eclipsed the 50-percent mark was when he garnered a 55-percent approval rating one year ago.
In fact, the majority of New Jersey voters do not believe that Christie should run for president. Another recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 56-percent of Garden State voters say that he should not embark on a White House run, 57-percent say he would not make a good Commander-in-Chief, and 52-percent believe that a presidential campaign is distracting Christie from properly performing his duties as governor. In addition, in the event that Chris Christie formally enters the race, 66-percent of New Jersey voters are of the opinion that he should resign as governor.
In what amounts to a strong indication that he is seriously leaning towards a presidential run, we learned recently that Chris Christie has established a political action committee (PAC) that would allow him to start hiring staff members for a 2016 campaign. Christie, who named his PAC “Leadership Matters for America,” could utilize this new tool to fund his travel expenses and other miscellaneous activities.
Yes, “Leadership Matters for America.” However, my dear Governor, in case you have not yet realized it, leadership matters for New Jersey as well. While you seek to exhibit leadership on a national level, you seem to have forsaken the mantle of leadership that you were handed by the electorate in New Jersey.
While you jet around the country and lay the groundwork for what appears to be an inevitable presidential run, you inexplicably and inconsiderately turned your back on the people that you pledged to represent in New Jersey. It seems as if you would prefer to be in any other state in the union but the state that you were charged with managing. New Jersey has gone from being the “Garden State” to becoming the “Forgotten State.”
Instead of hobnobbing with Jerry Jones in the posh owner’s suite and on the sidelines at Dallas Cowboys games, perhaps you should focus on the job that you have to do at home.
Aside from engaging in damage control measures as a result of self-inflicted controversies and scandals, there is real work to be done here and important issues that need to be addressed.
With improvements needed to the state’s transportation infrastructure, including many of its roads and bridges, money needs to be restored to the Transportation Trust Fund. With so many New Jersey residents still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, more help is needed for those whose lives were torn apart by the storm. With New Jerseyans struggling under a crushing property tax burden, relief is desperately needed. With the state pension fund in dire straits, stabilization of the fund is imperative.
New Jersey residents did not elect Chris Christie to be their governor for the 62-percent of the time that he was actually in his home state last year; they elected him to be their governor for 100-percent of the time. With a governor that is going more than he is coming, New Jerseyans feel like a neglected child whose parent has abandoned them.
Leadership requires one to lead, not leave. It is okay for Governor Christie to have political ambitions; however, his professional dreams cannot come at New Jerseyans’ personal expense. An absentee governor is not the answer to solving New Jersey’s problems. Someone ought to tell that to Chris Christie.
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
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