2009 Democratic State Conference

Save the Date!

September 24th - 26th

Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino
Atlantic City, NJ

Christie Countdown Clock

The AP reported on June 18th that the Christie for Governor website took down the "Shared Values" section that declared Right Wing Conservative Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie's clearly defined positions against a woman’s right to choose and gay marriage for "technical reasons". This clock will stay up on our website to keep track of how long it takes the Conservative standard bearer to get the "technical" glitches worked out from his values.

Put this clock on your own website by copying the code below.

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NJ Organizing for America Listening Tour: Reconnect, Reengage and Reenergize!

July 1 - In order to “Bring Change to Washington,” President Obama has called for all of us to help make that change a reality.

Together we have worked to build a bottoms-up grassroots movement and the Organizing for America (OFA) Listening Tours are a way to continue that momentum.

The Listening Tours are a way to open a dialogue within various communities to discuss ways to organize both effectively and strategically on a wide range of issues.

The campaign brought an unprecedented number of new voices into the process. Our goal now is to make sure those voices remain at the center of the debate as the President and Congress move forward to address the challenges we face.

To find a Listening Tour by you, please visit: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/listeningtour

Reporters agree: Christie should restore his right wing values to his website

June 29 - On Reporters Roundtable last Friday evening, Michael Aron of NJN and Michael Symons of Gannett New Jersey agreed that Chris Christie should restore his right wing conservative values to his website.

In a discussion of Christie’s right wing conservative values, Symons said that the Christie’s Values Clock “reminds people that [Christie] holds some social opinions that aren’t, you know, overwhelmingly the viewpoint of the New Jersey public and that he’s sorta trying to hide that from you.” Host Michael Aron replied, “So maybe he should put them back up and get rid of one of those two.” “Sure. Exactly,” said Symons.

CHRISTIE AND ROMNEY’S EXTREME RIGHT WING AGENDA BAD FOR NEW JERSEY

June 12 - United States Senator Frank Lautenberg today blasted Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for using conservative right-wing Republican Mitt Romney as the headliner at a fundraiser last night.

“Chris Christie is kicking off his campaign with a conservative Republican whose extreme right-wing positions couldn’t be more out of touch with New Jersey residents,” said Lautenberg. “Mitt Romney has repeatedly denounced President Obama’s economic recovery package, has declared his opposition to a woman’s right to choose, condemned the President’s selection of Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court and proven himself to be a prime supporter and was a cheerleader for George W. Bush.”

As a failed Presidential candidate, Romney opposed stem-cell research, vowed to veto an expansion of children’s health care, and vowed to appoint right-wing justices to the Supreme Court. Like Christie, Romney wants to overturn Roe v. Wade and turn back the clock on women’s rights. Romney has also repeatedly defended President Bush’s failed policies and has boasted of being the “conservative’s conservative.”

What a Week!

Dear friends,

What a week!

Last week was an exciting time to be a Democrat in New Jersey.

First, on Tuesday, Governor Corzine kicked off his re-election campaign in style with none other than Vice President Joe Biden alongside him. Gov. Corzine told the crowd of more than 3,000 enthusiastic supporters at the Richard Codey Arena in West Orange that he’s "Going to fight like hell for the values that we share."

Then, on Thursday, a packed house at NJPAC in Newark saw a spectacular acoustic performance from Jersey’s own Jon Bon Jovi in support of Governor Corzine. The rock legend played his hits "Who Says You Can't Go Home" and "Livin’ On A Prayer."

Seventy women—many running for office this year—participated in free workshops as
part of the Step Up! Democratic Women’s Campaign Training held at the Rutgers Labor Education Center in New Brunswick on Saturday. Participants learned valuable tricks of the trade from campaign veterans and elected officials—everything from crafting a
message to raising money for a local race—as they geared up for their own campaigns.

It was outstanding to hear from women who told me the panelists offered "real life solutions to issues" and that it was "encouraging to hear what others have had to overcome to win office."

Tens of thousands of people throughout the state and the country also came together this weekend for the Health Care Organizing Kickoff, hosting house parties in their communities to begin to organize for quality, affordable healthcare for every American. Real reform is now possible, and these events are an opportunity to start
the dialogue, building support one block, one neighbor, one conversation at a time.

Host or attend a Health Care Organizing event!

Watch President Obama’s Health Care Message!

I look ahead to many more great events this campaign season and I hope you will join me. There’s a lot of work left to do – working to re-elect our Governor to keep New Jersey moving forward and taking up the challenge to do our part for President Obama’s ambitious agenda to keep our country moving forward.

Sincerely,

Joe Cryan
Chairman, NJ Democratic State Committee

Christie the Conservative: In His Own Words

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie said himself, "Judge me by the words that come out of my mouth." Watch as Christie boasts of his conservative credentials and ultraconservative positions on social issues putting him out of touch with the mainstream values of our state.

Watch the video:

Hypocrite Christie

May 28 - Today, the Associated Press reported that a top Christie campaign adviser has a part-time political consulting job for a state senator that allows him to stay in the state pension system -- exactly the type of activity Christie has vowed to stop if elected governor.

If elected governor of New Jersey, Republican candidate Christopher Christie vows to stop politicians from taking part-time government jobs that keep them in the state pension system.

This week, Christie said he had no idea that one of his closest campaign advisers, former Morris County freeholder John P. Inglesino, was among those doing just that.

"I don't believe any part-time politicians should be getting pensions," Christie said when told Inglesino has a $3,000-a-year political consulting job for a state senator that allowed him to stay in the pension system after losing his elected office.

As the Associated Press makes clear, this is not the first time Christie has found himself in hot water for his connections to Inglesino.

Inglesino co-hosted a $500-a-plate fundraiser for Christie a week after the candidate said he'd reject all future campaign donations from lawyers to whom he awarded no-bid contracts as U.S. attorney.

Inglesino's law firm earned $3 million after Christie appointed it to monitor an out-of-court corporate fraud settlement. He, his law partners and their wives gave Christie's campaign the maximum allowable donations.

Meanwhile, another candidate seeking the Republican nomination, Assemblyman Rick Merkt of Mendham, said Inglesino offered him a major position in Christie's campaign or administration if he stayed out of the race.

Join the NJ Student Democrats!

May 18 - Join the new NJ Student Democrats Facebook group to connect with other Democratic students from all over the state! NJ Student Democrats works closely with groups such as the NJ Young Democrats and NJ College Democrats.

NJ STUDENT DEMOCRATS ON FACEBOOK!

Click here to SIGN UP AS A YOUTH ACTIVIST TODAY.

NJ Student Democrats is currently seeking motivated students for student leadership positions within the organization. If you are interested in applying visit the Facebook group here.

If you have a Democratic group at your high school or college and interested in more information from the NJ Students Democrats, contact Allen Gannett at allen [@] youthocracy [.] org.

Don't forget to join the Official NJ Democrats Facebook group too!

3rd Annual Step Up Women's Campaign Training

Governor Jon S. Corzine and The New Jersey Democratic State Committee Present the 3rd Annual STEP-UP Democratic Women's Leadership Workshops on June 6th, 13th and 20th, 2009.

Thinking about running for office? Want to get involved in a campaign?

The New Jersey Democratic State Committee is hosting a FREE training program for Democratic women interested in running for an elected position, working on a campaign or just getting involved in politics. In order to accommodate the most people, we will be holding three trainings, one each in south, central and north Jersey.

Since the launch of this program in 2007, New Jersey voters have elected a record number of women to the state legislature. New Jersey has recently jumped to 11th place in the country for the proportion of women in its legislature (from 43rd just five years ago). Of the 37 women currently serving in the New Jersey State Legislature 26, or 70%, are Democrats.

Despite the big gains in the statehouse, our trainings are really focused on women running in local campaigns and topics will include Fundraising, Media Relations and Messaging, Field Strategies and Internet/New Media communications.

Interested? For more information please email: StepUpNJ [@] gmail.com

VP Biden Praises Gov's Leadership on Economic Recovery

May 7 - On Thursday, Vice President Biden came to New Jersey for a ceremonial groundbreaking of the state's first infrastructure project funded by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. During his remarks he took a moment to praise Governor Corzine's leadership on the economic recovery.

Survivor: GOP Edition

"It is true that being a Republican moderate sometimes feels like being a cast member of "Survivor" - you are presented with multiple challenges, and you often get the distinct feeling that you're no longer welcome in the tribe."
- Sen. Olympia Snow (R-ME) Op-Ed, April 29