May 29, 2008 - 11:33am
A “Primary” Change of Mind
By Debbie Holtz
Category: US SenateTags: U.S. Senate, Frank Lautenberg, Donald Payne, Hillary Clinton, ROB ANDREWSTop Story: Opinion
No doubt the Rob Andrews’ cold shoulder snub by his Democrat Congressional colleagues is newsworthy.
As reported yesterday by the NY Times, Andrews’ “fellow Democrats in the state’s Congressional delegation are shunning him, avoiding teaming up with him on legislative work and seldom speaking with him,” (Challenger Gets Cold Shoulder in New Jersey).
But the Times’ article goes on to say the snub is “striking even in the rough-and-tumble of New Jersey politics."
That may be a bit of stretch.
According to reports, Andrews committed his support to Lautenberg last fall but changed his mind in April when he threw his hat in the ring. Yet at the time, the lay of the land had started to change including published poll reports raising questions about Lautenberg’s age and the Republican efforts to line up a formidable and well financed challenger.
And how’s that much different from Congressman Donald Payne’s flip-flop of his publicly pledged support for Presidential Democrat Candidate Hillary Clinton?
Perhaps one of the four Times’ reporters contributing to the story should have asked Payne about “keeping his word.”
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You mention the published
You mention the published reports of "the Republican efforts to line up a formidable and well financed challenger" as a reason that Mr. Andrews changed his mind about his pledged support for Senator Lautenberg. However, if that bungled mess of a recruitment by the Republicans in this state is what for passes as a valid reason for turning tail, then it's even worse than I thought. The Republicans backed at least three different "viable" challengers in a matter of weeks. I don't exactly think anyone believes they have a shot at taking a state wide office in NJ. If Tom Kean, Jr. couldn't do it, I don't think the third choice of the State Republican party will either.
I'm just happy
that we have someone running who actually lives in NJ.
Does this sounds a little "high school"
without the musical to anybody? C'Mon-"shunning someone" because they dare run against your political collegue? These congressmen are not friends of Lautenberg, they probably have never been to the man's house or know his kids or grandkids names. Why shun Andrews because he dared to run?
Last time I looked this was stilll America.
And by the way I'm voting for Lautenberg. I think Pallone and company sounds like a pack of fools for getting in the middle of this. The last era that anyone cared about gentlemen's agreements people were watching black and white tv.