Former BCRO Finance Chair Says Caliguire is No Reagan

 THE RED FACTION

Freedom, Responsibility Self-Reliance

April 13, 2007 

 FORMER BCRO FINANCE CHAIR SAYS TALARICO AND CALIGUIRE ARE DISGRACING LEGACY OF RONALD REAGAN 

 Lyndhurst – Red Faction Chairman and former finance chair of the Bergen County Republican Organization today called up the Caliguire Team in District 40 to cease disgracing the name of Ronald Reagan by claiming to be adherents of the 40th President’s legacy.  

Joseph Caruso, who resigned this week as BCRO finance chair because he did not want to see GOP funds wasted on an unnecessary Primary Election in District 40, said Caliguire’s team  -- backed by BCRO chairman Guy Talarico – “is fraudulently claiming a legacy they do not deserve. 

“Frankly, after what I have seen of the financial acumen of the chairman and of Todd Caliguire and the campaigns he has run, their claim to be the Reagan Team is an insult to Ronald Reagan and to good Republicans everywhere,� said Caruso.  

“Ronald Reagan didn’t pile up campaign debt, didn’t get his party evicted from its headquarters, and didn’t leave behind unpaid campaign bills,� said Caruso.

“Ronald Reagan was a great man of principle, honesty and integrity – unfortunately the same can’t be said of Talarico and Caliguire.�    

 “It’s really a desperation tactic for Mr. Caliguire, who lost election last year  by nearly 53,000 votes to claim to be a descendent of Reagan. Comparing Todd Caliguire to Ronald Reagan is like comparing Nancy Pelosi to Thomas Jefferson; it’s a deceitful joke.�  

 “I would hope that Caliguire’s running mates – if they had real concern for the Republican Party and their political futures -- would abandon this self-destructive initiative. They have nothing to gain by supporting Caliguire in another failed venture.�

Caruso said if Talarico and Caliguire really wanted to help the Republican Party win in November, they would end the Primary battle in District 40, and put their efforts into defeating Democrats in District 36 and 38, where there are state and federal investigations that could harm incumbent Democrats.

 “Ronald Reagan was all about winning and helping Republicans win. I don’t see any effort by Caliguire or Talarico to help Republicans win anywhere, especially in Districts 36 and 38, where the GOP has great opportunities.  

“The last thing President Reagan would endorse would be a self-centered campaign in a Republican District that will do nothing but weaken the Republican Party,� added Caruso.