David Szuchman

The decision of an outraged Governor Jon Corzine to withdraw his renomination of Superior Court Judge Fred Kiesler for using a racial slur in the courtroom came eight years after his own fledgling political career nearly ended after making an ethnic joke of his own. Kieser, who has been on the bench for seven years, used a “no tickee, no laundry” line – a comment viewed as offensive to Asian American immigrants. Corzine, as a U.S. Senate candidate in March 2000, made a joke about asking an Italian American businessman if he made 'cement shoes." He also made a Jewish lawyer joke.

Corzine made a very public apology and asked for the forgiveness of Italian American and Jewish community leaders. His charitable foundation also made some strategic contributions. Kieser, it seems, doesn’t have a foundation.

The Governor dropped Keiser only after the Senate Judiciary Committee released details of a complaint against the Middlesex County Judge – although the complaint about the ethnic slur was in Keiser's file at the time the Corzine decided to renominate him. Corzine still renominated Jeanne Fox, the wife of his political advisor, to the Board of Public Utilities, despite accusations of ethical improprieties that are potentially more serious and substantial.

Jon Corzine raided Eliot Spitzer’s staff today, nominating David Szuchman as the new state Director of Consumer Affairs.  Szuchman serves as Senior Counsel in Spitzer’s appointments office, and worked for Spitzer as an Assistant New York Attorney General.  He says he’ll move to New Jersey if he’s confirmed.