March 26, 2008 - 11:43am
Wilson shoots an angry letter to Lautenbreg
By Matt FriedmanRepublican State Chairman Tom Wilson faxed an angry letter to Democratic U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg this morning, accusing his reelection campaign of being the source of today’s Star-Ledger story that quoted a lawsuit related to an intra-family business spat that led to Senate candidate Andy Unanue’s ouster as Chief Operating Officer of Goya Foods.
“It is telling that after nearly 25 years in office, the best you have to offer the people of New Jersey is a tired, old gutter campaign replete with sleazy personal attacks,” said Wilson. “Frankly, the legal proceedings from Andy's family business dispute are no more relevant or appropriate campaign fodder than your divorce proceedings.”
The four year old testimony quoted in the article alleged that Unanue showed up to work drunk. In his own testimony, Unanue disputed that, but admitted that he had come to work hung over.
Wilson went on to outline past Lautenberg campaigns where he said he smeared his opponents, like the campaign against Republican Millicent Fenwick that launched his Senate career.
“From your 1982 campaign that suggested that Millicent Fenwick, at 72 (12 years your younger), was too old to serve to your 1998 name calling
campaign against Pete Dawkins to your use of cropped photos and baseless personal attacks against Chuck Haytaian's family in 1994 to your participation in the 2002 switcharoo, your campaigns have always been notable for their negativity and sleazy tactics,” he said.
Wilson ended the letter by asking Lautenberg to “pledge that you will end your 2008 campaign of sleaze at once and for once in your long career commit to a race that focuses on the problems our families face and the solutions that best address those challenges.”
Democratic Senatorial Camaign Committee Matt Miller responded that it's not his fault the Republican Party originally missed the information.
“Tom Wilson should spend less time writing these silly attack letters and more time vetting his unqualified candidates," he said.
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So what?
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the Disco.
Good job, Tom!
Way to insult the state's largest paper by saying that they couldn't have found this on their own.
There are staff writers whose entire job it is to wander through court filings looking for good stories.
The Star Ledger covered this back when it happened, so it was in their archives.
Do you really think that the Star Ledger couldn't put two and two together without the help of the Democratic Party to find this nugget?
Plus, as a commenter above says, who cares where it came from? It's true and if Andy and Tom can't handle it then maybe they should give up politics and go out for the local badminton club.
And the funniest part of this is that Tom Wilson has the temerity to suggest (oh, in all innocense!) that divorce proceedings are of no merit in a campaign after the mud he himself has slung over the years.
Who's Lautenbreg?
I agree with formerlyanonymous by the way. Any lazy journalist would have founfd this tidbit out! Plus, this has been gossiped about in the Financial Times and other finance rags. Wilson's all wet on this one!
Re: Oh well
At the least, Wilson is actually fighting Lautenberg. Complacency is one of the worst problems plaguing the NJ GOP, it needs some fire in its belly, and Tom is at least trying to light it.
Evanlazer -- Fighting Shadows
This isn't fighting Lautenberg, this is fighting shadows.
The problem with the NJ GOP isn't that it doesn't fight, it's that it has nothing to fight for. There's plenty to fight against with the Dems, but the NJ GOP has no candidates (look at the Senate race!), no recent wins, and no real platform to run on.
Tom
You have to respect that this guy is trying to save a potentially self funded and future donor from public embarresment. However, as he has shown in the past he is playing the minor leagues. I am surprised that he can stomach talking about divorce proceedings when Doug Forrester paraded Corzine's ex-wife all over the place.
Wilson=Larry Casha II
So BeanBoy and Turnkey Tom cant take the real mean reporting skills of the Star-Ledger? This is like when liberal Larry Casha whined that Jay Webber wasnt running a clean campaign in the 26th and he came out with some ridiculous clean campaigns law.
It's pretty sad when Lautenberg looks more rational than the "leader" of the Republican Party in this state.
A Letter!
Wow,, if they had only said in advance they would send an "angry letter", I'm sure no one would ever have questioned this total unknown's qualifications.
What will be next? A "pointed missive"? A "harsh phone call"? I'll be the Dems are shredding all their files in fear as we speak.
Mr. Wilson? Next time, why don't you do a little research (there is this thing called Google and you can order background checks for less than $100)?
A Letter!
Wow,, if they had only said in advance they would send an "angry letter", I'm sure no one would ever have questioned this total unknown's qualifications.
What will be next? A "pointed missive"? A "harsh phone call"? I'll be the Dems are shredding all their files in fear as we speak.
Mr. Wilson? Next time, why don't you do a little research (there is this thing called Google and you can order background checks for less than $100)?
Tom Wilson
Why would anyone pay any attention to Tom Wilson. His position is somewhat like being the Captain of the Titanic. Lautenberg by a landslide.
Contact
Has anyone contacted the new Senate candidate on the slopes in Vail, Colorado about the report?
Conservatives with Attitude! has a LIVE report from Onanue Senate Headquarters in Colorado:
http://www.gopusanj.com/wordpress/?p=1621
Tom Wilson got what he asked for!
Next time, do not select candidates that have deep closets that apparently are not so closed.
Tom followed the New York Times advice to select a moderate Republican, but please, where did you find this one? Yes, in Colorado skiing the slopes. Well done Tom.
More beans, please.