"And That's New Jersey Politics" (Adler, NJOA, NJ dirty politics exposed yet again)

PolitickerNJ.com ^ | 10/27/08 | Kristin Antonello

[NewJerseyJoe]

"And that's New Jersey Politics."

Taped phone conversation indicates Adler and other Trenton insiders traded legislative access and action for endorsements in Congressional race

          Mount Holly, October 27, 2008-Excerpts from a taped phone conversation between New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) Chairman, Anthony Mauro, and another individual who taped the conversation, expose the seedy, underside of New Jersey politics, and detail how Senator Adler and Trenton insiders like Speaker Joe Roberts and Senate President Dick Codey traded promises of legislative favors to secure Adler endorsements in the 3rd Congressional District race this year, charged job-creating businessman and decorated combat veteran Chris Myers, who says the recording "provides a glimpse into how Trenton works when you're connected, and how the concerns of ordinary taxpayers and citizens get ignored."

          Myers said Adler's endorsement by the NJOA was particularly puzzling because of Adler's long history of being anti-hunting and anti-2nd Amendment in Trenton.  Adler actually sponsored legislation to ban the black bear hunt, sponsored legislation to ban handgun ownership by everyone other than "authorized persons" like law enforcement and the military, or people who could prove a "justifiable need," and received an "F" grade from the National Rifle Association in this congressional race. (see proof below)

          "One listen to the tape, and it all becomes crystal clear," said Myers, who pointed out he had publicly suspected Adler and other Trenton insiders of rigging endorsements, but lacked hard proof until now.  "Adler and his Trenton pals traded legislative access and action for endorsements and it's a disgrace.  I wonder how the rank and file members of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance feel knowing they were sold out, and told to vote for someone who has been historically opposed to the issues they hold most dear."

          "John Adler raised property taxes 88% in just one year, he raised state taxes 43 times since 2002, he wrecked the state's economy, he directed tax dollars to the employers of his family and friends from a Trenton slush fund, and now we have proof that he's trading promises of access and votes in Trenton for endorsements in his congressional race," said Myers.  "Voters needs to ask themselves one question before they vote on Election Day: If John Adler created the mess in Trenton - and what a mess it is - how can he be trusted to fix the mess in Washington."

          The entire taped phone conversation can be heard in an attached audio file.  The most damning excerpt, spoken by NJOA Chairman Anthony Mauro to the individual who taped the conversation, is transcribed below.  It speaks for itself.

(9:44) "There's a lot going on here..."

(10:50) "The moment that we endorsed Senator Adler, the doors started opening in Trenton.  We got meetings with Speaker Roberts.  We got acknowledgment from Senate President Codey.  Those are the two people that allow any bill that's ever going to be considered in Trenton - it's got to go through those two people.  Automatically we get access to them, doors open...and things start to work behind the scenes." (11:21)

(12:44) "If Senator Adler wins...he goes to Washington, DC and although now he has little to do with our issues, he is very influential to the people in Trenton who are going to turn to him to look for money from various different sources that the state needs...Senator Adler is grateful to us, so he is going to make sure that we are taken care of here in New Jersey, in Trenton.  Whoever replaces Senator Adler is going to be told by Senator Adler and other politicians in South Jersey that the NJOA is your friend and you work with the NJOA.  So now we have the Senator in New Jersey who will replace Senator Adler, who is for the lack of a better word, kind of in our pocket, OK?  And that's New Jersey politics.  Now let's say for a moment, Senator Adler loses this race.  OK?  Senator Adler stays in New Jersey, had the backing of the NJOA, the doors in Trenton are open to us, he's grateful to us and so we have someone working on our behalf." (13:53)

-30-

1996-97 NJ Legislative Session:

Adler was the Prime sponsor of S-351, which would have restricted the sale, importation, possession and carrying of handguns except by certain "authorized persons" like law enforcement or members of the military, or those who could prove a "justifiable need."

1998-99 NJ Legislative Session:

Adler was the Prime sponsor of S-514, which would have statutorily banned the hunting of black bears and overturned the judgment of the Fish and Game Council, which has the authority, subject to the oversight of the DEP Commissioner, to establish a black bear season.

National Rifle Association Congressional Endorsements:
http://www.nrapvf.org/Elections/State.aspx?y=2008&State=NJ#U.S.%20HOUSE%20OF%20REPRESENTATIVES

[NewJerseyJoe]

Searched, didn't see this previously posted.

[NewJerseyJoe]

ping

[tcostell]

I'm a supporter of the NJOA and this surprises me not at all. In fact, the rest of the country should take a long look at this because in a few weeks, we'll all be New Jerseyans if Obama wins. The politics of New Jersey, with it's corruption, graft, theft, and insider dominance will become precisely what Washington will be like.

The country should expect to see private property rights diminish (like they have in New Jersey) unions (particularly civil service unions unrestrained by the profit motive) to hold ultimate sway, and for election fraud and an otherwise stacked deck to be the rule of thumb and to guarantee Democratic victories in all but the most extreme cases.

To those NJ expats out there, you thought you could get away from NJ by moving to Florida, North Carolina or Arizona? Well Obama is about to bring you back into the fold. You may have escaped from East Germany, but you only made it to Poland.

The US will be one big New Jersey if Obama wins. Believe it.

[NewJerseyJoe]

I was careless in my addendum headline.... Didn’t mean to imply that the NJOA goals/membership were at fault — rather, that the organization can be neutered or betrayed by false leadership or by “sleeping with the enemy”...

[tcostell]

Fair enough ... I didn't take it badly. But the fact of the matter is, if "Ant" wanted to get something done he had no choice. No one does. You know as well as I do that's how the New Jersey machine is designed to operate. the backdoor is the only door. the frint door is just for show.

I'm not advocating violence at all, but to speak on a purely metaphorical level, I think we'd all be better off if we just chained the statehouse doors shut and burned it to the ground. We certainly coulnd't make things any worse.

[Incorrigible]

Hopefully this will be remembered for next years NJ state elections.

[dbwz]

What we need to do is stop kidding ourselves into thinking that NRA or NJOA or any of these so-called advocacies are working for citizens, and stop throwing our hard-earned dollars at them.

Buncha f-in’ crooks. All of them.

[tcostell]

Oh I don't know about that. I think the NJOA and the NRA both have the best intentions, but the system is so interminably broken and perverted from it's orginal intent that there is no other way for us to communicate our wishes to the government.

Have a look at this:

The Charles E. Schumer Memorial Rifle Range

[NewJerseyJoe]

> Hopefully this will be remembered for next years NJ state elections.

If Obama bin Biden wins, every state will become New Jersey. We would have the unfortunate "honor" of already knowing how to live under such a system...

Maybe we should take advantage of NJ's reputation -- e-mail your friends and relatives in other states, telling them "Do you want your state to end up like New Jersey? Then vote for Obama"