Torricelli's message resonates with blacks

The Record of Hackensack ^ | 6.29.02

[Coleus]

Torricelli's message resonates with blacks

Saturday, June 29, 2002

By PAUL H. JOHNSON
Staff Writer

NEWARK - Despite lingering questions about his fund-raising practices and poll numbers suggesting his candidacy may be in trouble, Sen. Robert G. Torricelli received a warm reaction from members of the Black Ministers' Council of New Jersey on Friday.

Torricelli, a Democrat seeking reelection in November, has long been popular among African-Americans, and the council has remained in his corner as his ethics came under question.

"He has the connection and he works it," said the Rev. Reginald Jackson, executive director of the council.

In separate appearances at a Sheraton hotel, Torricelli and Republican Senate candidate Doug Forrester addressed the annual gathering of the council.

Each toed his party's line on issues such as prescription drugs and taxes. Both candidates spoke in general terms about improving education.

Torricelli's message resonated most when he said the criminal justice system disproportionately punishes African-Americans, and he singled out the harsher penalties for crack cocaine than for powder cocaine.

He also won applause when talking about improving mass transit in urban areas.

Forrester, the former mayor of West Windsor and the president of BeneCard Services Inc., stressed his support for President Bush's tax cuts. He was received politely as he spoke of the need to reduce the size of the federal government.

Some in the audience complained that his address was too general.

"In my opinion, he doesn't know the needs of Afro-Americans,'' said Irene Boyer of Piscataway. She said his speech left her feeling a little cold.

"He has no idea,'' added Carolyn Stalley of South Plainfield.

Forrester's campaign workers defended his speech as a sign of his consistency and sincerity. "He doesn't tailor the message. He's not a career politician,'' said Bill Pascoe, Forrester's campaign manager, adding that his policies are not intended to benefit any particular group but the state as a whole.

"I think the African-American community would like to see its taxes lowered,'' he said. "I think the African-American community wants a senator who works for them, not for himself.''

Recent polls show Forrester trailing Torricelli by less than 10 points, with Torricelli's support below 50 percent.

Many in the audience of 100 said that, at least among African-Americans, the probe into the senator's campaign finance practices would play little role in their decision making.

"I didn't see anything that proved anything substantial," Boyer said.

Torricelli brushed aside assertions that the investigation into his campaign finance practices would hinder his campaign. "It's something unfortunate that has happened. This has been a closed issue for some time,'' said the senator.

Although the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to prosecute Torricelli on criminal charges, the office did forward its materials to the Senate ethics committee for investigation. The committee has yet to issue a final ruling. This week, Torricelli's lawyers asked a federal judge to keep sealed prosecutors' records that detail Cresskill businessman David Chang's cooperation with investigators probing Torricelli's 1996 campaign.

Jackson said the campaign is still early and that if Forrester wants more support among African-Americans, he is going to have to work on it.

"He really has to seek it,'' Jackson said. "If you presume African-Americans won't vote for you, they won't."

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?level_3_id=18&page=4122123

 

[Coleus]

Torricelli's message resonates with blacks, of course it did, all he talked about was welfare programs: (I saw a more in-depth piece on New Jersey Network), AFDC, Food Stamps, Housing, Section 8, Medicaid, etc. that's all he talked about, having the hard-working New Jersians pay taxes for welfare programs in the inner cities of NJ; remember, this is the "GIVE ME" state where welfare is high and those who work in public-sector jobs, 20%, is the highest in the nation!!

Yes, GIVE ME, give me my Italian-made suits, give me my Rolex watches, give me my down payment on my foreign-made (Mercedes) car. Give me intelligence secrets regarding Guatamala so I can tell everybody. Yes, GIVE Me.

[Coleus]

`

[M. Thatcher]

Puff piece. Note actual fact buried in article:

Recent polls show Forrester trailing Torricelli by less than 10 points, with Torricelli's support below 50 percent.

[kylaka]

If I rent out a house in Trenton NJ I get $500 per month in rent. If it rents under section 8, I get $1000 per month, for the same house. Don't you see, the democrats invented the idea of trickle down economics.

[Intolerant in NJ]

...criminal justice system disproportionately punishes African-Americans, and he singled out the harsher penalties for crack cocaine than for powder cocaine...seems I remember reading someplace that in fact the Black Caucus in the House pushed for tougher penalties for crack cocaine use as a way of trying to discourage it in their communities...certainly no news that a lot of African-Americans intend to vote for the Dimocrat candidate, and it won't be news either when the 'rat controlled Senate Ethics Committee announces complete exoneration for Torricelli along about the second week in October...........

[Coleus]

Yep, the press has an agenda: To have elected as many democrats as they possibly can.

[dodger]

Among our 'First Black Senators' perhaps?

[Ed_in_NJ]

Given that they've overlooked Evil Willie's criminality, they can overlook Slimy Bob's.

[OldFriend]

Toricelli is following Corzine's path. Paying off the black ministers, thereby getting them to praise Toricelli from the pulpit. He has already had a very public meeting with these same black ministers.....

[Coleus]

And president.

[Coleus]

Yep. Slick Willie and Slick Bobby. Did you ever look at Alamo Girl's home page? It's pretty impressive--she documents all of the Clinton Scandals.

[Coleus]

I wonder how it's never an IRS issue when Democrats campaign in the Black Churches. It's only agaist the law when Republicans speak in Evangelical Churches. Kind of a double standard, isn't it? Nah.

Isn't that a form of racial profiling? I wonder?

[Ed_in_NJ]

I've 'interfaced' with AG a lot over the years -- hopefully, some of my research is still on her page.

Recently 'other things' have limited my FR participation.

[genefromjersey]

With which blacks ?

Are we talking about the same Black Ministers Council that sold its "soul" to Jon Corzine for $ 50,000. ???

[OldFriend]

That's them......those same black ministers who took the bribes from Corzine.........

[firewalk]

BTTT & thanks for the ping.

[Freemeorkillme]

"He has the connection and he works it," said the Rev. Reginald Jackson, executive director of the council. What a sad, perverted commentary coming the dividers of black Americans. From the Church, no less. Good thing all believers don't believe they are saved by the State's grace. "Under God", Freemeorkillme