NEWS from 

Burlington County Democrats

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                          CONTACT: Heather Israel

July, 08                                                                                                                                   

PERR CALLS ON FENTON AND JORDAN TO DENOUNCE RACIST WEBSITE

Chairman says GOP Still Executing Karl Rove Playbook

Rick Perr, Burlington County Democratic Party Chair today called on Freeholder Director Aubrey Fenton and Freeholder Stacy Jordan to denounce the Pemberton Township Republicans for a blatantly racist statement on their GOP website http://homewebs.net/pem/. 

The statement, which read: "Obama loves America like OJ loved Nicole" was removed this afternoon but the message had been sent loud and clear.  (A printout of the page is attached).

"Incumbent Republicans Fenton and Jordan should denounce the Pemberton Township GOP immediately," said Perr.  "Comparing Barack Obama to O.J. Simpson, an accused murderer who was found civilly liable for his ex-wife's death, is reprehensible.  Moreover, it is a veiled attempt at inserting race into the political arena for which the Republicans should be ashamed.

"Unfortunately, it seems like this type of gutter politics is becoming a regular part of the playbook for the Burlington County Republicans. This is certainly not the first time that the County GOP has used ethnicity and race to run a campaign:

Gen. Preston Taylor - when he ran for Township Committee in Lumberton, the GOP used racist mailers in an effort to suggest that his election was going to turn  Lumberton into Camden;

Dean Buono - the GOP tried to play on his Italian last name to suggest he was associated with members of organized crime;

County GOP attempts to link Burlington Democrats to "Camden" Democrats to invoke subtle images of racism."

"The politics of hate as advocated by the Burlington County Republican Party has no place in the American political arena," said Perr.  "It is time for Fenton to stand up and denounce this hatred."

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