
GARFIELD- Slash taxes. Cut spending.
That was the double barrel message from GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie this afternoon when he addressed an approving crowd of senior citizens in this Bergen County blue collar river town where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 3-1.
"New Jersey has the highest unemployment and the highest property taxes in America," said Christie, who's challenging incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in a dead heat race with three weeks until Election Day.
"The governor said if he's re-elected he'll raise income taxes," said Christie, the former U.S. Attorney. "In this election, there's a clear choice: Gov. Corzine will raise your taxes and increase spending - and take your money doing it."
He also chastised Corzine for musing about a gas tax hike.
When asked after his speech about invoking the income tax in a roomful of middle class seniors - which Corzine has said he would consider hiking only on the wealthiest New Jerseyans - Christie said Corzine's tax increases have saddled the same small business owners who would receive relief through Christie's proposed business and corporate tax cuts.
Standing in the Frank B. Calandriello Senior Center, Mayor Frank Calandriello backed up Christie.
"Unless I'm mistaken, this is one of the most difficult places in America to make a living, and you know, I have a moving business," said the mayor.
Christie also made sure to throw an elbow up in the way of independent candidate Chris Daggett, who over the weekend received the Star-Ledger's endorsement for governor.
"Those two guys will raise taxes," Christie said, referring to both Corzine and Daggett. "I say tax less and spend less. We're 50th in America in business tax climate. Do you realize that 450,000 people, according to Rutgers last week, left New Jersey during the McGreevey and Corzine administrations. People can't afford to live here anymore." We're going to put a stop to it and give you more money back.""
The Corzine Administration argues in the face of Christie's entreaties to a beleaguered senior population that the governor expanded eligibility for the state senior freeze program up to the $80,000 income level, "allowing an additional 70,000 seniors and disabled residents to receive state property tax relief, above and beyond the standard Homestead Rebate program."
“Chris Christie can talk all he wants about tax relief," put in Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Sayreville), a Corzine ally, "but he would target it to the very wealthy and big corporations at the expense of New Jersey’s middle class." The Democrat even quoted the Star-Ledger, which just dissed Christie and Corzine but whose endorsement of third party performer Daggett ultimately benefits Corzine, according to both Democrats and Republicans. “While Christie has chosen to try to deceive voters in recent appearances, he hasn’t changed his mind, he’s only changed his tactics," Wisniewski said. "Given that the Star-Ledger called Christie’s tax plans ‘impossible’ and said they would raise property taxes across New Jersey, it’s not a surprise. Christie continues to show that he is wrong when it matters most to New Jersey." Christie said his opponent is simply running away from a record of failure. "He's run a $19 million attack ad campaign against me," said the GOP candidate. "That's why he didn't show up at the Gannett editorial board today, because he's hiding from his record, and we will continue to drag him into the sunshine and out of the gutter. "I feel better now than over the summer when I had a bigger lead," Christie added. "I knew the governor was going to spend a lot of money going after me, attacking me. And as much as he has, I should be dead by now, but here I am - still with a lead, and I feel better now than I have felt this entire race." Building up the crowd before the main act spoke was Councilwoman Tana Raymond, a Democrat who's voting for Christie instead of Corzine. "I am ashamed in this election to say I'm a Democrat," Raymond told the crowd."These ads - they're a desperate attempt because they (the Corzine campaign) know they're in for a fight. ARe you better off than you were four years ago?" "No," the crowd roared back. Later, Christie worked the room.
South Jersey Democrats are touting Cinnaminson native Anthony Mazzarelli, the head of the emergency medicine department at Cooper University ... >
Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get ... >
Political discourse in America contains much in the way of intellect or intellectual honesty. One considers the Federalist Papers with wistful awe: ... >
The NJ gubernatorial election result demonstrates that Governor-elect Chris Christie resurrected the center-right voter coalition of Republicans, ... >
With a convincing win in defeating an encumbent Governor, why were there no coattails? >
As in any transition, speculation is rampant as to whom Governor-elect Chris Christie will appoint as Chief of Staff, State Treasurer, and Attorney ... >
Now that the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this ... >
When he was growing up, Chris Christie's folks must have taught him that when he went to a new playground, he should pick a fight with the ... >
Ronald C. Rice tweeted not so sweetly about soon-to-be Senate President Stephen Sweeney.
Well, we were able to obtain the rest of the ... >
New Jersey voters repudiated Governor Jon Corzine's policies of the past four years on November 3rd. Republican Chris Christie and Independent ... >
Spin, spin, spin
That's fine and all, except that Christie and the RGA spent more against Corzine than Corzine spent against Christie since June.
Corzine cant win on his
Corzine cant win on his record. Corzine is paying poor people to stay poor. He does not give a rats a>> about urban voters, other than to tell them he is with Obama.
Out in the suburbs, where trenton gets its largesse to dole out, nobody is going to vote for Corzine.
Garfield
Because of non-partisan local government, hacks like Raymond and Frank are still in office. If they had partisan government they wouldn't dare pull this stunt which will result in Corzine easily winning Garfield 2-1. Christie might carry one or two districts. Vote Column "A" - All the way!
"I should be dead by
"I should be dead by now,"
I'm sure his doctor agrees.
http://christiegonewild.blogspot.com/
RE: Spin, spin, spin
FormlyAnonymous, there is no way you could know what the RGA spent in comparison to Corzine and the DGA because the RGA and the DGA are not required to disclose their spending habits.
Further, Christie, having accepted public financing, isn't allowed to spend more then $11 million. His funds are vastly more depressed then Corzine's. Infact, so far he has spent $5.4 million.
Corzine has spent $16.8 million since he started campaigning in June. He contributed $15.6 million of his own money to his campaign on top of that $16.8 figure. You do the math.
Daggett supporters need to wake up.
A vote for Daggett only helps Jon Corzine get re-elected. Voting for Daggett is throwing your vote away and endorsing more of the same Corzine policies that have led us to bankruptcy.Voters who want a change from the failed policies of Corzine need to unite around the man who can beat Corzine. If we do not then we will have 4 more years of expanding government and inefficiency, no improvement in real estate taxes, tons of new welfare programs and a bad climate for business and job creation i.e. more unemployment that will drive us into econmic oblivion. Corzine must go.