GUSCIORA SAYS PALIN TOO EXTREME AND INEXPERIENCED FOR NEW JERSEY

(TRENTON) – State Assemblyman and Obama-At-Large Delegate, Reed Gusciora (D-Princeton), says John McCain’s choice for Vice President, Sarah Palin, is “too extreme and inexperienced” for New Jersey.           

“We are coming off eight years of one of the most failed presidential terms in our history and John McCain, in a blatantly political move, picked as his running mate a person who has displayed extremist views and lacks national political experience,” said Gusciora. “In fact, some of her views are out right whacky.”           

Gusciora pointed to Palin’s statement on the Iraq War as “a task from God;” her claim that the proposed gas pipeline in Alaska was “God’s will;” her support of teaching creationism in public schools; her belief that climate change is not man-made; her efforts to have polar bears taken off the endangered species list so land can be drilled for oil; and her flip-flop on support for the so called “Bridge to Nowhere” that would have wasted millions in federal dollars.  Gusciora also noted that it was not until 2007 that Palin acquired a U.S. passport, and she has visited only two foreign countries including Alaska’s neighbor, Canada.           

“Any one of my Mayors in the 15th legislative district has more experience and more constituents than Sarah Palin did as a mayor in an Alaska town of 6,000.” Gusciora continued.  “In fact, five New Jersey counties have larger populations than the whole state of Alaska.”

Gusciora said what is most troubling is that the McCain campaign has expressed reluctance to make Palin available for press interviews on national TV other than Fox News.  He further pointed out that even Karl Rove had misgivings over someone having such little experience being a heartbeat away from the presidency.           

“It is unfortunate that John McCain made a purely political decision in his choice of a vice president,” concluded Gusciora.  “While it may be amusing to see McCain’s Jersey allies tripping over themselves praising Palin, it shows an incredible lack of sound public policy judgment from someone who claims to run the ‘Straight Talk Express’.”   

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