VAN DREW ADMITS TO FRAUDULENT CAMPAIGN PROPAGANDA; ASSELTA ASKS ‘WHY SHOULD ANYONE BELIEVE ANYTHING VAN DREW’S CAMPAIGN SAYS?’

VAN DREW ADMITS TO FRAUDULENT CAMPAIGN PROPAGANDA; ASSELTA ASKS ‘WHY SHOULD ANYONE BELIEVE ANYTHING VAN DREW’S CAMPAIGN SAYS?’

(CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, September 26) -- Senator Nick Asselta – responding to Democrat Jeff Van Drew’s stunning admission in yesterday’s Press of Atlantic City that Van Drew believes Asselta did not, in fact, intend to support the leasing of state highways when he voted for the 1999 Structured Financing Act, despite Van Drew campaign mail pieces declaring otherwise -- today held a press conference in front of Van Drew’s campaign headquarters and asked why anyone should believe anything the Van Drew campaign says.

“Jeff Van Drew’s admission in yesterday’s Press of Atlantic City that I did not intend to lease the Garden State Parkway when I voted on the 1999 Structured Financing Act is a stunning admission of what is, at its heart, an attempt to defraud the voters of the First District,” said Asselta. “There’s no other way to describe his sleazy ad campaign, which impugns my integrity and character and which now, we know, is based on what Jeff himself acknowledges is an inaccurate foundation.

“Jeff’s two mail pieces are based on what he describes in his mail as my 1999 vote, and I quote, ‘to allow the lease of our state highways.’ In yesterday’s Press of Atlantic City, however, Van Drew acknowledged that, and I quote, ‘I believe (Asselta’s) intent was not to lease the Garden State Parkway when he voted for the bill.’

“This is a truly remarkable admission to a reporter. Stop for a moment and consider the implications. Jeff Van Drew has acknowledged that he believes one thing to be true --specifically, that I never intended to lease the Garden State Parkway -- even as his sleazy ad campaign says exactly the opposite.

“As Jeff has now acknowledged, my intent in 1999 was not to lease the Garden State Parkway. So why is he deliberately putting out campaign propaganda that says otherwise?

“As Jeff has now acknowledged, my intent in 1999 was not to lease the Garden State Parkway. So why is he calling into question MY character and integrity?

“What does it say about the character and integrity of a man who deliberately puts out campaign propaganda not merely suggesting, not merely implying, but downright DECLARING that I am ‘another politician you can’t trust?’ -- when, in fact, HE is the one who acknowledges being deceptive in his campaign mail?

“The fact is, Jeff Van Drew’s admission that these mail pieces are based on a fraudulent premise calls into question not just his own integrity, but the integrity of EVERY mail piece, radio ad, and TV ad that comes out of the Van Drew campaign. Given that he’s now acknowledged misleading voters on such a fundamental point, why should anyone believe ANYTHING his campaign says?”

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Paid for by Asselta Clark Donohue