Torricelli backs Shulman; slams Garrett ethics, calls him an extremist and tax cheat

By Editor | October 22nd, 2008 - 2:53pm

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In a fundraising letter, former U.S. Sen. Bob Torricelli praises Dennis Shulman's integrity.: Getty Images Photo
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Torricelli has endorsed blind Rabbi Dennis Shulman in his race against three-term U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett (R-Wantage).

"Dennis' integrity and unique background of identifying and solving problems leave him well-equpped to oppose Garrett -- and to serve in Congress honorably and effectively," Torricelli wrote in a letter seeking to raise money for Shulman's campaign. "Garrett sat idly by in his seat on the House Financial Services Committee, while the housing bubble burst, all the while pocketing thousands of dollars in contributions from Countrywide Financial and leaving his day-to-day operations to his Chief of Staff, a former Countrywide lobbyist.

Torricelli also slammed Garrett for claiming an erroneous exemption on his state tax return, "cheating his fellow citizens out of up to $40,000 a year." He called Garrett an "extremist whose values are not those of his constituents, nor of the nation."

“Bob Torricelli has always been most comfortable wading around the sleaze and slime of the corrupt Bergen County Democrat machine. Guess you take Torch out of the slime, but you can’t take sleaze out of the Torch. Torricelli was forced to leave the United States Senate because his ethics and values told him to use his office to get himself a Rolex, a closet full of $5000 suits, a grandfather clock, an expensive oriental rug, a jumbo plasma screen TV, and thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions," said Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson. "Now his ‘ethics and values’ tell him to slander, malign, and lie about Scott Garrett. Asking Bob Torricelli to be your ethics watchdog is about as smart as asking Michael Vick to watch your dog. “

Torricelli represented the neighboring 9th district in Congress from 1983 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 1996. He is now a business consultant, and an unpaid PolitickerNJ.com columnist.

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Cheat

Submitted by VinCognito on October 22, 2008 - 2:09pm.

Torch your the last person to be calling someone names

Cheat

Submitted by VinCognito on October 22, 2008 - 2:09pm.

Torch your the last person to be calling someone names

uhhh

Submitted by backwardsjersey on October 22, 2008 - 2:13pm.

First they go to "Encap" Sarlo to attack Garrett on ethics..now they are touting a Torch backing and are using him for fundraising.

Does the Shulman campaign want to lose?!

Farmer Torch

Submitted by charlemagne on October 22, 2008 - 2:38pm.

lives on his 17 acre farm in Hunterdon. And didn't he try to plant some designer suits at his place?

Torricrapy smells up this place again

Submitted by KingoftheDems on October 22, 2008 - 2:52pm.

"cheating his fellow citizens out of up to $40,000 a year." He called Garrett an "extremist whose values are not those of his constituents, nor of the nation." LOL LOL LOL LOL this from the toriSHITy???

NJ wake up anyone that this bum endorses has to in on the take...Hey ToriSHITy for a guy who sold his soul for a few suits, watches and cash you should slither back under your rock!!!

Torricrapy smells up this place again

Submitted by KingoftheDems on October 22, 2008 - 2:57pm.

NJ wake up anyone that this bum endorses has to in on the take...Hey ToriSHITy for a guy who sold his soul for a few suits, watches and cash you should slither back under your rock!!!

Is this a joke?

Submitted by Cincinnatus on October 22, 2008 - 3:57pm.

This has to be an early April fools joke of some kind, no?

Veritas vos Liberabit
"Collecting more taxes than absolutely necessary is legalized robbery." - Calvin Coolidge

On second thought...

Submitted by Cincinnatus on October 22, 2008 - 4:03pm.

If this isn't a joke, then its entirely too sad.

This is a stained and corrupt former public official. If you are Shulman why would you even WANT his endorsement? Especially after he claims to be a straight shooter who will fight for the people. If that's the case, why are you accepting the endorsement of a man who took illegal campaign contributions?

The fact that the ethically challenged and morally bankrupt Bob Torricelli has throw barbs at Scott Garrett to endorse Shulman is news worthy only in that its sad. This is a man who has absolutely no visiable influence over current politics - nor should he for his past behavior.

If these are the kinds of people that Shulman would associate himself with, gladly accept their endorsement and/or councel, then there is less to Shulman's facade than I once thought.

For shame Dennis.

Veritas vos Liberabit
"Collecting more taxes than absolutely necessary is legalized robbery." - Calvin Coolidge

McCain Keating Scandal ='s what Torch was accused of

Submitted by ShoreKid on October 22, 2008 - 4:43pm.

What Senator McCain admitted to doing in the Keating Five was worse than what Torch was accused in his ethics/criminal investigation.
McCain accepted expense free trips to the Bahamas. For this he becked down federal regulators from looking into his contributor/friend.
Torch allegedy (never proven) accepted suits, jewlery and a tv from a contributor/friend and helped him with business relations with North Korea.
McCains bad acts led to the Savings & Loan scandal that had a serious effect on the economy at the time. Torchs bad acts had no effects.
So why don't all you anti-Torch posters above get off your high horse and look at the facts!!!!!

ShoreKid=forgiving people

Submitted by maxidoodler on October 22, 2008 - 5:27pm.

keep drinking the Torch-aid Kid.......

this precious gem is still on NYT website:

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/30/nyregion/01TORR-TXT.html?ex=1224820800...

This Should Guarantee

Submitted by Patrick on October 22, 2008 - 5:37pm.

... a Garrett victory. If Shulman has an ethical bone in his body, he will immediately renounce this endorsement and condemn the man who offered it. Torch is a walking example of what's wrong with politics and it's embarassing to live in the same state.

Heres the Joke....

Submitted by KingoftheDems on October 22, 2008 - 5:44pm.

A crooked politician (Played by toriSHITTY) and a blind rabbi (played by Shulman) walk into a press conference...

The crooked politician says " Hey you stupid NJ voters...remember me? I am the idiot who single handedly destroyed the US intelligence capabilities’....I was afraid they might hear my on some wire taps talking to some terrorist raising cash for the DUMBOcrapic Party. Gee you could even blame me for all those NJ voters dying in the World Trade Center on 911.." Let me introduce and endorse the Rabbi...

The Rabbi says (in a yiddish accent) "Dank you, meester ToriSHIITY, I am very happy...."

Crooked Politician interrupts.”No Rabbi, not ToriSHITTY its Torricelli.

Rabbi "O...vel… I am so sorry", Like I was saying meester ToriCRAPY....

Crooked Politician interrupts.”No Rabbi, not ToriCRAPY its Torricelli.

Rabbi "O...vei… I am so sorry", Like I was saying meester ToriSMELLY...
Crooked Politician interrupts again.” No, no, no Rabbi, not ToriSMELLY... its Torricelli, Torricelli!!!!

Rabbi "Vat difference does it make you putz! ToriSHITTY, ToriCRAPY , ToriSMELLY it doesn’t matter! NJ voters are morons they’ll elect me even though I am endorsed by you the most corrupt and morally bankrupt politician ever to hold office in NJ! Yes NJ continue to vote for DUMBcraps like me and ToriSHITTY, and you deserve what you get”...

The Torch is an expert on being ... honorable?

Submitted by Wiel on October 22, 2008 - 9:07pm.

This is what we call the October surprise, a pretty faced Torch handing down judgment on who is to “serve in Congress honorably and effectively." Forgive me, but I cannot stop laughing. The Torch an expert on … what did you say … “honorably and effectively." Give me a break! Wait, it gets better, apparently the Torch is an "extremist whose values are not those of his constituents, nor of the nation." This is not about the Torch? This is about this rabbi, what is his name, Chulman. Forgive me, but I cannot stop laughing. He is … an extremist. Torch is so funny, he should be a business consultant for comedians like Seinfeld.

Dear Mr. Torricelli, Thank

Submitted by njchangetoday on October 22, 2008 - 11:44pm.

Dear Mr. Torricelli,

Thank you for ensuring a November victory. Now all Garrett has too do is run 1 ad saying that you, a lowlife scumbag corrupt politician who hasn't been relevant to NJ politics in over 8 years has endorsed another tax and spend liberal.

Thank you.

Now - don't you have the Bergen Record to go kick around?

No one with ethics to endorse shulman?

Submitted by VinCognito on October 23, 2008 - 8:18am.

they use Sarlo who might have some FBI troubles, Torch who has 0 ethics, maybe Farmer Karcher will be next.

This is great from that NYT article.

Submitted by VinCognito on October 23, 2008 - 8:21am.

Torch says: Last night I met with a group of people who are leaders of the Democratic Party but also my friends, to talk about the reelection campaign and changes of strategy and advertising. And when the meeting was over, I asked two people who are very dear to me, Jim McGreevey, who has been my friend these very many years, who -- some of you have made light of our friendship because of a 12-day disagreement in the midst of 12 years of dear and committed friendship. I value that friendship as I value Jim McGreevey. We talk almost every day, about just about everything. He's the governor of the state, and I've had the honor to be its senior senator, though we talk like kids in college about just about everything. And I love him dearly. And John Corzine, who could easily today be among the dearest friends I have in the world and one of the people I admire the most. The three of us sat in the governor's study last night and I told them that I was concerned I could no longer assure that the United States Senate seat from New Jersey would remain not only Democratic but representing the things that we value. John Corzine dismissed me out of hand. Jim McGreevey listened patiently but concluded otherwise. We talked for hours. This morning I called Governor McGreevey and told him I was convinced that this seat could be jeopardy. I have said the same to Senator Daschle when he was in New Jersey only days ago. I called him this morning and he told me he disagreed. We spoke several times more. I told him I was convinced.

Comment from WSJ

Submitted by VinCognito on October 23, 2008 - 9:39am.

Pull out of IRAQ? Perhaps the U.S. should pull out of Chicago? Body count in the last 6 months: 292 killed (murders)in Chicago; 221 killed in Iraq defending freedom. Chicago… Who Runs it? Senators: Barack Obama & Dick Durbin; Reps: Jesse Jackson Jr., IL Gov: Rod logojevich, IL House leader Mike Madigan, IL Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. All Democrats. Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago!! Of course, they’re all blaming each other! More FACTS:State pension fund $44B in debt, worst in country.Cook County (Chicago) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. (Look ‘em up if you want). Chicago school system rated one of the worst in the country. This is the political culture that that Obama comes from and HE’S GONNA ‘fix’ WASHINGTON POLITICS FOR US?

This is Rich!!!

Submitted by Say No To Berge... on October 23, 2008 - 10:38am.

The biggest damn crook NJ has seen since Joe Ferriero and he hits Garrett????? He extorts a bribe out of a small businessman and he is still free and the poor businessman goes to jail????? The Torch is an infamous skirt chaser and he talks about ethics???

McCains actions worse than Torch's

Submitted by ShoreKid on October 23, 2008 - 1:13pm.

The fact remains that what McCain did was worse that what Torch did. Some maybe you should redirect some of your vile anger and judgement towards your candidate for president.