“Oilmen for Garrett” Video Hits 5,000 Views — Shulman’s Message Resonating Across District

August 20th, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug 20th, 2008

Contact: Jeff Hauser, (201) 767-8162, jeff@shulmanforcongress.com

Parody of “The Office” Highlights Garrett’s Coziness to Big Oil and Failures to Fix Energy Crisis

Only two days after its release, the first webisode of “Texas Oilmen for Garrett” will hit 5,000 views today. Currently, the video has been watched over 4,800 times.

The video, a parody of the hit television show “The Office,” was launched on August 18th, along with the new website www.OilmenForGarrett.com. The website also features a petition asking Rep. Scott Garrett (R, NJ-5) to stop subsidizing Big Oil and stop taking political contributions from Big Oil. Garrett has received $69,000 in contributions from Big Oil.

The video, launched by the campaign of Fifth District Democratic Nominee Dennis Shulman, features interns and volunteers as oil executives launching a scheme to boost their profits by donating money to Scott Garrett.

“Taxpayers respond to this video not only because it is funny, but also because they are outraged by politicians like Scott Garrett who kowtow to the interests of Big Oil instead of addressing the pain at the pump that we’re all facing,” said Jeff Hauser, Shulman’s campaign manager.

The video has been covered as a part of the new Oilmen for Garrett campaign by local news outlets such as the New Jersey Herald and The Express-Times. Links: http://www.njherald.com/story/news/20SHULMAN-web,

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/index.ssf?/base/
news-0/1219205163296510.xml&coll=3

Yesterday the Oilmen for Garrett tried to show their appreciation to Congressman Scott Garrett himself. They first went to Warren County to thank Garrett for supporting them rather than the residents of Warren County. Unfortunately, they had to spend their time outside the old office of former Rep. Marge Roukema in Hackettstown, because Garrett does not maintain an office in Warren County. The Oilmen then brought a token of their appreciation, Texas barbecue sauce, to the Sussex County office of Scott Garrett. Previously, the Oilmen had thanked Garrett in person at the Sussex County fair, but forgotten to bring a gift. Garrett’s office declined the gift; apparently, the $69,000 in campaign contributions are sufficient.

Shulman has noted: “The shocking rise in energy prices is the direct result of Big Oil and their cronies like Scott Garrett blocking sound energy policy for years, and the pain we are all enduring is no laughing matter. But I believe that humor helps to highlight the absurdity of Garrett talking about lowering gas prices while he is in the pocket of Big Oil, opposing alternative energy at every turn while voting to protect Big Oil’s enormous tax breaks and windfall profits.”

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8NsVJi7Qdo
Website: http://www.oilmenforgarrett.com

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Dennis Shulman was recently profiled by The New Yorker and Time as momentum for his campaign continues to grow, and recent polling in the district validates the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s recent decision to upgrade NJ-5 as an “Emerging Race” and to buy advertising time in the district. Only 31% of likely voters in NJ-5 plan to re-elect Garrett and, by a 68-17% margin, the district seeks change from George Bush’s policies.

Dr. Dennis Shulman has gained international recognition for his 30 years of work as a psychologist, educator, and author. An ordained rabbi for five years and blind since childhood, he has lived in New Jersey’s Fifth District for more than 25 years with his wife, Dr. Pamela Tropper, an obstetrician. They have two adult daughters.

Additional background on Dr. Dennis Shulman and his challenge to Scott Garrett:

  • “Garrett faces unique competitor for seat,” Chris Newmarker, Associated Press,

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080803/NEWS02/
808030345/1123

  • “Garrett tells donors he’s concerned about Shulman,” PolitickerNJ,

http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/21172/garrett-tells-donors-
hes-concerned-about-shulman

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