The Record: Editorial: Shulman for Congress

October 31st, 2008

http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/Shulman_for_Congress.html

Friday, October 31, 2008

SCOTT GARRETT is afraid. And he wants voters to be afraid. But the only thing voters should fear is Garrett’s reelection to the House of Representatives.

Republican Garrett is seeking a fourth term in Congress, and he is facing a surprisingly strong challenge from Rabbi Dennis Shulman, a blind psychologist.

Shulman, a Democrat, has never held elected office. He’s smart, well-educated and well-informed, and we believe he would take a moderate-to-liberal position in Congress. He promises to advocate strongly for the disabled. He also pledges to never accept contributions from industries that he would oversee on any House committee.

But the race in the 5th District is less about who is challenging Garrett and more about what Garrett is challenging. He is challenging the basic tenets of common decency. The high-minded, fiscal conservative has resorted to the lowest form of campaigning. In a post-Sept. 11 world, Garrett is shouting “terrorist” in a crowded room.

The congressman has been running television ads, in addition to sending out a direct-mail campaign piece, that link Shulman to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Garrett wants voters to believe that Shulman, a rabbi, would sell out Israel. It is beyond the pale.

Before this campaign, we would have argued against Garrett’s reelection because the congressman’s strident fiscal ideology hampers his effectiveness as an advocate for North Jersey. We do not expect to agree on all issues, but Garrett votes consistently against almost all government funding. It doesn’t matter whether it’s disaster relief aid or funding for health insurance for children. Garrett votes no.

There are legitimate arguments to make about runaway federal spending, but there are human consequences to “no” votes. Being in Congress is not an abstract, intellectual argument over the role of government. A member of Congress is elected to represent all the people within a district, not a personal ideology.

And we differ with Garrett on social issues: We believe a woman has a right to make her own reproductive choices and that all citizens are entitled to equal rights, regardless of sexual orientation.

The 5th District is changing. While it remains a Republican stronghold, it has never been a homogeneous right-wing district. But in the absence of credible Democratic challengers, Garrett has continued to win reelection.

There is much work to be done in Washington. Garrett is not the man for the job. He alienates Republicans and Democrats. That is not the bipartisan résumé for a federal legislator.

Across the nation, voters want change. In New Jersey, that desire for change may propel Barack Obama to win the state and take other Democrats with him. Garrett may fall victim to Obama’s coattails.

We acknowledge Dennis Shulman is untested. We do not know how effective he would be as a legislator. But we do know that Garrett’s fiscal extremism makes him an ineffective lawmaker. We know that Garrett will vote his personal ideology regardless of the impact on constituents. Voters can be sure that Garrett will represent himself, not them.

The Record endorses Dennis Shulman in the 5th District.

The 5th District includes, in Bergen County: Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montvale, part of New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Tenafly, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Washington, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake and Wyckoff; and in Passaic County: part of Bloomingdale, Ringwood, Wanaque and West Milford.

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