Dennis Shulman for U.S. Congress: Sensible Leadership for New Jersey’s 5th District

Fact Checking Garrett’s Myths in Debate #3
10/24/08

Scott Garrett’s False Claim: The children’s health insurance program (SCHIP) provides coverage of families making up to $250,000 a year

Fact Check: The bill does not give coverage to families making more than $80,000 a year. Republican Senator Pat Roberts said he was “disappointed that many have been mischaracterizing what this bill actually does..it does not grant families making over $80,000 SCHIP coverage.”

Scott Garrett’s False Claim: That Garrett supports our veterans

Fact Check: Scott Garrett voted against the GI Bill for the 21st Century (Roll Call Vote), which will provide a college education to our returning veterans. He only voted for final passage of he bill when it was wrapped in larger legislation. Scott Garrett was against the GI Bill before he was for it.

Scott Garrett voted against legislation that ensures veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan receive the quality health care they deserve (The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2007, H.R. 2764)

Scott Garrett opposed expanding access to the military’s TRICARE health insurance program to thousands of Reservists and National Guard members, even though 40% of Reservists ages 19 to 35 lack health coverage (H.R. 1815)

Scott Garrett was given a C- from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Scott Garrett received a 0% score from the Disabled American Veterans

Fact Checking Scott Garrett’s Baseless Smears Against Dennis Shulman
10/23/08

With his latest vicious attacks on Dennis Shulman, Scott Garrett is distorting the truth and trying to distract from the real issues that matter to the people of New Jersey’s fifth district. It’s time to set the record straight.

Garrett’s False Claim – Dennis Shulman is “too extreme” for New Jersey

Fact Check: Dennis Shulman presents a sensible alternative to Scott Garrett’s ideological extremism. Shulman is running for office as a concerned citizen who wants to get our economy back on track, fight special interests in Washington, and promote energy independence. The Bergen Record called him a “moderate” with a “measured tone.”

Scott Garrett, on the other hand, puts his extreme ideology before the people of New Jersey’s fifth district. Former NJ-5 Republican Representative Marge Roukema called Garrett “a right wing extremist.” Garrett was the only Representative north of the Mason-Dixon line to vote against the Voting Rights Act reauthorization, the only New Jersey representative to vote against the bipartisan alternative energy bill, and was one of only 11 Representatives to oppose aid for Katrina victims.

Garrett’s False Claim: Dennis Shulman supports negotiating with terrorist group Hamas and reaching out to rogue regimes like Iran

Fact Check: Dennis Shulman is a proud friend of Israel who supports strategic diplomacy and open channels of communication. Scott Garrett’s attacks are not only baseless and misleading, but astonishingly call into question his lifetime commitment to Israel.  In the article Garrett cites, Shulman promotes “a strong alliance with Israel” and “reinvigorating diplomatic efforts.

Garrett’s False Claim: Dennis Shulman “hired a pro-amnesty lobbyist” to push “a lunatic fringe plan to open our borders”

Fact Check: Scott Garrett is attempting to change the subject from our faltering economy to an attack of Shulman’s campaign manager, who worked for a civil rights coalition that included the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, United Methodist Church, and the Lutheran Immigrant and Refugee Services.  In his work with the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR), Shulman campaign manager Jeff Hauser worked to pass John McCain’s immigration reform bill. CCIR also employed John McCain’s senior advisor, Charlie Black. Is Garrett terming McCain part of “the lunatic fringe?”

Garrett’s False Claim: Dennis Shulman “led a protest bashing our troops with Cindy Sheehan”

Fact Check: In 2005, Dennis Shulman was called upon to provide comfort to parents of heroes who died in Iraq – leading families in the Jewish prayer of mourning for the dead. Scott Garrett must think that our troops do not need spiritual comfort, just like he believes they do not need health care or an education. Time and time again, Scott Garrett has voted against our men and women in uniform – opposing health care for veterans and the GI bill to give returning soldiers an education. Scott Garrett should answer for his votes against veterans and his continued support for George Bush’s endless war in Iraq.