Use the Path to 911 against Kean in NJ Senate race

The Path to 911 controvery should be viewed as an opportuinity for the Democrats to question Kean's credibility and tie him to Bush.  The reason that Tom Kean is behaving in such an uncharacteristically unethical manner is that while most of the time he's a decent guy, he, like all Repubicans, will not hesitate to play gutter politics when he thinks they will work.  He will do anything to get his son elected.  Hence, he pre-empted Menendez last week with the "Rumsfeld should resign" ploy as a tactic to separate himself from Bush.

http://www.nytimes.com/...

Many on this blog seem to think that NJ is inevitably blue under any circumstances, which in just not true.
New Jersey is an extremely moderate, affluent, well educated state.  It will not hestitate to elect a moderate Republican whom exhibits pro-business and social tolerance characteristics.  Hence it is the home state of Tom Kean and Christie Whitman.
Maine and New York are probably the only other states that survive with successful moderate Republicans on a regualr basis.

What is true, however, is that NJ despises Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld.   If Kean's perceived legacy of moderation and non bias can be called into question with his paid involvement with the Path to 9/11, then his reputation would take a hit and it would be an opportunity for Menedez.

Clinton, Gore, and Corzine, all very popular in NJ, should call a press conference exposing Kean as doing Bush's work with his willingness to subvert the truth of 9/11 to innoculate Bush.  The Jersey Girls and the Victims of 9-11 should join in the conference as well, as they are on the record as condemning the movie.  If the connection is made, and the Menendez campaign hammers the fact the NJ could be the state that flips the Senate and  puts some restraint on Bush, that's all NJ has to know.

The opportunity just presented itself.  Let's see if the Democrats take it or they decide to be nice guy losers again.

•  Good idea

  NJ seems to be slipping out of Dem's hands.

  by kellington on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 06:48:27 AM PDT

•  kean

  the biggest problem here is that too many folks think it is the old man running not his son . that is the most impotant thing always refer to the elder as sr and the senate canidate as jr.this will help draw distindtion between the two . we alo must demand this of our media.

  by flurdman on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 06:53:22 AM PDT

  •  Exactly the reason that taking the father

    down who up until a week ago conducted himself with great comportment and now is down in the muck with the rest of the rightwingers will torpedo the son't campaign.  Talk it up people!

    Tom Kean is now pushing lies about 9/11 and a lot of people in New Jersey lost friends and family that fateful day in New York.  Don't bother to note whether it is "Sr." or "Jr." when you talk about it.

    by inclusiveheart on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:03:15 AM PDT

    •  You insult the people of New Jersey

      That is not the way to win votes for the Democratic candidate. The Father and son need to be seperated, and the distinction made. I saw Jr. on some news show last week with his Rummy resignation ploy, and the guy was totally incoherent. It seemed like he could not string two sentences together to make sense. Some operative told him to come out aganist Rummy and this would win him votes. It was obvious this was not from the heart, and he had trouble articulating his actual position. I have a hard time after seeing Keane on this news show understanding why Menedez is in trouble. Perhaps Menedez is not a strong enough candidate. The only time I heard anything from or about him was the Dubai ports deal. He appeared stronger when he was a congressman. As a Senator, an appointed Senator, he needed to do alot more than he did. He had a golden opportunity and he didn't take advantage of it. If he did, he would not be in trouble, especially from a State Senator, who has a difficult time expressing himself to the press. His Dad being a superstar Governor, should not give him the edge in any other area than name recognition.

      by Vera Lofaro on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:23:50 AM PDT

      •  Agreed with insults to NJ

        However, I take issue with you regarding Menendez.  The real obstacle is inability to get media coverage because stations are in NYC and Philadelphia.  Last week, he proposed legislation to implement 9/11 commission recommendations.  The only reason I know is I get press conference transcripts from Bloomberg News.  But the media was happy to announce that Christie's office is investigating a transaction that has been known for many years at request of two Republican assemblymen.  

        I think it is a shame that people, including bloggers on this site, attribute his appointment to the NJ political machine.  Menendez was one of the most influential Hispanic politicians.  His appointment was encouraged by major Hispanic groups all over the country.  He is beloved by Cubans in NJ.   Also, Corzine wanted to appoint someone who had always been against the Iraq War and had participated in Homeland Security committees.  The appointment was risky because of the image of Hudson County plus possible problems because of prejudiced voters.  

        We have to hope he pulls it out because the consequences for this country are great.

        by ann stone on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:52:57 AM PDT

      •  I am not insulting anyone from New Jersey.

        I happen to think that the two are peas in a pod.  But more importantly the GOP is being VERY careful about keeping people from knowing the difference between the two so that the son can pretend to be the Dad.  If the GOP wants to play that game then I am going to use it against them.  Furthermore, I saw the son defending this piece of trash movie too so as far as I am concerned they are of one mind.

        As far as Menedez goes - he clearly has two problems and one big one is that a lot of people think he is running against the father and not the son.  If the GOP want it that way, then I'll let them have it that way because the father has committed a highly political and disgusting act by not renouncing this movie - he stuck to his guns this morning on ABC's This Week and even took a few partisan shots at his fellow committee members about the fact that they were calling for TRUTH.  It was disgusting.  Anyhow, I am sick of lackey sons picking up the conservative mantle, so I really have no sympathy for either one of these Kean boys.

        by inclusiveheart on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:58:34 AM PDT

        •  What about Casey in PA?

          I too am sick of political sons taking up the mantle of the Father, no matter what party they come from. Evan Bayh, not the man his Dad was. Even Al Gore had to work hard to fill his Dad's shoes. There has got to be something very Freudian about this.

          by Vera Lofaro on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 08:31:35 AM PDT

          •  What about Casey?

            Santorum took that pot shot at Caseey's dead father on MTP -- specifically to alert the voters that Casey is not his father.  Plus Casey has been on the political scene in PA for some time now.

            Kean's kid was a delegate or something in NJ and now he wants to be a Senator - he should be starting in the Congress at his age.  In any case, there is a principle of disclosure that I agree with but the media have aided and abetted the Keans and the GOP as was pointed out earlier by NOT saying a thing about the two being different people.  The GOP likes that and has encouraged that - I'm not going to help them out of their charade now - especially if it helps them.  If people want to lie and obsfuscate, I am not interested in helping them get out of the consequences of that activity - especially if that Jr that mental midget would be a US Senator as a result of my help.  They have made their bed and now it is time to lie in it.

            by inclusiveheart on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 08:42:02 AM PDT

            •  lack of legislative experience

              We don't seem to mind electing Senators who aren't very experienced.  Bradley, Lautenberg, Corzine; none of them had experience prior to serving in the U.S. Senate, but they were all good Senators.  

              by Bill W on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 09:27:25 AM PDT

            •  Wasn't that one of the reasons

              Daddy Bush never campaigned with Jr. so those who didn't know shit would think they were voting for the Senior Bush? See, they do think Americans are stupid.

              by Vera Lofaro on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 09:33:51 AM PDT

  •  So, use the confusion

    that Kean,Jr. has deliberately fomented.  Trash Senior as he deserves to be and hope it rubs off on Junior.

    by MadRuth on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:04:21 AM PDT

  •  i prefer

    to refer to Jr as "Tom Kean The Lesser".

    by Marlboro Lite on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 08:48:45 AM PDT

•  Once again

  The Tom Kean who worked with the film is the father of Tom Kean the candidate in New Jersey.

  Nonetheless, strong criticism of the father might be mistaken for criticizing the son.

  by TarheelDem on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 06:59:12 AM PDT

•  I was just thinking that

  This propaganda is getting people really riled up and could be quite the tipping point for people in NJ who may like a business-minded, socially-moderate Republican but can't stand revisionist history and gutter politics Republican-style.

  I do hope the Menendez campaign capitalizes on this unprincipled propaganda bullshit.  It's transparently designed to provide cover for the empty suit who sat in a Florida classroom for 9 minutes staring into space without asking one question or giving one order.

  by etatauri on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:04:50 AM PDT

•  totally agree

  New Jerseyans are all about money.  Yes, they a re social moderates and they don't like Bush.  But it is their portfolios and their property taxes that are foremost in their minds.  Tom Kean Jr. and Bob Menedez are in a dead heat.   a DEAD HEAT!  
  If I here one more person tell me how reliably blue New Jersey is, I'm going to hunt them down at YearlyKos and deliver a wedgie.  The freaking plutocrats and Norquistians live here.  And as for all those supposeldly smart, well educated people, a lot of them are foreign born and many of them are unable to vote.  So put THAT in yout pipes and smoke it, teachers.  Our educational system may be saved by the demands of these foreign born scientists but our democracy may be sunk because they can't all vote yet.  
  All that said, Tom Kean Jr. is an achilles heel in this whole scenario.  Because I think the Jersey Girls are still very widely respected, especially Breitweiser, and if she starts speaking out, there is a good chance that Tom "Elmer Fudd" Kean Jr. will suffer for it.  You can't trust a politician to lower your taxes if he is willing to lie about something as importnat as 9/11 to get into office.

  by goldberry on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:29:19 AM PDT

  •  Great comment for the

    Purple People!

    You can't trust a politician to lower your taxes if he is willing to lie about something as importnat as 9/11 to get into office.

    by Granny Doc on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:36:01 AM PDT

•  This will work AGAINST Kean!

  Both of them!  

  The father is disgusting for doing this kind of promo for such a partisan production!  I'm absolutely certain he figured the movie and his involvement would help his son!  

  Remember the father's quote attacking Bill Clinton's involvement in helping Menendez's campaign.  He felt Clinton deserved the slam since he was there working for the Democrat!  Another example of the GOP hating democracy!

  I'm sure this furor will only serve to anger some moderates in NJ - and will cause them to vote for Menendez!  

  Wouldn't it be fitting if this all propaganda crap cost them the Senate too!  

  by Retired in Ohio on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 07:54:37 AM PDT

•  My point being....

  In NJ Kean would probably have scored more points for his son if he had repudiated the fictional scenes and come out against them.

  Kean Jr., is trying to pretend he is no friend of the Bush administration and he will be an independent voice for NJ -the same reputation his Dad enjoyed.

  By linking the Keans to the sleasy fictional attacks on Clinton and Albright, NJ will lose respect for both and swing to Menendez as a way to divided government against Bush.

  Menendez has no real statewide recognition in the sense that people feel they know who he is.

  All they have to know is that he's a moderate and he's opposed to Bush's policies and he could swing the Senate to divided government and he will win.

  I see no ads or dialogue coming from Menendez making that case.

  by jm on Sun Sep 10, 2006 at 10:54:42 AM PDT