Following a week in which the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) lobbed several attacks on Congressman Scott Garrett's (R-Wantage) skewed priorities, Congressman Steve Rothman (NJ-9) joined the General Wesley K. Clark, Teamsters Joint Council No. 73, New York Governor David Paterson, and numerous New Jersey political figures in endorsing Dennis Shulman's campaign to unseat Garrett in New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District.
"After meeting with Dennis and hearing about him from people throughout Northern New Jersey, I am convinced that he will make an excellent Member of Congress. I am committed to working with Dennis in 2008 so that, together, we can help solve the problems of New Jersey and the nation in 2009," said Congressman Steve Rothman.
Did you catch that? Rep. Steve Rothman of New Jersey's 9th congressional district just the other day endorsed Rabbi Dennis Shulman, who is taking on Republican Scott Garrett in New Jersey's 5th CD. That is to say, an incumbent Dem endorsed a challenger running against a member of his own state's delegation.
But what does DCCC Executive Director Brian Wolff have to say about endorsements like that?
Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, says the bloggers are making "much ado about nothing," noting that it's "customary" for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.
Quick, someone call up Steve Rothman! He's violating a long-practiced custom! How dare he! Does Chris Van Hollen know about this breach?
Seriously, folks, I think we know this "custom" is bullshit. Debbie Wasserman Schultz herself recognized this back in 2005, when she unhesitatingly supported challenger Ron Klein against fellow Floridian Clay Shaw:
"It's not good for my relationship with Clay Shaw, but Democrats can't afford to leave a seat like that uncontested," she said.
Scott Garrett is a total recidivist crumb-bum, and the people of NJ-05 deserve better. Rabbi Shulman knows this, and that's why he's running to replace him. And Rep. Rothman knows this, too, which is why he's backing Rabbi Shulman. Surely the good folks in South Florida deserve no less from Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
It is only a matter of time before he bursts forth onto the national scene and captures the hearts and minds of thinking people everywhere in this country.
Come November (and likely well before) he will be a national phenomenon: Russert will interview him on Sunday morn; Olbermann will speak of him while delivering a special comment; the gray lady will profile him; NPR will consider all things related to him; the right will be disarmed by him; and the left will celebrate him.
Dennis Shulman, the inspiring blind doctor and rabbi who is seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Scott Garrett in NJ-5, has just secured the endorsement of Paul Aronsohn, who ran and lost to Garrett on the Democratic ticket two years ago.
With this crucial endorsement, in addition to raising nearly $200,000 in 2007, Shulman has established his bona fides and is increasingly looking like the Democratic candidate to beat in this district that finally has a real chance to swing blue.
In other NJ-5 news, Steve Goldstein, the Garden State Equality chair and another supporter of Shulman, found just the rights words to capture the uniqueness and potential of Shulman's campaign when he commented:
And it is these words, and this man, that have inspired rabbi Dennis Shulman (D) to challenge conservative extremist Scott Garrett (R) in NJ-5 this 2008.
Like his spiritual forefather, Shulman has concluded that he can no longer speak about God and remain silent on Iraq, as well as many of the other pressing and important issues of our times.
Before I answer this question, I would like to first thank all the commentators for their interest in my disability and their questions about the obstacles I have faced.
I lost my vision gradually throughout my childhood so that, while I could still read large print when I was ten or eleven, I could not when I was thirteen. Using a cane became necessary in my junior year of high school.
By the time I went to college (Brandeis) and grad school (Harvard) I was totally blind.
I started at Brandeis in 1968. These were the pre-personal computer dark ages. For all people, the personal computer has radically changed their lives; for blind folks, this change is downright revolutionary.
This is where I get to be wrong. I have found six Democratic Candidates who are running good campaigns in the right environments who are currently not listed on any list of competitive races in the country by any professional prognosticators. . So here is where I go out on a limb. All of these candidates will get 40%, most will get 45% and one will win. This is not to rule out the possibility of other strange upsets. But theses six campaigns have a real shot at riding a wave.
