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♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>>> HELLO AGAIN, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO REPORTER'S
ROUNDTABLE.
I'M DAVID CRUZ.
MICHAEL ARON IS OFF THIS WEEK.
DEMOCRATS IN NEW JERSEY ARE
STILL PREDICTING A POLITICAL
BLUE WAVE.
THEY GATHERED IN ATLANTIC CITY
THIS WEEK FOR THEIR ANNUAL
CONVENTION AND BEHIND THE
SUNSHINY SPEECHES AND RALLIES
WERE A HINT OF CLOUDS AS
DEMOCRATS FOUND REASONS TO BE
ELSEWHERE.
>> THE DEMOCRATS CONTINUED IN
ATLANTIC CITY AGAINST THE
BACKDROP OF PUBLIC EVENTS
INCLUDING A RIBBON-CUTTING
CEREMONY WITH THE ATLANTIC CITY
CAMPUS ON THE BOARDWALK.
>> HE'S IN TOWN, BUT GOVERNOR
MURPHY CANCELED PLANS TO SPEAK
HERE.
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE
NOTED THAT WITH A MIFF.
A CROWD OF POLITICAL LUMINARIES
GATHERED TO MARK THE EVENT AND
THE S ASSEMBLY MINCED NO WORDS.
I HOPE HE FINDS HIS WAY TO WALK
DOWN THIS MAGNIFICENT BOARDWALK
AND STUMBLE UPON WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE TODAY.
>> GREENWALD JOINED PRESIDENT
STEVE SWEENEY WHO WAS WELCOMED
EFFUSIVELY BY UNIVERSITY
OFFICIALS.
HE CLAIMED THERE'S NO BEEF WITH
GOVERNOR MURPHY.
>> I WISH HE WAS HERE AND IF
THEY HAD INVITED ME TO THE OTHER
EVENTS I WOULD HAVE WENT, BUT
AGAIN, MY FEELINGS DON'T GET
HURT.
I DON'T CONSIDER IT A GRUDGE.
I LIKE PHIL PERSONALLY, AND I
THINK HE'D SAY THE SAME, SO WHEN
WE DISAGREE, WE'RE GOING TO
DISAGREE.
WHEN WE AGREE, WE'LL AGREE AND
WE'RE WORKING VERY HARD ON
MARIJUANA AND AFTER MARIJUANA
WE'LL WORK ON THE MINIMUM WAGE
BILL.
>> SWEENEY ADMITS HE'S STILL
IRKED BY JOHN CURRY TAKING THE
GOVERNOR'S SIDE AGAINST THE
LEGISLATURE DURING BITTER BUDGET
BATTLES THIS SPRING.
>> ISN'T THAT WHY YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO THE CONVENTION?
>> I JUST THINK JOHN HAS SHOWN A
GREAT DEAL OF DISRESPECT FOR
LEGISLATURE AND MYSELF AS A
DEMOCRAT.
AS A DEMOCRAT, WE ARE ALLOWED TO
DISAGREE AND YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO LET THE LEADER OF THE PARTY
CHOOSE ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.
>> WE HAVE A PRETTY DARN UNIFIED
PARTY AND I'LL LET THEM SPEAK TO
THERE'S A LOT OF NOISE AND THE
SUBSTANCE IS WE HAVE AN
OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF AGREEMENT
ON WHAT IT IS TO BE A DEMOCRAT
AND WHERE YOU WILL TAKE THIS
PART AND THE STATE AND YOU WILL
SEE A FIRED UP, PASSIONATE AND
UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
>> THAT WAS A REPORT FROM OUR
BRENDA FLANNIGAN.
JOINING US NOW TO SWEEP UP THE
POLITICAL LEAVES OF AUTUMN ARE
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY'S
STATE HOUSE PRESS CORPS AND THE
EDITOR OF POLITIFACT.
STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR N.J.
ADVANCED MEDIA AND JOHN
WRIGHTMEYER.
GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO ALL OF
YOU.
NICHOLAS, LET'S START WITH YOU.
THE LEADERS OF THE DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS OF BOTH LEGISLATIVE
BODIES CHOSE TO BE ELSEWHERE
THIS WEEKEND.
IS THIS THE KIND OF UNITY THAT
BOB MENENDEZ WANTS OR NEEDS?
>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL
AFFECT MENENDEZ, BUT YOU'VE GOT
TO LOVE THE WAY SWEENEY HANDLES
THIS.
BUTTER WOULDN'T MELT IN HIS
MOUTH.
I WOULD HAVE GONE IF THEY HAD
INVITED ME.
HE'S NOT VERY GOOD AT THIS.
>> CHARLIE?
>> IS THERE REALLY, AS NICK
SAYS, NADA?
>> I DON'T -- I DON'T THINK
THE -- THIS INTERNAL FRACAS IS
GOING TO SHAPE THE CONTOURS OF
THE SENATE RACE.
I THINK THAT THE PARTY, AND
THERE ARE OTHER DYNAMICS AT WORK
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, PART OF
IT IS THAT YOU A DEMOCRATIC
PARTY BASE THAT'S JUST FIRED UP
RIGHT NOW AND THEY'RE WANTING TO
SEND A MESSAGE TO THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION AND THAT WILL
OVERRIDE ANY OF THESE INTERNAL
MECHANICS.
LAST NIGHT AT THE CONVENTION
THEY HAD 1100, 1200 PEOPLE THERE
AND THEY WERE FIRED UP AND I
THOUGHT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT THAT
YOU'D SEE CORY BOOKER AND THEY
HAD RALLIED THE TROOPS BEHIND
THAT MESSAGE AND I THINK IT
WOULD BE AN OVERRIDING THEME AND
I DOUBT THAT THIS -- THIS IS AN
INTERNAL STATE HOUSE FRACAS.
IT'S NOT A CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
>> IS IT JUST ABOUT LEGISLATION
OR IS THERE A DIVIDE BETWEEN
NORTH AND SOUTH?
>> JUST TO REITERATE, THIS IS
NOTHING STATEWIDE AND IT HAS
NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STATEWIDE
ELECTIONS AND IT HAS EVERYTHING
TO DO WITH THE STATE HOUSE AND
IN THOSE REGARDS IT IS A BIG
PROBLEM.
IT'S A HUGE PROBLEM BECAUSE,
LOOK, THE DEMOCRATS WILL AGREE
ON SOME THINGS AND THIS IS WHAT
PHIL MURPHY AND GOVERNOR MURPHY
IS SAYING, WE'LL GET SOME THINGS
DONE AND Y THEY'LL PASS
LEGISLATION AND THE FACT THAT
STEVE SWEENEY WILL BE SUCH A
THORN IN HIS SIDE WILL HOLD UP
NOMINATIONS AND WE'LL DERAIL
CERTAIN PARTS OF HIS AGENDA, IF
IT'S AS SMALL AS ENDING THE BEAR
HUNT IN NEW JERSEY WHICH
GOVERNOR MURPHY SAID HE WANTED
TO DO.
HE CAN'T EVEN DO THAT, SOMETHING
AS SMALL AS THAT BECAUSE STEVE
SWEENEY IS A THORN IN HIS SIDE
SO HE CAN'T GET CERTAIN MEMBERS
ON PANELS AND COMMITTEES AND
THAT'S JUST A SMALL EXAMPLE.
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE AN
ISSUE AND WHAT IT TELLS US EIGHT
MONTHS IN IS THAT, YOU KNOW,
EVERYBODY IS DIGGING IN ON THIS.
THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT -- THE
FRESHMAN GOVERNOR AND HE'S NOT
TAKEN ANY LESSONS FROM THE
BUDGET SIDE.
HE'S STILL DUG IN AND WE KNOW
THAT BECAUSE STEVE SWEENEY IS
STILL TAKING SHOTS AND THAT'S
NOT TO SAY IT'S THE GOVERNOR'S
FAULT, BUT THE EXECUTIVE HAS TO
WORK WITH THE LEGISLATIVE GRANT
AND SO FAR IT'S -- JOHN, IS
THERE ANY DANGER THAT ALL OF
THIS POLITICAL INFIGHTING WILL
JUST HAVE SOME PEOPLE STAYING
HOME AND WHAT THE DEMOCRATS NEED
IS A BIG TURNOUT.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, I THINK THE BIG THING
THAT WOULD -- THAT OTHERWISE
WOULD BE A BIG CONCERN THAT YOU
HAVE, AS CHARLIE SAID, ALL OF
THIS ENTHUSIASM, AND WHAT I
WOULD SAY IS THE TOP OF THE
TICKET AND IT'S NOT REALLY THE
TOP OF THE TICKET AND PEOPLE
WANTING TO HAVE A CHECK ON THE
PRESIDENT AND SO WHETHER THAT'S
THE SENATE RACE OR THE HOUSE
RACES, YOU HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE THAT WILL PREVAIL IN THE
UNITY AND IT'S CLASSIC THAT NJ
DEMOCRATS IN A YEAR WHEN THIS
BRASS RING OF, YOU KNOW,
TAKING -- MAYBE HAVING ALL OF
THIS HOUSE SEATS BECOME
DEMOCRATIC IN NEW JERSEY.
WHEN HAS THAT POSSIBILITY EVER
BEEN THERE.
THEY CAN'T GET THEIR ACT
TOGETHER AND HAVE EVENTS AS ALL
A UNIFIED GROUP.
THE ONE THING I WILL SAY TO
MATT'S POINT IS IF YOU ACCEPT
THE PREMISE OF THE POLICIES THAT
YOU'RE TRYING TO ENACT ARE GOOD
THINGS FOR NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS
AND WHETHER THAT'S INCREASING
THE MINIMUM WAGE AND LEGALIZING
RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, THE
PERSONAL DISAGREEMENTS SEEM TO
BE GETTING IN THE WAY OF THE
PROGRESS ON THE POLICY
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
>> IF WE ACCEPT THE PREMISE THAT
THESE WILL IMPROVE THE LIVES OF
NEW JERSEY RESIDENT, THEN YES,
WHAT IS STANDING IN THE WAY OF
SOME OF THESE THINGS REACHING
THE FINISH LINE ARE TRUE POLICY
CONCERNS AND JUST PERSONAL
DISAGREEMENTS AND THAT'S NOT
GOOD FOR ANYBODY.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY TO BOLSTER
MATT'S POINT, THE DYE WAS CAST,
AS WE HAVE THE GROUND AND THE
STAKES AND EACH SIDE WAS -- AND
I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT
STAY THERE, AND IT'S ONLY GOING
TO KALS PHI, AND YOU HAVE TO
WONDER IS THERE ANY WAY TO
APPROACH IT AND I DON'T SEE IT
AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT
SWEENEY'S LONG-TERM AMBITION,
TOO, AS HE STARTS BUILDING THE
BASE AND PIECES FOR MURPHY DOWN
THE ROAD.
ALL OF THIS WITH JUST A FEW
LET ME THROW THIS ON TOP OF
THAT.
THE NEW 800-POUND GORILLA INTO
THE POLITICAL ZOO OF NEW JERSEY,
MICHAEL SLOVINO AND HE MANAGED
TO OFFEND BLACK, SIKHS AND ALL
POLITICIANS IN NEW JERSEY IN ONE
PRIVATE CONVERSATION.
WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS ON
THIS, ON ANYTHING?
>> LET'S START WITH IF YOU ARE A
PUBLIC OFFICIAL YOU MUST ASSUME
THAT EVERY CONVERSATION YOU HAVE
IS BEING TAPED.
YOU MUST ASSUME IT BECAUSE
EVERYBODY -- HAS IN THEIR POCKET
A DEVICE BY WHICH YOU CAN BE
RIDICULOUSED AND YOU HAVE TO BE
INCREDIBLY STUPID TO SAY THINGS
LIKE THIS EVEN IN A PRIVATE
MEETING.
>> BUT DOES THE FACT THAT HE
THOUGHT IT WAS A PRIVATE
CONVERSATION CHANGE ANYTHING?
THOSE WERE HIS PRIVATE THOUGHTS.
HE SAID THAT NOTHING IN HIS
PUBLIC LIFE HAS BEEN REFLECTIVE
OF THAT.
>> IT DOESN'T MATTER.
>> WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS NOT A
SCRUBBED PUBLIC STATEMENT, BUT,
YOU KNOW, FEEL NEGLIGENCE RAW
CANDOR AND WHETHER IT DID OR NOT
IT'S IMMATERIAL NOW FOR HIM, AND
EVERYTHING THAT HE SAYS WILL BE
SEEN THROUGH THAT.
SO THAT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE FOR
THE SHERIFF, BUT THAT'S, YOU
KNOW, AND HE DIDN'T TRY TO DENY
IT, SO --
>> HOW CAN HE?
IT'S LEAK A CRAZY UNCLE JOE AT
DINNER.
>> THE SHERIFF OF -- OF -- THE
LARGEST, SECOND LARGEST COUNTY
IN THE STATE.
>> AND OVERSEAS AND THE SECOND
BIGGEST NEXT TO THE PROSECUTOR,
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL TALKING
ABOUT UNDERPRIVILEGED OR
MINORITY GROUPS IN THIS WAY AND
FRANKLY, AS WE KNOW THE HISTORY
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW,
THEY'VE -- AND IT'S A TREMENDOUS
TENSION.
>> I THINK THERE'S MAJOR TENSION
BETWEEN THOSE TWO GROUPS AND
HERE YOU HAVE THE TOP COP
SAYING, MAKING THESE RIDICULOUS
AND VULGAR COMMENTS ABOUT
BLACKS.
>> LET'S PUT IT IN THE BROADER
CONTEXT OF THINGS HAPPENING IN
THE STATE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMMUNITY AND SOME THINGS ARE
BEING SAID THAT ARE UNFOUNDED
AND HERE YOU HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE IT DOES NOT DO WELL FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRYING TO PUT
ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD WHEN YOU
HAVE A HIGH-RANKING OFFICIAL
SPEAKING IN THIS WAY.
>> CORRECT, WHETHER MEANT TO SAY
IT PUBLICLY OR NOT, IT'S SAID
AND THE DAMAGE IS DONE.
SO IF YOU'RE A MEMBER OF ONE OF
THESE COMMUNITIES AND YOU HEAR
SOMEONE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
SPEAKING THIS WAY, IT JUST
VALIDATES ALL OF THE THINGS THAT
YOU THINK IS BAD WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO BEGIN WITH,
WHETHER THEY'RE TRUE OR NOT.
>> SO UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION OF
THESE COMMENTS.
HE HAS APOLOGIZED AND IT DOESN'T
REFLECT THE PERSON THAT HE IS
TODAY AND A, IS THAT ENOUGH AND
B, IS THAT ENOUGH?
>> BERGEN COUNTY ELECTED
OFFICIALS ARE SAYING HE SHOULD
STEP ASIDE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE WRITING IS ON
THE WALL.
HE DOESN'T HAVE SUPPORT FROM
ANYONE IN HIS OWN PARTY AND HE
WAS A REPUBLICAN AND NOW HE'S A
DEMOCRATIC SHERIFF AND NO
SUPPORT IN THE PARTY AND I KNOW
HE'S UP FOR ELECTION NEXT YEAR,
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THE PROCESS
WORKS WITH ALL OF THAT IN TERMS
OF GETTING SOMEBODY ELSE IN
THERE, BUT LOOK.
THE WRITING SEEMS TO BE ON THE
WALL AND EVERYBODY WHO SHOULD BE
THE ALLY IS SAYING STEP ASIDE.
>> HE'S GOT, WHAT?
A YEAR LEFT?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE
LEVERAGE IS GOING COME FROM.
I THINK HE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL
OFFICER AND HE'S ELECTED AND HE
CAN ARGUE WELL AND LET THE
VOTERS DECIDE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT LEVERAGE
THE BERGEN DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS
TO GET HIM OUT OF THERE.
>> IF IT'S IN THE NEWS AND IT
CONTINUES TO MAKE THE STORY THAT
MIGHT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AND
THE DEMOCRATS -- BERGEN COUNTY
WOULD NEED TO GET 150,000
SIGNATURES IN A WEEK.
>> RUNNING AGAIN WOULD BE
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
THE PARTY WOULD NOMINATE
SOMEBODY ELSE.
>> IS IT A DANGER TO DEMOCRATS
RIGHT NOW?
AS THEY TRY ASK PRESENT -- NO.
HE'S NOT CONSIDERED A GOOD
DEMOCRAT.
>> HE WAS A REPUBLICAN WHO
SWITCHED PARTIES.
>> AND BACK TO THE EARLIER
ISSUE, THIS ELECTION IS
EVERYTHING ABOUT TRUMP AND
NOTHING ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
STATEWIDE IN NEW JERSEY.
IT'S ALL ABOUT PRESIDENT DONALD
TRUMP WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
MENENDEZ AND HIS RACE IS
DIFFERENT BECAUSE HE'S EMBROILED
IN HIS OWN CONTROVERSY, BUT
OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S JUST ALL
TRUMP.
>> DESPITE THE ADVICE FROM THE
NATIONAL PARTY WHICH WAS TO ALL
THESE HOUSE RACES, KEEP IT
LOCAL, STUPID.
IN NEW JERSEY, TRUMP IS A MUCH
BIGGER ISSUE THAN THE STATE
ISSUES.
>> 100%.
>> YEAH.
>> LET'S GO TO SOME OF THOSE
MIDTERMS.
SOME NEWS THIS WEEK OUT OF THE
SEVENTH DISTRICT WHERE I GUESS
IT WAS MONMOUTH POLL AND THE
INCUMBENT, 47-39.
SURPRISED ANY OF YOU?
>> I'M SURPRISED THAT THE
MAGNITUDE OF IT.
YEAH.
>> WITH LIKELY VOTERS?
>> OH, YEAH.
>> AMONG LIKELY VOTERS, THE
MARGIN WAS ONLY A FEW POINTS AND
IT WAS IN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.
>> BUT THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER
WAS STILL UP AND HOWEVER THAT
ADVANTAGE SHRUNK.
>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT
DISTRICT IS ONE OF THOSE THAT
ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THE TRUMP
AND THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN TAX
CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR.
THE PART OF IT THAT AFFECTS THE
PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GOING TO
BENEFIT FROM THE BIGGER STANDARD
DEDUCTION AND WILL GET HIT BY A
NEW CAP ON HOW MUCH THEY CAN
DEDUCT IN STATE AND LOCAL TAXES.
SO EVEN THOUGH LANCE OPPOSES
THAT AND HAD OPPOSED THAT CAP
BEING PUT IN PLACE AND THESE
FORCES ARE BIGGER THAN WHAT YOUR
LOCAL --
>> AND HILLARY CLINTON CARRIED
THAT DISTRICT, BUT SHE CARRIED
IT.
>> POINT BY POINT AND TAKE A
LOOK AT THE DEMOCRATIC
REGISTRATION AND IT'S GROWN
EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE PAST FOUR
OR SIX YEARS AND IT'S BECOME
THIS HOTBED OF RESISTANCE
ACTIVISM AND I DON'T KNOW.
THOSE NUMBERS DID SURPRISE ME A
LITTLE BIT, AND IT'S BEEN A
COMPETITIVE DISTRICT IN THE
PAST, BUT HE'S ALWAYS HELD ON,
LEONARD.
>> TO WHAT CAN WE ATTRIBUTE THE
SURPRISE?
>> TWO WORDS.
>> DONALD TRUMP.
>> WHOSE GOLF COURSE -- YOU SAID
YOU WERE SURPRISED.
YOU WERE SURPRISED WHY?
>> I THINK, IF YOU LOOK AT THE
HISTORICAL PATTERN IN THE
DISTRICT.
IT DOESN'T REALLY SURPRISE ME,
MAYBE THAT'S THE WRONG WORD.
>> AND HE HAS HIS OWN FOLLOWING
AND HE'S DISTANCED HIMSELF FROM
TRUMP.
>> HE HAS THIS REPUTATION THAT
HE'S BUILT AS SORT OF THIS
PRAGMATIC MODERATE WHEN THE TOWN
HALLS AND WITH THE ATTEMPT TO
REPEAL THE ACA AND THE OBAMACARE
WAS THE TOP ISSUE OF FURY AT THE
TIME, AND HE TOOK THE BRAVE STEP
AND THE POLITICALLY BRAVE STEP
OF CONFRONTING HIS TORMENTOR
CRITICS AND HE GOT A LOT OF
NATIONAL PRESS FOR THAT.
>> INCUMBENCY DOES COME WITH A
LOT OF BENEFITS AND ESPECIALLY
WITH THE CASE LIKE LEONARD LANCE
AND HE'S BEEN THERE FOR DECADES
AND IT'S ALSO INCUMBENCY THAT
COMES WITH THE ADVANTAGE OF
FOLKS REALLY KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
>> WHEN CHARLIE IS SAYING A BIT
OF A SURPRISE AND HE'S A KNOWN
ENTITY.
>> HE'S A WILEY POLITICIAN.
WHEN HE WAS UNDER PRESSURE FROM
THE TEA PARTY HE SHIFTED TO THE
RIGHT.
>> YOU LOOK AT HIS RECORD ON KEY
ISSUES, IMMIGRATION, GUN, HEALTH
CARE.
HE BENDS IT TO PROTECT HIS FLANK
AND IN THE LAST TWO YEARS YOU
SEE HIM ON HIS VERY ISSUES AND
HE MOVES TO THE CENTER AND IT
MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.
>> HE'S A MEMBER OF THE PROBLEM
SOLVER'S CAUCUS.
>> NOBODY AT HOME IS --
>> WHAT HE'S DOING IS TRYING TO
POSITION HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE
SOMEWHERE.
>> I WAS SURPRISED BY THE
MAGNITUDE.
I STILL THINK IT'S A VERY CLOSE
RACE.
>> THE INCUMBENCY OR THE
MCARTHUR INCUMBENCY, BECAUSE
HE'S GOT A LOT THAT HE CAN POINT
TO AND A LOT THAT CAN BE POINTED
TO.
>> EVEN BEFORE HE REPRESENTED
THAT AREA IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE FOREVER.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT ALSO SOME OF
THE SUPER PAC ADS ATTACKING THE
DISTRICT, THEY'RE LIKE ACID BATH
TYPE OF ADS.
IT'S JUST WAY OVER THE TOP AND I
DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS POLL IS
YET, AND WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF
THIS IS A REPUDIATION OF THAT
APPROACH AND AN ATTACK AND IT
DOESN'T REALLY ATTACK HIM ON
POLICY, JUST ON TRYING TO
DISCREDIT HIS PERSONAL STATURE.
I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE IF IT CONTINUES AND YOU'RE
DOING THE RACE IS CLOSE.
>> IN THE 11th, WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.
HE ENDORSED, A FULL-THROATED
ENDORSEMENT OF JAKE WEBBER.
GOOD NEWS FOR HIM?
>> THIS GOES BACK TO EVERYTHING
ABOUT BEING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP,
RIGHT?
GREAT NEWS PROBABLY FOR JAY
WEBBER IN THE SENSE THAT DONALD
TRUMP TWEETED OUT ENDORSEMENT
AND JAY WEBBER RE-TWEETED IT,
BUT WILLING TO BET THAT THAT'S
GOING TO BE COMING UP IN A
CAMPAIGN AD FOR CHERYL, RIGHT?
SO IF SHE'S GOING TO BE DOING
EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO LOB THAT
AGAINST HIM.
>> SHE'S GOT BOAT LOADS OF MONEY
AND HE DOESN'T.
>> IS JAY WEBBER CALLING THE
WHITE HOUSE SAYING, HEY, MAN, I
REALLY NEED THAT ENDORSEMENT
FROM YOU, POTUS.
>> IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICAN
FIGURES IN NEW JERSEY, HE'S
PRETTY FAR TO THE RIGHT AS A
STATE OFFICIAL.
IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT HE
WOULD EMBRACE ENDORSEMENT JUST
BECAUSE OF WHERE YOU ARE
POLITICALLY.
>> HE ALSO NEEDS THAT BASE
SOLIDIFIED BY, HE CAN'T WIN
WITHOUT THE REPUBLICAN SPACE
SOLIDIFIED AND THAT PUTS THE
STILLS AND THE DILEMMA THAT HE'S
IN.
>> YOU CAN'T EVEN PRESENT THAT
BASE.
IT'S NOT A CHANCE UNLESS THEY'RE
BEHIND HIM AT 85%.
AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO
LONG-WINDED TODAY THAT WE'LL
MOVE ON.
>> JUST TODAY?
>> I WANT TO KEEP YOU GUYS TIGHT
TIME WISE WITH THE CITY
COUNCILMAN MARCELLUS JACKSON WHO
WAS HIRED BY THE ADMINISTRATION
FOR A JOB IN THE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT AND HE'D DONE TIME
FOR TAKING A BRIBE BACK IN THE
'07 OR '09 OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT, AND HE'S OUTRAGED SOME
PEOPLE AND NOT FESSLY DEMOCRATS.
WE HAVE ONE REPUBLICAN WHO SAID
SHE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE A BILL
TO MAKE IT SO THAT YOU CAN'T RUN
FOR A SERVANT PUBLIC IF YOU'VE
DONE TIME OR BEEN FOUND GUILTY
ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
LET'S HEAR FROM HOLLY.
>> I AM 100% FOR PEOPLE HAVING
SECOND CHANCES.
I'VE ACTUALLY SPONSORED
LEGISLATION THAT LOOKS TO
REHABILITATE PEOPLE AND HOWEVER,
THIS SHOULD NOT BE THE NEW FORM
AND THERE IS NOTHING NORMAL
ABOUT A CORRUPT ELECTED OFFICIAL
WHO HAS GONE TO PRISON FOR
BRIBERY GOING BACK TO WORK IN
THE GOVERNMENT.
THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN SECOND CHANCES AND WHAT
ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT
ARE FOR THAT SECOND CHANCE.
>> LET ME GET REAL QUICK FROM
ANY ONE OF YOU ON THIS.
>> WE DON'T LET PEOPLE LIKE THAT
RUN FOR OFFICE.
>> ANYONE ELSE DISAGREE WITH
THAT?
>> IF THIS HAPPENED DURING CHRIS
CHRISTIE, WHAT IF DONALD TRUMP
HIRED SOMEONE OF THIS BACKGROUND
FOR HIS ADMINISTRATION, WHAT
WOULD DEMOCRATS BE SAYING?
>> IT'S FINE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO
SAY THAT EVERYONE DESERVES A
SECOND CHANCE.
>> IT'S NOT THE SECOND CHANCE
THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WHEN
THINKING OF SECONDS CHANCES.
>> IT'S NOT LIKE A LONG AGO
SECOND CHANCE.
YOU'RE PUTTING SOMEONE IN A
POSITION THAT VIOLATED --
>> LET'S SAY ALSO IN THE
BACKDROP OF THE ADMINISTRATION
THAT HE HASN'T EMPHASIZED ETHICS
REFORMAT ALL.
>> LET'S GET TO THE JOURNALISTIC
HIGH POINTS OF THE WEEK.
>> YOU TEED MINE UP.
I REACHED THAT POINT IN YOUR
CAREER COVERING NEW JERSEY
POLITICS THAT FROM OLDER
REPORTERS HAVE REACHED WHERE YOU
HAVE COVERED SOMEONE'S ARREST
AND BEEN IN THEIR JOB FOR THE
ENTIRE TIME IN PRISON AND NOW
ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THEM
RE-ENTERING PUBLIC LIFE.
>> THE CIRCLE OF LIFE AND THIS
ELECTION CYCLE EVEN THOUGH NEW
JERSEY IS DEMOCRATIC AND THE
FIRST TIME IN A FEW DECADES THAT
THE HOUSE RACES MATTERED.
>> EACH IN THE SUMMER WHICH WAS
SUPPOSEDLY THE QUIET TIME, IT
WAS VERY ACTIVE.
>> YEAH.
>> GEE, I DON'T HAVE ONE OTHER
THAN LAST NIGHT I WANT TO PAT
MYSELF ON THE BACK.
>> YOU CAN'T SHOW UP WITHOUT
ONE --
>> I'M WORKING ON IT.
>> DID YOU NOT GET THE MEMO?
CORY BOOKER, AFTER HIS ROUSING
SPEECH AND BRENDA WAS THERE AND
SHE CAN ATTEST TO THIS AND I
LOST MY TEMPER, BUT IT WAS WITH
SOME GUY WHO WAS PRESSING MAYBE
A LITTLE TOO HARD ON MY RIGHT
SHOULDER.
WE GOT INTO A WAR OF WORDS, BUT
I CONTAINED MYSELF.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT
HAPPENED, BUT IT HAPPENED.
>>.
>> THAT WAS THE --
>> YEAH.
IT WAS BECOMING NEWS, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
>> I HAD A CAMERAMAN ONCE WHO
KICKED SOMEONE WHO KEPT GETTING
INTO HIS SHOT, BUT THAT WAS A
DIFFERENT TIME.
>> YOU TEED IT UP FOR ME, TOO.
>> I HAVE NO LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR AND I GET VERY LITTLE
FEEDBACK.
THE FEEDBACK ON THE HIRING OF
THIS GUY AND THE EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT WAS OUTRAGEOUS.
I'VE GOT PEOPLE CALLING ME
SAYING MAYBE HE DESERVES A
SECOND CHANCE.
>> I AM COMPETING WITH PAULA
WHITE, THE WOMAN WHO WAS FIRED
BECAUSE THE NJEA DIDN'T LIKE
HER.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT I GOT OUTRAGE ON THE
TELEPHONE.
>> A JOURNALISTIC HIGH POINT.
>> A JOURNALISTIC MOMENT
INDEPENDENT MY JOURNALISTIC HIGH
POINT OF THE WEEK AS I HAVE BEEN
ON VACATION FOR THE LAST TWO IS
HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU ARE IT!
MICK, CHARLIE, MATTHEW AND JOHN,
IT FELT LIKE --
>> UP NEXT, ON NJTV, IT'S ON THE
RECORD.
THIS WEEK WE TALK WITH SENATE
MAJORITY LEADER LORETTA
WEINBERG, A TOP DEMOCRAT, ABOUT
WHY SHE'S SKIPPING THE STATE
PARTY CONVENTION AND REPUBLICAN
ASSEMBLY WOMAN HOLLY SHAPIZI
DISCUSSES ETHICS AND POLITICS
AND THE GOVERNOR'S HIRING OF
FORMER COUNCILMAN WHO DID GET
BRIBERY.
YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
AND TWITTER.
I'M DAVID CRUZ FOR MICHAEL ARON
AND ALL OF US AT NJTV.
THANKS FOR WATCHING.
♪♪♪
♪♪♪
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR REPORTERS'
ROUND TABLE WITH MICHAEL ARON IS
PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY REALTORS,
THE VOICE FOR REAL ESTATE IN NEW
JERSEY.
MORE INFORMATION IS ONLINE AT
NJREALTOR.COM.
RWJ BARNA BUS HEALTH AND SERVING
NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS AND BEES
FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED YEARS.
PROMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY
NEW JERSEY BUSINESS MAGAZINE.
THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY
BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION REPORTING TO
EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATIVE
LEADERS IN ALL 21 COUNTIES OF
THE GARDEN STATE SINCE 1954.
♪♪♪