Personal attacks fuel GOP debate
Personal attacks fuel GOP debate
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
BY JOHN REITMEYER
The three Republican candidates vying for Frank Lautenberg's U.S. Senate seat squared off on Monday night, debating immigration, fuel costs and Iraq, among some personal attacks.
Each of the candidates — Fort Lee's Murray Sabrin, former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer and state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio — had an opportunity to introduce themselves, then answer questions from a panel at the New Jersey Network studio in Trenton. The hourlong debate was broadcast live. Sabrin, a Ramapo College professor, started off, telling the audience he is "a conservative leader" who has spent his "entire life defending liberty."
Pennacchio, meanwhile, took some of his introduction time to launch an attack at Zimmer, the field's front-runner, according to a recent poll. He cited a weekend news story about a tax break Zimmer qualifies for on a 24-acre property in Hunterdon County that produces hay alongside his $354,000 home.
"That's just not fair," Pennacchio, a Morris County dentist, said of the farmland assessment.
Zimmer didn't respond in his opening statement, choosing instead to go after Lautenberg.
Pennacchio continued his attack on Zimmer in his response to a question originally posed to Zimmer about his more recent work as a lobbyist in Washington. This time, however, Zimmer responded, citing his efforts during his time as a lobbyist on behalf of the families of U.S. soldiers killed in the Beirut bombing in 1983.
"I'm proud of that work," Zimmer said.
Sabrin, who said he considers himself the race's front-runner, also took a turn at Zimmer by criticizing him as the anointed candidate of the establishment GOP in New Jersey. Zimmer was an 11th-hour replacement for the state party after businesswoman Anne Estabrook stepped down due to health issues. Sabrin said party leaders exhausted their Rolodex to find Zimmer.
"They went to 'Z' and got Dick Zimmer," said Sabrin, who calls himself "Maverick Murray."
Zimmer responded again.
"The fact is, these party leaders came to me because they know I'm a strong candidate and I'll be a strong senator," he said.
On the issues, Sabrin stepped out on a number of topics, including calling for a troop withdrawal from Iraq by 2010 and open negotiations with the president of Iran.
Pennacchio called for more use of nuclear energy and "gassified coal" to solve the problem of high energy costs.
Zimmer said the solution to illegal immigration is creating a reliable employee identification program and punishing employers who give jobs to undocumented workers.
The primary is June 3. The three GOP candidates are vying for the right to face either Lautenberg or his primary opponent, South Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews, in the November election.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
BY JOHN REITMEYER
The three Republican candidates vying for Frank Lautenberg's U.S. Senate seat squared off on Monday night, debating immigration, fuel costs and Iraq, among some personal attacks.
Each of the candidates — Fort Lee's Murray Sabrin, former U.S. Rep. Dick Zimmer and state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio — had an opportunity to introduce themselves, then answer questions from a panel at the New Jersey Network studio in Trenton. The hourlong debate was broadcast live. Sabrin, a Ramapo College professor, started off, telling the audience he is "a conservative leader" who has spent his "entire life defending liberty."
Pennacchio, meanwhile, took some of his introduction time to launch an attack at Zimmer, the field's front-runner, according to a recent poll. He cited a weekend news story about a tax break Zimmer qualifies for on a 24-acre property in Hunterdon County that produces hay alongside his $354,000 home.
"That's just not fair," Pennacchio, a Morris County dentist, said of the farmland assessment.
Zimmer didn't respond in his opening statement, choosing instead to go after Lautenberg.
Pennacchio continued his attack on Zimmer in his response to a question originally posed to Zimmer about his more recent work as a lobbyist in Washington. This time, however, Zimmer responded, citing his efforts during his time as a lobbyist on behalf of the families of U.S. soldiers killed in the Beirut bombing in 1983.
"I'm proud of that work," Zimmer said.
Sabrin, who said he considers himself the race's front-runner, also took a turn at Zimmer by criticizing him as the anointed candidate of the establishment GOP in New Jersey. Zimmer was an 11th-hour replacement for the state party after businesswoman Anne Estabrook stepped down due to health issues. Sabrin said party leaders exhausted their Rolodex to find Zimmer.
"They went to 'Z' and got Dick Zimmer," said Sabrin, who calls himself "Maverick Murray."
Zimmer responded again.
"The fact is, these party leaders came to me because they know I'm a strong candidate and I'll be a strong senator," he said.
On the issues, Sabrin stepped out on a number of topics, including calling for a troop withdrawal from Iraq by 2010 and open negotiations with the president of Iran.
Pennacchio called for more use of nuclear energy and "gassified coal" to solve the problem of high energy costs.
Zimmer said the solution to illegal immigration is creating a reliable employee identification program and punishing employers who give jobs to undocumented workers.
The primary is June 3. The three GOP candidates are vying for the right to face either Lautenberg or his primary opponent, South Jersey Congressman Rob Andrews, in the November election.
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