There appears to be two US Representative Chris Smiths (NJ 4th District) much like there are two Mitt Romneys. There is the responsive and the non-responsive Chris Smith and there is the privately extreme and the publicly moderate Mitt Romney.
In a letter last week a writer, apparently a Republican, wrote about Chris Smith responding to her request while she was visiting the Republican Headquarters. From that incident she extrapolated that he had a world of wonderful characteristics. Other people (and the press) have made similar extrapolations based on Smith’s involvement in a few high profile cases (e.g. the Goldman matter.)
Of course then there is the non-responsive Chris Smith. Obviously, as a Democratic candidate, I have heard hundreds of stories from unhappy constituents about Smith’s lack of responsiveness to their issues and communications. But there are many more public examples. You can go online to Youtube and find a video of people visiting his office after having been frustrated with his complete lack of responsiveness to their inquiries. An obvious and very public example was Smith’s feigned ignorance about the biggest publication in his district writing stories about the biggest problem (education) in the biggest town (Lakewood) in his district.
He then further claimed that he didn’t get the phone calls from the publication about the story. Similarly there was a story last week in another publication about their great difficulty in contacting and arranging an interview with Rep Smith which, after it had finally been arranged, he then no-showed for. And, despite being publicly criticized in previous campaigns for not participating in any public forums or debates, he has no-showed for all of the town hall meetings that he has been invited to so far in this campaign. Apparently responding to the public or media generally is not one of his wonderful characteristics.
On other issues two Smiths also appear. Rep Smith publicly proclaims his interest in overall human rights, not just abortion. But a look at the specifics of his words and actions seem to belie that protestation. In the 1980s Smith (and Rep Dick Cheney) voted against a Congressional resolution to free Nelson Mandela from prison. In the 1990s he voted against the Women’s Equal Rights amendment specifically because of its effect on abortion. In the 2000s Kenya spent extensive efforts and several years revising their 1969 Constitution to include freedom of the press, an independent judiciary, a permanent human rights commission, and other important safeguards.
The Constitution was approved by 70% of the people and the process was almost unanimously acclaimed as a model for the rest of the world. Yet Rep Smith accused President Obama and his administration of criminal activity for supporting that process since the Constitution contained a woman’s right to abortion in the case of rape, incest, or health. Most recently he has been very public about China human rights. But his principle and very specific concern has been the Chinese abortion policy. Most of his other rights activities revolve around this same abortion issue.
Similarly Gov Romney expresses public affection for all people and private disdain for many. He has publicly espoused his support for, and the importance of, education and privately said he intends to eliminate the entire US Department of Education. His different positions on topics as varied as the Blunt Amendment (contraception) and gun control leave people scratching their heads. On some issues Romney has had so many different positions you wonder if he is a victim of multiple personality disorder. Even his home based Salt Lake City Tribune said there was too many Mitts and endorsed President Obama.
Smith’s public relations issues might not be so bad if they didn’t come at the cost of even worse public policy. He opposed Obamacare, voted for the Ryan Plan (privatizing Social Security, voucherizing Medicare, and devastating Medicaid), supported still more tax cuts for the wealthy, and made the Norquist pledge never to raise those taxes. Since those are similar to the Bush era polices that he supported (and that got us into this great recession) perhaps that is the one area where he has, unfortunately, been singularly consistent.
In any event, we certainly have at least one too many Rep Chris Smiths.
Demagoguery is the tool of a person trying to deflect attention from their faults, and that's what Mr. Forelich and Obama are doing.
Brian is running for office....he needs to answer the questions.....same for Smith. Stop the soundbites. Stop the games. Cuts are required. You and I both know it.
according also to Obama's budget projections, revenues will be $2.9 T in 2013 Budget would be balanced based on my assumption of 08 spending and Obama's assumption of 2013 revenues
"[Kyrillos'] a candidate that's out of his league" Sounds eerily similar to this Froelich character. At least Kyrillos has political experience. (Not saying he is ideal)
I hate to waste my time on people who waste my time but I don’t like being incorrectly called a liar. First, if you actually read what I said, I was talking about the new Kenya constitution (not the US Constitution!) containing the right to abortion. That is what Smith objected to. Second, there was also a Women’s ERA bill introduced in the House in the 1990s (that failed by 6 votes). You can look it up! Please no more nonsense.
According to Obama's 2012 budget which is on the government website and sadly not passed by the Democrats including Menendez in the Senate, Medicare spending for 2012 equals $478 Billon. Medicaid spending equals $255 Billion. That's $733 Billion in spending. Medicare taxes collected equal $226 Billion. That leaves a shortfall for these 2 programs just for 2012 of $500+ Billion. Since we know we have a budget deficit - over $1 Trillion or so, we borrow this money and the debt grows increasing our interest expense and adding more burden to our children and grandchildren. Do you support borrowing money to pay for Medicare and Medicaid?
Residents of D4 deserve transparency and attentiveness, and Froelich has posted here numerous times to make his stances clear and hear concerns from actual constituents. I respect that. Those of you who have taken this opportunity to devote entire days of your lives to making Froelich repeat himself are beyond childish. Political TROLLING at its worst! Some of the posts here, excluding one exceptional story, indicate the same thing I have come to find with Smith -- despite his "record" of constituent service, he is incredibly difficult to get in touch with. So now Smith and Froelich are fighting for my vote. Smith has ignored me. Froelich has made it a point to stick his neck out and give me an opportunity to voice my concerns. TROLLS like you ruin this opportunity. Stick to your talking points and keep bending your facts. Nobody cares. Saturate every article you find with whatever garbage you feel inclined to spew. Sounds like fun, really. The rest of us in D4 might actually get something productive done one of these days. Unemployment is APPALLING and our congressman has been MIA. Period. Mr. Froelich is here trying to make his community a better place. Why are you here?
Do you disagree with the facts I have stated below? According to Obama's 2012 budget which is on the government website and sadly not passed by the Democrats including Menendez in the Senate, Medicare spending for 2012 equals $478 Billon. Medicaid spending equals $255 Billion. That's $733 Billion in spending. Medicare taxes collected equal $226 Billion. That leaves a shortfall for these 2 programs just for 2012 of $500+ Billion. Since we know we have a budget deficit - over $1 Trillion or so, we borrow this money and the debt grows increasing our interest expense and adding more burden to our children and grandchildren. Do you support borrowing money to pay for Medicare and Medicaid? Hey Troll - answer or go away!!!!
The budget deficit is a problem, yes. But it's a problem Congress will have to solve TOGETHER. How does Chris Smith approach the problem? He pledged his allegiance to Grover Norquist. Not to his constituents or the American people, but to a millionaire lobbyist bent on pushing his own agenda through Congress. Froelich is a moderate (his word not mine) and backs the bi-partisan backed Simpson-Bowles plan. One of these candidates wants a solution, and even has one in mind. The other wants... to do whatever Grover Norquist tells him.
Obama is the liar. Remember the debt is bad, unpatriotic, i will cut it in half...blah blah blah...... He added $7 TRILLION and proposes adding another $8 trillion Answer me this. Did Obama lie about the debt being irresponsible? Come on, you can say it......we all know!!!
http://blog.nj.com/ledgerletters/2011/07/new_jersey_house_republicans_h.html
11:55 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012 Spend at 2008 levels according also to Obama's budget projections, revenues will be $2.9 T in 2013 Budget would be balanced based on my assumption of 08 spending and Obama's assumption of 2013 revenues What contracts? Did Obama care about bond and stock contracts when he gave GM to the union?
Look everyone candidates running for office are afraid to answer a simple question. Why would you ever vote for them? Maybe you want to answer it. Good for Chris Smith and Grover......spending is the problem!!!! Let's take a small math test shall we. If Medicare has $260 Billion in dollars and spends $730 Billion in dollars, how many dollars does Medicare have left?
Let's eliminate the pensions in NJ and provide $3 billion in tax relief to the towns, counties and state. http://www.njtanews.blogspot.com/2012/09/sign-pledge-for-fairer-pension-system.html
You are the shill with your crazy comments, no basic facts or knowledge of budgets, economics or finances. I bet you still think Corzine wasn't a filthy rich, liberal spender who is as corrupt as they come. He was Mr. Goldman Sachs. He screwed up NJ and then like Obama lied about the events the caused MF Global to go bankrupt. Is that your idea of a good man and leader? Joe Biden thinks Corzine is the go to man!!! We cannot afford anyone that thinks Corzine is worth anything. Do you want to take a stab at answering the question. I now know Brian is afraid to even though by supporting BS he knows the answer is he will cut Medicare AND borrow more money to pay what's left. Did Obama lie when in 2008 he attacked the debt? Did he just say that to get elected and attack Bush....he was right by the way so why did he add $7 trillion to the debt. Are you anti-Israel like Obama too?