ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS HERALD
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Torricelli has been the target of federal investigators because of the way the senator “plays the game.”
According to Judicial Watch, a legal watchdog group in Washington, DC, Torricelli has been under federal investigation for receiving thousands of dollars from a key contributor in exchange for political favors.
GORDON BISHOP
ON THE ISSUES
SENATOR TORRICELLI VERSUS EVERYONE ELSE ! ~ By Gordon Bishop When U.S. Senator Bob Torricelli of New Jersey ran for election six years ago, he promised New Jersey’s taxpayers he would not raise taxes if he was elected. “No new taxes!” -- Torricelli, a Democrat, declared. Well, the first thing Torricelli did when he was elected to the U.S. Senate was to vote on President Clinton’s biggest tax increase in our nation’s history. Clinton and Torricelli -- Perfect Together! At that time, former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, also a Democrat, demanded that Torricelli resign as Senator for “lying” to New Jersey’s voters. Ed Koch didn’t like politicians, Democrat or Republican, who used the tax issue to get elected, and then turn around and vote for taxes. Torricelli obviously did not resign. But he’s back asking voters to re-elect him to his second term in the Senate. When a candidate blatantly lies to voters in order to get elected, he should not be re-elected. And if voters are stupid enough to vote for him again, then they deserve what they get. Torricelli has been the target of federal investigators because of the way the senator “plays the game.” According to Judicial Watch, a legal watchdog group in Washington, DC, Torricelli has been under federal investigation for receiving thousands of dollars from a key contributor in exchange for political favors. So what happens? Torricelli got one last gift from outgoing U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White, who was appointed by Bill Clinton. Before Mary Jo White left office when President Bush was elected, she announced she will not prosecute Torricelli for “bribery and other crimes,” Judicial Watch reported. “Mary Jo White’s decision not to prosecute Torricelli, despite overwhelming evidence, is corrupt to the core,” said Judicial Watch chairman Larry Klayman, an attorney. The federal investigation revealed that eccentric New Jersey businessman David Chang testified that he gave Torricelli cash, suits, a Rolex, an expensive large-screen television and other gifts totaling more than $50,000 in exchange for political favors. Senator Torricelli has never denied receiving the gifts. The matter is now before a U.S. Senate Ethics Committee, which is not expected to take action. The Senate is controlled (by one vote) by Democrats. Among New Jerseyans who say they have heard or read “a lot” about the investigation and its conclusion, 51 percent view Torricelli unfavorably, and 63 percent would like to see someone else elected, according to a recent Star-Ledger/Eagleton Rutgers Poll. Such negative numbers will certainly be used by the candidates running for U.S. Senate in this fall’s election. Torricelli’s opponents will surely remind voters of his broken promise on taxes, as well as the federal investigation of the senator’s “gifts” for political favors. Torricelli can thank Clinton’s U.S. Attorney for closing down that investigation just as he kicked off his re-election campaign. As for the election this November, voters have several candidates to choose from to replace Torricelli. Let’s hope voters make the right choice: a candidate that does not lie or corrupt what’s left of our scandalous political process. Gordon Bishop
Syndicated Columnist
April 11, 2002
Eatontown, NJ
Gordon Bishop, a national award-winning author, historian and syndicated columnist, is New Jersey’s first “Journalist-of-the-Year” - 1986 / New Jersey Press Association.
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