NJDC New Jersey issued the following release today:
Today, the New Jersey Chapter of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) condemned State Senator Gerald Cardinale and his wife, Demarest Councilwoman Carole Cardinale for implying that political opponent Joseph Ariyan is soft on terror and anti-Semitism because his law partner is affiliated with a group which defends Arab-Americans from discrimination.
Last week, the New York Times reported: “In the waning days of New Jersey’s election season, some candidates for local and state office are reaching beyond the usual campaign accusations of corruption and overspending. They are charging their opponents with being soft on terrorism — or rather, with knowing someone who is.”
In one particularly high profile – and saddening – example, State Senator Gerald Cardinale and his wife, Demarest City Councilwoman Carole Cardinale, have alleged that the Senator’s Democratic opponent Joseph Ariyan is somehow soft on terror because Ariyan’s law partner is affiliated with the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). The Cardinales claim that ADC is anti-Semitic and soft on terror because a former Communications Director for the organization – who left the group three years ago – made anti-Israel remarks. The former ADC staffer in question claims he made the suspect remarks in writings for a college newspaper prior to joining ADC. He claims to have subsequently moderated his views.
“The cynical behavior of Senator Cardinale and Councilwoman Cardinale are, to be frank, reminders of why all-too-many Americans are fed up with politics,” said national NJDC Executive Director Ira N. Forman. “To blame a candidate because his law partner is affiliated with an organization which had a former staffer who wrote nasty articles in a student newspaper – this is almost as absurd as it is reprehensible. Voters deserve better.”
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