Clash of the Parties
Races heat up as midterm elections approach

By Jeff Frankel

As the upcoming elections near, tempers flared and threats were made by protesters and supporters alike after Sen. Robert Menendez’s (D-N.J.) appearance at Rider.

After Menendez’s speech in the Yvonne Theater on Friday, Oct. 27, 12 Republican
demonstrators, who support challenger Tom Kean Jr. (R-N.J.) questioned his ethics by wearing bright orange T-shirts with the phrase “For Rent, Bob Menendez,” and holding signs that read “Got Morals?” Meanwhile, four Democratic followers skirmished with their political rivals.

Tension rose when members of both parties were on the bottom floor of the Fine Arts Building. Democratic supporters stood in front of Republican demonstrators, both holding signs.

Republican protestors became annoyed with the Democrats and
threatened to start a fight.

“Do not block me, I will knock you over,” said one angry protestor to a supporter of Menendez.

Many Democrats do not approve of Kean Jr. because of a wealthy background and the belief that he does not know what it’s like to be poor. Menendez grew up in an immigrant family that worked their way up.

“I think he [Menendez] gives a s--- about the working class in this country,” said supporter Mike Lang of Princeton Township. “Trust-fund baby Tom Kean was born with a silver spoon in his mouth; [he] doesn’t give a s--- about labor and opposes the minimum wage. I think Menendez would do good for working people in New Jersey.”

Republican protestors stood against the platform Menendez is running on and would rather see Kean, Jr., elected as senator. One key issue argued was stem-cell research. Republicans do not
see it as the cure of the future.

“I believe if you want to do it privately, then it’s your own right,” said Tom Sales of The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) College Republicans. “If it has such promise of so many cures, how come Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer haven’t already dumped billions of dollars into
it?”

The College Republicans blasted Menendez for his ads, saying that they solely focus on the negatives of President George W. Bush. Shaina Basile, of the TCNJ College Republicans, said she was “yelled at” by Menendez when she asked him about it.

“The campaign ads that run most frequently say, ‘I’m against the Bush agenda,’” she said. “And he’s just trying to capitalize on Bush-haters in this country. He’s not really talking about
his platform.”

“If there wasn’t hate, they would not even mention it,” she said. “They’re using it for his own political gain, which is sick.”

Political pundits, however, do not see this campaign as a negative one. Dr. Frank Rusciano, political science professor and adviser of the now- dormant University Democrats, sees the ads as negative, not dirty.

“I don’t think this race has been much dirtier than a lot of others that I’ve seen,” he said. “Compared to some races, it’s been relatively clean.”

Both candidates are doing nothing wrong in terms of campaign ads, he said.
“There’s a difference between dirty politics and negative ads,” said Rusciano. “Negative ads are very prominent nationwide. Dirty politics could be the negative ad that lies or grossly misrepresents someone. It could be dirty tricks, which in many cases are illegal. Trying to suppress the vote amongst certain groups, particularly racial minorities, is dirty politics.”

According to a scientific poll created by the Political Science Department for the 2004 election, the campus backed Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). The “numbers were overwhelming, it was almost 3- to-1,” for Kerry, he said.

During the 2004 presidential election, about 75 percent of the campus was going to vote, he said. However, he expects the turnout on this campus to be much lower for the midterm election.

“In the midterm elections, voting tends to be less,” he said. “I suspect it would be lower at midterm but I would suspect they vote at a higher rate than the general population, and certainly at a higher rate for other people their age.”

It is not known how this campus will vote now, he said. Times have changed and two different classes have graduated.

“I don’t know what the composition would be now,” Rusciano said. “I would suspect it hasn’t changed much because Bush’s approval rating is quite a bit down from where it was during the election.”

Menendez versus Kean Jr. is not the only race going on in New Jersey. Rep. Rush Holt and Joseph Sinagra are running for control of the 12-District, which includes our University.