Paul Aronsohn Launches Congressional Campaign

[Kire]

For Immediate Release
January 23, 2006


Contact [phone]



PAUL ARONSOHN LAUNCHES CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN

Politics in Washington is broken. It’s too divisive. It’s too partisan.

And it’s too disconnected from the real issues that affect real people.

We need a new generation of leaders willing and able to do the right thing.


-- Paul Aronsohn



Ridgewood – Former Clinton Administration official Paul Aronsohn officially announced today his candidacy for the congressional seat in New Jersey’s fifth district.



“I am running for Congress for one simple reason: I love my country, and I refuse to stand by while people like Scott Garrett lead us dangerously in the wrong direction,” Aronsohn proclaimed. ‘I refuse to stand by while they undermine our national security, neglect our economic security, and pay lip service to our health security.”



“We deserve better, and it’s time for all people of goodwill – Republican and Democrat alike – to say ‘enough is enough’”.



Aronsohn, who has spent most of his professional career working on national security and healthcare issues, had set up an “exploratory campaign” last spring to speak with community leaders and to gauge the viability of his potential candidacy. The current incumbent is Representative E. Scott Garrett, who is in his second term of office.



“Despite his title, Representative Garrett doesn’t represent us. He doesn’t represent our mainstream values. And he doesn’t represent the majority of us who reject the divisive, extreme brand of politics that he practices.”



“As a pro-business, pro-defense moderate Democrat, I firmly believe that I can better serve and better represent the mainstream values of our community.”



“Our campaign will offer a more compassionate, more common-sense approach to politics – one that is people-focused and results-oriented. It will be a campaign rooted in the American tradition of public service, motivated by the American promise of a bright, prosperous future, and guided by mainstream American values of responsibility, opportunity, and community.”



“Our campaign will be forward looking and premised on the notion that public service should be about serving the tax-paying public. It should be about making a positive difference in people’s lives. And it should be about addressing real issues that affect real people.”



“Simply stated, our campaign is premised on the belief that we deserve a government that is more responsive to our needs and government officials who are more responsible for their actions.”



Aronsohn re-released the list of “advisory committee” members – people and organizations that had already lent their names, support, and expertise to the exploratory effort and will continue to advise the official campaign. There are several new additions to the list, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the New Democrat Network (NDN).



The campaign’s website – www.paularonsohn.com -- has been revised and now includes several new features, such as a blog, a volunteer sign-up area, and a photo gallery.





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[mconvente]

1. I've met Paul

He seems like a pretty good guy. I told him we need more progressives in the House and that if he shows to his constituents that he is, then he will have my support (he would anyway, i was just telling him that). We'll see what happens over the next few months.

[theanarch]

2. now we know...

...this is why Ann Wolfe dropped out--she's too liberal for the DCCC and other DC-based funding groups. But Ahronson--a self-described "pro-business" (read: anti-union), "pro-defense" (read: anti-peace) "democrat" is just what the DCCC wants--more GOP clones. If you had any doubts as to why mainstream (DLC) democrats can't win, this is it.

[MrBenchley]

4. He sounds good to me...

I've signed up to volunteer....

[Kire]

5. He's coming to Hackettstown on March 1st

To the DFA meetup on Grand Ave. That's not far from you, MrB.

RSVP here: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=5046

[MrBenchley]

6. I'm going to try to be there....

PM me if you need a lift....

[Kire]

3. from The Inside Edge

Just following orders

Former James E. McGreevey spokesman Paul Aronsohn is quite clever. By delaying the official formation of an Aronsohn for Congress campaign committee until late December, he avoids having to disclose exactly how much money he has raised, and the identity of his donors, until April. On the record, Aronsohn cryptically claims to have raised between $120,000 and $130,000. He won't say how much he has spent (or on what) and he declines to reveal how much money he has on hand right now. Aronsohn's primary rival, '04 nominee Dorothea Anne Wolfe, dropped out of the race in late January -- largely because she didn't feel her own $86,000 warchest would be sufficient to wrestle the nomination from Aronsohn.

More: http://politics.nexcess.net/insideedge/2006/02/just_following_orders.html

[PoBoy321]

7. Looking to volunteer

I just checked out Aronsohn's website and it looks like he'll make an incredible candidate to oppose Garrett and his calls for increased spending while lowering taxes, his xenophobic stance on immigration and his homophobic position on marriage. I've already signed up to volunteer with his campaign, but I'm at school in DC until the summer, so does anyone know of any good volunteer opportunities down here?