Right Wing Democrat Paul Aronsohn Beats Progressive Camille Abate
Last week, I wrote about the sad victory of creepy Albio Sires over progressive Joe Vas in New Jersey’s 13 congressional district. Well, there was another loss for progressive Democrats in the Garden State as well. Party insider and influence peddler Paul Aronsohn beat progressive Democrat Camille Abate in New Jersey‘s 5th congressional district.
Camille Abate was a true progressive Democrat. She stood strongly against the war in Iraq – before it began, as well as after it began to fall apart. Before her campaign, her work was as a civil rights attorney, defending the basic liberty of ordinary Americans. Her promise to voters was to serve as “A New Spine for Congress”.
Paul Aronsohn exemplifies the spineless wing of the Democratic Party – a growing right wing that seeks to take over the Democratic Party and make it a replica of the Republican Party. Aronsohn proposes that the Democratic Party stop trying to win “partisan” battles with the Republican Party, and stop “pointing an accusing finger” at George W. Bush and his corrupt followers in Congress. Paul Aronsohn wants the Democratic Party to follow the example of right wing Democrat Joseph Lieberman, and just try to get along with the Republicans. Aronsohn’s politics have been accurately described as “Republican-lite”.
Aronsohn says that he is “pro-business, pro-defense”. That’s the kind of approach to politics that looks good to corporate campaign contributors, but it stinks for the American people. Aronsohn will stand up for the rich and powerful, and leave the rest of us behind.
But Aronsohn won the Democratic primary last week – using all his insider connections to control the local Democratic Party machine. It was a victory of power over principles.
Some say that we grassroots Democrats are now obligated to support Paul Aronsohn’s campaign.
I say no – not in a million years would I support such a crass campaign. The Aronsohn for Congress campaign is not for the Democratic Party so much as it is against the Democratic Party’s progressive traditions. In New Jersey and across America, it is time for progressive voters to turn their backs on anti-progressive Democratic politicians like Albio Sires and Paul Aronsohn.
I’m right with you. After John Kerry took his $14 million and went home before all the votes were even counted, I vowed that I would never, ever, ever again vote for another weaselly, opportunistic Democrat. Paul Aronsohn is the WORST kind of loathsome hack, and I will not reward this kind of candidate with my vote. “It’s important to take back the house”? Maybe — but as far as I’m concerned, Paul Aronsohn is in this for Paul Aronsohn — and I do NOT see him as a reliable vote to hold this Administration accountable.
He can lose without my vote.