Atlantic City (September 10, 2006)-New Jersey Stonewall Democrats (NJSD) have announced their strongest endorsement of United States Senator Bob Menendez, Democratic candidate for United States Senator from New Jersey in his bid against Tom Kean, Jr. NJSD President Barbra “Babs” Casbar stated, “Bob Menendez has been an ally and friend of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex citizens of New Jersey throughout his entire public career. As a United States Senator, NJSD knows that Bob Menendez will continue to stand up for the civil rights of the LGBTI community. As a child of immigrant parents, Senator Bob Menendez understands the pain and ugliness of discrimination personally.”
Bob Bresenhan, Jr., NJSD V.P. of Legislative and Political Affairs added, “New Jersey has made great progress in the fight for civil rights and is a political bellwether state for most other states in this great nation. Tom Kean, Jr. is too conservative and is not as progressive as even his father, Tom Kean, Sr. Additionally, Junior’s word is no good and he cannot be trusted.” Bresenhan recalled that in 2004 at a dinner at his parent’s home in Cranford, in “Junior’s” legislative district, Kean was invited to openly discuss the pending domestic partnership with leading members of New Jersey’s LGBTI community. “At the end of the dinner “Junior” pledged his support for the landmark domestic partnership legislation, however later voted against the measure when it came up for vote in the NJ State Senate,” Bresenhan stated.
Ms. Casbar further noted that “Tom Kean, Jr. has had the notorious homophobe John Tomicki on his payroll for the last several years proving that “Junior” is no more a social moderate than was Jesse Helms! His lack of character is evident by his reading the polls and current flip-flopping on Bush and Cheney’s conduct of the failed Iraq war. Senator Bob Menendez, by virtue of his actions and leadership in Congress, will protect the rights of all citizens regardless of sexual orientation, race, religion, gender identity, etc…. He was a cosponsor of the LGBT inclusive “Hate Crimes Act”, which actually passed the House, but has been “stonewalled” by the Republican leadership. Ms. Casbar pointed out that the bipartisan Human Rights Campaign has given Bob Menendez a rating of 100.”
New Jersey Stonewall Democrats, an affiliate of the National Stonewall Democrats, are New Jersey’s only grassroots partisan Democratic LGBTI organization.
