Progressives Still Refuse To Admit Their Role In Supporting South Jersey’s Political Machine Which Makes Them Hypocrites

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While I enjoy watching Democrats in South Jersey beat each other up I still cannot understand how the “Progressive” faction doesn’t seem to understand they are part of the problem. It really drives me crazy that there are some Republicans who insist we need to work with the “Progressives” this cycle “because they hate Norcross.”

First, let’s get rid of the “they hate Norcross” part of the argument. If you are a Republican and insist on working with the “Progressives” do NOT talk to me. It won’t work, it hasn’t worked in the past (just ask Gloucester Twp Republicans) and they are not your friends. They are Democrats who will vote for Democrats. Period. They proved it last year when Republicans came out in support of Camden residents being able to elect their school board. Machine Democrats were against it. The referendum was successful and Camden residents can now elect their school board. Did the “Progressives” support those who stood with them? Obviously not given the way the election turned out.

And then, last week, the New Jersey Working Families State Director, Sue Altman, came out complaining about South Jersey’s political machine. She went so far as to complain the Norcrosses made a move “reminiscent of a mafia-style shakedown.”

To be clear, I do not take issue with Altman, or any “Progressives” fighting with the machine Democrats. I do take issue with the fact that the “Progressives” and their allies have supported the machine’s candidates every single November and refuse to admit to their role in creating the problem. True, they have run primaries against the machine, but come November they are ALWAYS there for the machine.

I’ve written in this blog before: The “Progressive” Democrats are not our friends. Do NOT be fooled. Let’s look at some examples:

  • Camden County moves to take over Camden City police. Camden residents oppose. Camco Republicans come out strong against the union busting tactic. Election day they vote Democrat.

  • A law allowing Cooper Hospital to take over paramedic (and BLS ambulance) service in Camden City is rammed through the legislature. Camden residents (and many others) oppose. Camco Republicans lead the charge against the new law. Election day, Camden votes Democrat.

  • Camden residents support a ballot question enabling residents to elect the school board. Political machine opposes. Camden County Republicans come out strong in support of residents. Residents win the ballot question and still vote straight Democrat.

And that’s not all! Remember when a Haddon Township Commissioner, who happens to be a Democrat, drove his car into the back of another, left the scene, called the police chief and tried to blame his wife for the accident. Republicans called on him to resign. “Progressives” said nothing.

How about the Democrat who won a school board election in Gloucester Township who once wore blackface. Again, “Progressives” said nothing, but if he were a Republican you can bet they’d be screaming.

And the “Progressives” have yet to say a word about former Assemblyman Arthur Barclay still holding a county job. You can bet if a Republican who confessed to a reporter that he punched his girlfriend in the face had a county job the “Progressives” would be calling for that Republican’s dismissal. Barclay is a Democrat so they say nothing.

I can’t figure out why there are Republicans, some who have been around for a long time, who believe we should be working with the “Progressives” this cycle. That thinking has got to stop. They aren’t our friends and never will be.

Bottom line: It doesn’t matter the label, “Working Families” or “Progressive” Democrats at the end of the day, because of their continued support of the machine in November and the machine’s candidates even when they do wrong, are nothing more than hypocrites.