Bergen Record, November 8, 2007
Dear Editor:
State Sen. Gerald Cardinale, R-Demarest, should be ashamed of himself for fabricating unfounded allegations about his Democratic challenger, Joseph Ariyan. The lies about the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and its position on terrorism are examples of how fear politics is used by some Republicans to win votes.
I was president of New Jersey chapter of the ADC in 2004 and was one its founding members in 1997. The only extremism you find in our organization is our love for America and our devotion to its continuing prosperity and advancement.
As an advocate for greater Arab and Muslim participation into the political process, I am beginning to recognize that the two major parties only want our money and our votes. In Cardinale's campaign against Ariyan, the Democratic Party could have championed the cause of fighting racism and fear-mongering, but it remained silent. The Republican Party could have expressed its anger at Cardinale's hateful rhetoric, but it chose to ignore it. While the parties claim they have a place for us on the table, it seems they have no place for us on the ticket.
The link between Arab heritage and terrorism may have swayed some to vote for candidates like Cardinale. But the long-term harm of perpetuating doubt about the loyalty and hidden agenda of Arab- and Muslim-Americans will continue to haunt us.
Cardinale owes the Arab community an apology.
Aref Assaf
Denville, Nov. 7
The writer is president of the American Arab Forum in Paterson.

The following is a press release from the NJ Democratic Party

THE DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE

_____________________________________________

            Date: November 14, 2007Contact: Richard McGrath 609 392 3367

 
Cryan Condemns Cardinale's Political Comments 

     Trenton -  Joseph Cryan, Chairman of the Democratic State Committee, issued the following statement today condemning the divisive political comments by Senator Cardinale and dismissing Cardinale's post-election explanations as empty excuses:

     "Senator Cardinale's campaign tactics were disgraceful and divisive. Inflammatory rhetoric that demonizes any ethnic, racial or religious community should not be part of any political dialogue. There are no good excuses for smear tactics and no good reasons for hateful language.He should put an end to this and see that it isn't repeated."