New Jersey State Senator Jeff Van Drew wants to run for Congress as a Democrat; he visited 17-year-old Emily McGrath's school, Egg Harbor Township High, where McGrath questioned him about whether he'd taken money from the NRA; Van Drew said he hadn't, and he was lying.
Emily McGrath, 17, and Donna Challender of Tuckerton confront State Sen. Jeff Van Drew – a Democratic candidate for #nj02 congressional seat- on his pro-gun record and with evidence he took $1,000 from NRA in 2011. pic.twitter.com/L89zq8vBIZ
— Amy S. Rosenberg (@amysrosenberg) February 22, 2018
McGrath followed up with Van Drew at a Democratic primary debate, and confronted him about his lie — and the fact that he has a 100% approval rating on the NRA's ammosexual purity scorecard, thanks to his repeated votes against even modest state gun-control rules, and his introduction of legislation to make it easier to get a handgun.
Van Drew is endorsed by the DCCC.
He should not have that endorsement.
On Tuesday, the DCCC announced that it would endorse Van Drew to replace moderate Republican Frank Lobiondo, who announced last year he'll be retiring from the South Jersey House seat he's held for more than 20 years. It's part of the group's "Red to Blue" effort to flip vulnerable districts. Despite having been a longtime red seat, the Cook Political Report (among others) has classified it as leaning Democrat for 2018.
"I understand where the party is coming from, because he can raise the funds to win. But morally, that's where I have the problem. Jeff is a very good politician and he knows the game," McGrath said of the endorsement, but she's supporting Sean Thom, a 32-year-old charter school teacher running for the seat who's pledged not to take money from corporate donors, and received the support of Our Revolution New Jersey.
Teen Confronts DCCC-Endorsed Candidate Over His 100 Percent NRA Rating [Kate Aronoff/The Intercept]
(Image: Van Drew Team for Change)
