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Politickernj.com –‘Thousands rally in Trenton against Christie cuts’ TRENTON - A band of teachers, firefighters, nurses, cops, workers, union card holders, urban guerillas, and assorted progressives rallied at the Statehouse this afternoon, demanding that Gov. Chris Christie restore the so-called millionaires' tax on those making above $400,000 to pay for social programs and strengthen the state's safety net in a static economy.
‘More than 30,000 protesters rally against budget cuts in Trenton’ By Statehouse Bureau Staff/The Record & Star Ledger
"Thousands gather in Trenton for anti-Christie rally"
'Stile: Democratic leaders are no-shows at unions' Christie bashing’ The Record -
"The 35,000 people swarming West State Street for Saturday’s Public Worker-palooza rally represented a core Democratic constituency — teachers, social workers and janitors.The only thing missing was Democratic leaders..."
Politickernj.com –‘Thousands rally in Trenton against Christie cuts’
By Max Pizarro | May 22nd, 2010
TRENTON - A band of teachers, firefighters, nurses, cops, workers, union card holders, urban guerillas, and assorted progressives rallied at the Statehouse this afternoon, demanding that Gov. Chris Christie restore the so-called millionaires' tax on those making above $400,000 to pay for social programs and strengthen the state's safety net in a static economy.
Two days after Christie with one stroke of his pen smothered a millionaires' tax bill passed moments earlier in the legislature, a meshing together of public and private sector unions signified by the prominent stage presence of AFL-CIO leader Charles Wowkanech, claimed to hit the 30,000 attendance mark, making this rally the biggest show of West State Street power in Trenton history.
The New Jersey Teachers' Association (NJEA) drove a crusading anti-Christie war whoop, as President Barbara Keshishian arrived to the guitar-bass-drum rendition of "We're not going to take it," performed by union musician Susan Wendelken and the Ride.
Keshishian promptly derided her GOP rival as a callous dismantler in chief.
"Governor, we can't all live in mansions in Mendham," the NJEA prez said. "This is the fourth highest paid governor in the country, and he's taking every penny. Is that shared sacrifice? This is a governor who proposes a tax break for the wealthy because he believes millionaires deserve a break. He thinks he can separate NJEA from its members. He... is... wrong!
"If legislators remain silent on his cuts, they are his accomplices. ...They will share the blame."
James Harris of the NAACP likewise riled the crowd, where unflattering likenesses of the governor bobbed in playful disrespect.
The tagline "New Jersey's biggest loser" accompanied a corpulent rendering of the governor.
"I would invite him to go to Newark, and not just to the charter school in the North Ward. Public money for public schools," Harris said. That received a big hand.
So too did Harris's condemnation of Christie's decision not to re-up state Supreme Court Justice John Wallace
.
"It is wrong to remove the only African American on the Supreme Court," he railed.
No elected officials addressed the crowd, but U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch) sat in the front row next to Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Plainsboro) and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Hamilton). State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Lawrenceville) was also in attendance. Reported sightings of other lawmakers abounded.
"By cutting Family Care and Senior Gold, the governor is causing New Jersey to lose federal dollars for those programs - and others - school breakfast programs, for example," Pallone told PolitickerNJ.com. "It's just pennywise and pound foolish. He's not paying attention to the fact that his state cuts impact federal dollars."
Turner said, "Despite the governor's claim that he is not raising taxes, he is doing just that by cutting muncipal aid and the many vital services in our communities, forcing increases in property taxes. While our state's residents are still reeling from the deep recession and other economic hits, Gov. Christie's budget cuts are financially bleeding household budgets and undermining the lives of our hard-working families and seniors."
The absence otherwise of visible state leadership caused at least one shouted inquiry from the crowd.
"Where's Sheila Oliver?" demanded a woman of the Assembly Speaker.
"I think what you're seeing here is a group of progressives who are feeling a little like their voices have been shut out of the Statehouse," said Sierra Club chief Jeff Tittel, who circulated a petition of opposition to a bill by Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro) that would weaken state environmental standards in the name of labor construction and job creation, a tack that blends amiably with Christie's own deregulatory efforts at the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
"Where is the progressive agenda?" wondered Tittel, blasting what he sees as a corporate/labor governmental bed chamber built for the mutual benefit of both parties.
But the ire here today was almost exclusively aimed at the Republican governor whose proposed municipal and school aid cuts earlier this year in particular seemed to put the NJEA and other unions in permanent war paint.
Communications Workers of America (CWA) Area Director Hetty Rosenstein had a direct message for Christie.
"Stop the cuts. Stop the cuts," she said. "Tax the rich."
There was a man standing nearby wearing an NJEA t-shirt bearing the familiar but faded image of Jon Corzine and the slogan "One Tuff Gov."
"A lot of these people stayed home - not teachers - but others - last year when Corzine was running for re-election, including public sector workers," PolitickerNJ.com told Rosenstein. "Why the sudden show of passion?"
"He didn't get 50% plus one," Rosenstein said of last year's gubernatorial election results. "People didn't vote to eliminate women's healthcare. They didn't vote for cuts to schools and social programs."
Banging through a catalogue of working class rock and roll standards that included "Barracuda" and "Won't Back Down," Wendelken changed the lyrics on "Fortunate Son" from "senator's" to "governor's" son, and jabbed at Christie's beloved Bruce Springsteen by pointing out that "Bruce isn't a fan of the governor's even though the governor is a fan of Bruce," before the drums kicked into "Born in the U.S.A."
Ann Twomey, president of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPEA), said of the governor's proposed budget, "The cuts to public healthcare are so misguided, they will force people out of the profession."
Richard Payne, president of AFSCME Local 2212, led a contingent from Hunterdon County wearig t-shirts that said "Keep Hagedorn Open."
"It's a mental hospital that will have to close as a result of Christie's cuts," Payne said. "The question is where are those people going to get serviced?"
Barbara Andrews Jenkins of Newark's HPEA Local 5094, told PolitickerNJ.com, "We've already been terribly underfunded. People who were promised benefits never got them. These cuts of the governor's affect services we're providing at UMDNJ (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey) to an indigent community."
A picture of Christie appeared on the super-sized screens.
Boos rained.
‘More than 30,000 protesters rally against budget cuts in Trenton’
By Statehouse Bureau Staff May 22, 2010, 3:32PM
|
Thousands gather in Trenton for anti-Christie rally |
TRENTON — Teachers, police officers and state workers filled the street around the Statehouse today to rally against Gov. Chris Christie and his budget cuts.
State Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones said the final crowd estimate was between 30,000 and 35,000 people, making it the largest protest ever staged in Trenton. No arrests or other problems were reported.
"Everything went very smoothly," Jones said.
• Speakers kick off N.J. Statehouse rally with taunts, chants
The rally was centered around a stage in front of the New Jersey State Museum, where a series of speakers began taking the stage around 12:20 p.m.
New Jersey Education Association President Barbara Keshishian criticized Christie for his "arrogant, destructive policies." The governor and the state teachers' unions have been feuding for months over pay freezes.
"We are not the problem! We are not the problem!" New Jersey Education Association President Barbara Keshishian said, leading the crowd in a chant.
James Harris, president of the New Jersey chapter of the NAACP, criticized Christie's aggressive tactics.
"I ask our governor, when our school system is trying to teach anti-bullying, to stop being the biggest bully in the state," Harris said as the crowd cheered.
Christie's office inside the Statehouse was dark. The governor was at Monmouth Park to kick off the horseracing season and sign racing-related legislation. He joked earlier in the week that he might make a surprise appearance at the rally, but he did not show up.
Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said the protesters were "blinded by their own rhetoric" and "on the wrong side of history."
Organizers played the music of Bruce Springsteen, the governor's favorite musician, over the loudspeakers throughout the day. The rally ended around 2:30 p.m. with a recording of Springsteen's "No Surrender."
Many of the protesters also carried signs criticizing the governor. They include: "Christie for ex-governor" and "NJ's biggest loser: Steal from the poor, give to the rich."
Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Monmouth), a Christie foe, was among the politicians near the stage. He said many of Christie's proposed cuts will wind up costing the state much more in federal matching funds.
"A lot of these cuts I would call penny-wise and pound foolish," Pallone said. "I think he's gone too far with a lot of these cuts."
The other politicians at the rally included Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex) and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer).
Sussex-Wantage teacher Dorothy Caufield said she drove 90 minutes to Trenton. She is eligible to retire from her teaching job, but not ready to quit. She said the message to older teachers is to retire to make room for younger, cheaper replacesments.
"How can I stand up there and complain and not at least take a day to come down here?" Caufield said. "Whether it has an impact or not."
Star-Ledger Statehouse Bureau reporters Claire Heininger, Matt Friedman and Peggy Ackermann are Tweeting live from the event. Follow the latest updates on NJ.com, or through Twitter at NJ_BreakingNews.
Live Twitter feed from the rally from NJ_BreakingNews
· Breaking news: Jury finds Rodolfo Godinez guilty in Newark schoolyard killings http://bit.ly/a0WbHX 35 minutes ago
· "With 30,000 people, it could have been better," said Buzzetta, 62, as she packed up her stand. #njrally 1 day ago
· Susan Buzzetta, who ran a stand selling sausage and peppers and cheese steaks, said business was good but not great. #njrally 1 day ago
· State street is now virtually empty, save for the vendors, who are packing up. A street sweeper is working its way through the site #njrally 1 day ago
· State Police spokesman Sgt. Stephen Jones said the final crowd estimate was between 30,000 and 35,000 people. #njrally 1 day ago
· He said there were no big problems reported. "Everything went very smoothly," Jones said. Now it is a "matter of time and traffic control." 1 day ago
· 25,000 people and one dog. Toby, a collie, wore a placard that said "Dogs for teachers" and "I didn't eat the budget!" #njrally 1 day ago
· Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said the protesters are "blinded by their own rhetoric" and "on the wrong side of history." #njrally 1 day ago
· The rally ends with a recording of Christie fav Bruce Springsteen singing "No Surrender."#njrally 1 day ago
· Shelton says gov thinks people of NJ and lawmakers are "sheep" #njrally 1 day ago
· "He's going to have to," said Jones. "Because how can anyone go at that level for four years? He's going to burn out." #njrally 1 day ago
· Chris Shelton of CWA says Christie wants a "forever freeze" on public employee salaries. #njrally 1 day ago
· Jones said Christie was coming on stronger than former Gov. Christie Whitman did at first, but he expects him to mellow out. #njrally 1 day ago
· Reggie Jones, a social worker for DYFS, wore jeans plastered with bumper stickers reading "One Christie was enough." #njrally 1 day ago
· VIDEO: Thousands gather in Trenton for anti-Christie rally http://bit.ly/9gpMhL #njrally 1 day ago
· Speakers kick off N.J. Statehouse rally with taunts, chants http://bit.ly/a6BqfS #njrally 1 day ago
· There's about an hour left of the rally, but the crowd is starting to disperse. #njrally 1 day ago
· There's about an hour left of the rally, but the crowd is starting to disperse. 1 day ago
· Surprise: a millionaire onstage. Herb Greenberg says he's willing to pay higher taxes instead of "shifting the burden" to those with less. 1 day ago
· "I met him," said Ulicki, 56. "He said he would never hurt the poorest of the poor." Ulicki said the cut was a "slap in the face." #njrally 1 day ago
· Joe Ulicki, a shift supervisor at St. Lucy's, said he met Christie when he came to the shelter just before Thanksgiving, as governor-elect 1 day ago
· Woods-Murphy asks crowd: "Do I look like the problem?" #njrally 1 day ago
· 35 residents and staffers from St. Lucy's homeless shelter in Jersey City are here to protest proposed cuts to the general assistance fund 1 day ago
· "This is wrong," Woods-Murphy says. "We will not be silenced. We will prevail." #njrally 1 day ago
· NJ teacher of the year Maryann Woods-Murphy says she speaks for 100,000 teachers. #njrally 1 day ago
· NJ teacher of the year Maryann Woods-Murphy says she speaks for 100,000 teachers. 1 day ago
· State Police spokesman Stephen Jones added no signficant problems reported. #njrally 1 day ago
· Latest chant: "They say cut back, we say fight back." #njrally 1 day ago
· Speaker links rally with past causes from Vietnam to apartheid. Calls Christie's budget an "abomination." #njrally 1 day ago
· State Police crowd estimate: 25,000, (a record). With more coming in, total "may reach 30,000 to 35,000", said Stephen Jones.#njrally 1 day ago
· Latest chant: "They say cut back, we say fight back." 1 day ago
· Salowe-Kaye says Christie's property tax plan is "not a toolkit. It's just a big bag of dirty tricks." #njrally 1 day ago
· "We stand together today, not for ourselves but for us all," Salowe-Kaye said. #njrally 1 day ago
· Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, executive director of NJ Citizen Action, says progressive groups must stick together. 1 day ago
· Speaker calls Christie "definitely a lost cause," but legislative Democrats -- the "supposed party of working class" -- can be convinced. 1 day ago
· Wowkanech starts "we're not gonna take it" chant. Says Gov. Chris Christie wants to "lay all of us off." #njrally 1 day ago
· Wowkanech calls Christie's "tool kit" for towns and school boards a "smokescreen" to kill collective bargaining. #njrally 1 day ago
· NJ AFL-CIO pres Charles Wowkanech giving feisty speech, accusing Christie of trying to "intentionally tank" state pension system. #njrally 1 day ago
· An announcer says more than 35,000 people are rallying today. #njrally 1 day ago
· McNary says official State Police estimate of crowd is 35,000. And more are coming. 1 day ago
· Only two state lawmakers are visible near the stage. Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex) and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-Mercer) 1 day ago
· Keshishian fires a warning shot at Democratic lawmakers. "If these Legislators remain silent, then they are (Christie's) accomplices." 1 day ago
· A chant goes up: We are not the problem! #njrally 1 day ago
· Keshishian blasts Christie for "arrogant, destructive policies." Leads crowd in a chant of "We are not the problem!" #njrally 1 day ago
· NJEA President Barbara Keshishian says Christie "denigrates our schools every chance that he gets." #njrally 1 day ago
· A State Police helicopter hovers above the crowd.#njrally 1 day ago
· "We want to see some diversity on the Supreme Court," he said. "It is wrong to remove the only African-American." #njrally 1 day ago
· Harris also spoke out against Christie's refusal to renominate state Supreme Court Justice John Wallace. #njrally 1 day ago
· "I ask our governor, when our school system is trying to teach anti-bullying, to stop being the biggest bully in the state," said Harris. 1 day ago
· Sierra Club's Jeff Tittel: The cuts affect Clean Energy, that eliminates jobs #njrally 1 day ago
· James Harris, president of the NJ NAACP, railed against school meal cuts and Christie "demonizing" teachers. #njrally 1 day ago
· Enviros working crowd too, handing out leaflets opposing bill to roll back pollution standards #njrally 1 day ago
· "We're not Mississippi," yelled someone from the crowd. #njrally 1 day ago
· Rev. Bruce Davidson of the Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries spoke to "raise a little heaven" about cuts to programs for thr poor. 1 day ago
· Rally time temperature: 72 degrees, 66 percent humidity. #njrally 1 day ago
· McNary: "We need statesmanship, not gamesmanship." #njrally 1 day ago
· Rally or street fair?: Aromas of sizzling gyros and funnel cakes filling air outside Statehouse #njrally 1 day ago
· "The human needs infrastructure in New Jersey is falling apart, and that is a crisis as well," said McNary. #njrally 1 day ago
· McNary compared the budget situation to the Minnesota bridge collapse and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. #njrally 1 day ago
· Chants at corner of West State & Barrack: "We say fight back!" "No teacher left behind!" #njrally 1 day ago
· William McNary, president of USAction, is emceeing the event. Speeches are about to begin #njrally 1 day ago
· No Hunterdon HS teacher Lauren Sheldon's sign: I am not a problem.#njrally 1 day ago
· Rallies as economy booster? Deli and ice cream shop around the block from Statehouse, usually closed weekends, doing pretty good business 1 day ago
· It's eerily quiet inside the Statehouse. Christie's office is darkened and locked. He is expected at Monmouth Park today. #njrally 1 day ago
· "A lot of these cuts I would call penny-wise and pound foolish," said Pallone."I think he's gone too far with a lot of these cuts." #njrally 1 day ago
· One sign: "Christie If You Can Read This Thank Your Teacher." #njrally 1 day ago
· Pallone said many of Christie's proposed cuts will wind up costing much more in federal matching funds. #njrally 1 day ago
· Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Monmouth), a Christie foe, greeted NJEA President Barbara Kesheshian in front of the stage. #njrally 1 day ago
· The band is taunting Christie over Springsteen -- says Bruce "is not okay with Chris Christie." Plays Born In The USA #njrally 1 day ago
· Huge cheers for that. #njrally 1 day ago
· Singer asks the crowd: How many of you love your police/firefighters/teachers/pensions more than Chris Christie? #njrally 1 day ago
· "All the people that need services are going to suffer," said Rebecca Merton of Hackettstown #njrally 1 day ago
· Christie "may get it, but he doesn't care." Peter, retired state worker #njrally 1 day ago
· Merton said she's not worried Hagedorn cause will fade into teacher-heavy crowd. "This is for everybody." #njrally 1 day ago
· Nurses from Hagedorn hospital in Hunterdon County -- slated to close under Christie budget -- here too. #njrally 1 day ago
· The band is playing Donna Summer's "She Works Hard for the Money." #njrally 1 day ago
· State Street is getting crowded as an endless stream of people make their way to the stage. #njrally 1 day ago
· There's a chant of "Christie out! Christie out!"#njrally 1 day ago
· Vendors starting to sell italian sausages, hot dogs, french fries, italian ice and cotton candy. Some unions packed lunches for members. 1 day ago
· As teachers walked past Old Barracks Museum, Bob Butera, historical interpreter, said: "We've been cut too. Only by 100 percent." #njrally 1 day ago
· "Without people like all of us, there is no growth." Mike Walsifer, corrections officer Essex #njrally 1 day ago
· "Christie's not going to change his mind," she said. "The Democrats need to realize they need to back us up." #njrally 1 day ago
· Montclair resident Lynn Fedele teaches high school English in Jersey City. Says rally aimed at state Dems too. #njrally 1 day ago
· Sloan voted for Dem ex-gov Jon Corzine but said others have buyer's remorse on Christie. #njrally 1 day ago
· "Once the money runs out, they come looking for us to foot the bill," said Bongart. Brandon Bongart said he was protesting school aid cuts. 1 day ago
· The soundtrack is playing Bruce Springsteen -- Christie's favorite rocker but a hero of the left. #njrally 1 day ago
· Bob Bongart said his job is not threatened but some younger workers may be, and felt many of his riders would feel pain from fare hike. 1 day ago
· Sloan has 2 kids in public schools who will be hurt by cuts. Her sign: "Recall king Christie now." #njrally 1 day ago
· Roberta Sloan, of Princeton Borough, said she's a social worker not in any union but showing support. #njrally 1 day ago
· Bob Bongart, 61, a bus driver for NJ Transit, brought his son Brandon, a senior at Steinert High School in Hamilton. #njrally 1 day ago
· "Christie is a union-buster." Zein Maya, Newark firefighter #njrally 1 day ago
· Dhreher said the sign accurately expressed her feelings." I've never disliked a politician as much as I dislike Christie," she said #njrally 2 days ago
· Union High School teacher Maureen Dreher, 55, held a placard of Christie with horns and a tail. "Hey tough guy, show your face," it read. 2 days ago
· "How can I stand up there and complain and not at least take a day to come down here?" Caufield said. "Whether it has an impact or not." 2 days ago
· "We all work hard," said Caufield, who will have to switch teaching subjects due to cutbacks in her district. Others are losing their jobs. 2 days ago
· Caufield says the message to older teachers has been, "get out and make room for younger cheaper models." #njrally 2 days ago
· Sussex-Wantage teacher Dorothy Caufield drove 90 mins to Trenton. Eligible to retire but not ready to quit. #njrally 2 days ago
· Three giant television screens are set up along the street for those unable to see the stage. #njrally 2 days ago
· Kearny teacher Karen Babinski, 63, said cuts are "unfair to the average person whose parents are struggling and education is their way out." 2 days ago
· Hundreds of teachers union members from around the state have arrived on buses and are pouring onto State Street. #njrally 2 days ago
‘Stile: Democratic leaders are no-shows at unions' Christie bashing’
Sunday, May 23, 2010 By CHARLES STILE COLUMNIST The Record
The 35,000 people swarming West State Street for Saturday’s Public Worker-palooza rally represented a core Democratic constituency — teachers, social workers and janitors.
The only thing missing was Democratic leaders.
Actually, that’s not entirely correct. Four Democratic legislators did show — Rep. Frank Pallone from Monmouth County and three state legislators from Mercer County, who show up at public worker events on auto pilot as their district is home to nearly 30,000 state workers.
It was a paltry delegation. And the rank and file who spilled onto the State House complex lawn and sat on the brownstone steps normally home to the lobbyists noticed the absence of top Democrats from a cathartic afternoon of bashing Governor Christie.
"Why are they just laying down for him?" said Pat Fuge, an English teacher at West Milford High School. "They are the majority party if I’m not mistaken."
Saturday’s event was historic for the size of its turnout — and lack of turnout by the Democrats who have relied on public workers’ money and muscle for decades. Democrats rarely miss an opportunity to hand-pump a public employee union crowd or grab a bull-horn to fire off a few class-warfare barbs. Even former Gov. Jon Corzine, a onetime Wall Street titan, roused the rank and file with a pro-union speech in 2006.
But they were no-shows on Saturday. Democrats took a poll-driven power walk away from their comrades instead of marching in solidarity. "The Democrats forgot who they were," said Karen Perry, a school administrator from West Orange.
It may take weeks to know whether the rally succeeded in turning public opinion against Christie. But one thing is clear, the rally marked a milestone in the identity-makeover of the machine-dominated Democratic Party. It is a party shifting from pro-labor toward pro-business, from being liberal toward being plain-vanilla "moderate."
Despite the decision to defy Christie by enacting a "millionaires tax" for fixed-income senior programs last week, Democrats cannot be counted on as being a monolithic, knee-jerk opposition to the Christie agenda.
Democratic leaders on Saturday bristled at suggestions that their absence from the rally signaled a deliberate distancing from their loyal allies. Officials said they were not invited by the organizers, who wanted to put a "human face" on the Christie budget cuts and reforms and not have it upstaged by politicians. (Rally organizers confirmed this.)
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver of Essex County said many more Democratic legislators would have attended if they had been invited. Oliver said her absence is not a sign that she "devalues" support of teachers or other public employees.
But the Mercer lawmakers and Pallone didn’t get invitations. No one turned them away. In fact, several speakers lauded them from the stage. Does a politician really need an invitation to show up at an event jammed with a historic number of core constituents?
"I don’t need an invitation when my constituents are in the heart of my district,’’ said Sen. Shirley Turner from Mercer County. "These are my peeps."
There are other explanations for the Democrats’ absence. A recent internal poll, rolled out to Democratic legislators two weeks ago in private briefings, found that voters did not want partisan gridlock and wanted the Legislature to work with the new governor. A Democratic show-of-force at the event would have made it easy for Christie to paint his partisan rivals as a protector of the Trenton status quo, a predictable whiney voice in the Trenton echo chamber.
Some Democrats, who voted for a series of unpopular pension reforms earlier this year, might not have gotten such a warm reception. Barbara Keshishian, the New Jersey Education president, warned Democrats that the 203,000-member union has "very long memories" — which is another way of threatening those who vote against their interests.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney is an official for an ironworker’s local in South Jersey and has tangled with public employee unions with pension benefit reforms. He was not happy with the rally and accused union officials of telling their members "only half the story,’’ and carefully omitting their support for expensive benefit enhancements and controversial decisions to borrow money for the pension system, that have contributed to the state’s fiscal crisis — and their own unpopularity with the general public.
"It’s easy to tell your members that someone else did it rather than look them in the eyes and say we made mistakes,’’ he said.
But there is another political calculation at work — a sense that rank-and-file teachers, police and firemen are not as pro-Democratic as they used to be.
Oliver said she has been told by public employee union leaders in private meetings that large numbers of their members voted for Christie last year. And other union officials have also said that many of their members were not enthused by Corzine and simply stayed home.
Staying away may not have been such a political risk after all. Fuge, of West Milford, said she knows teachers who supported Christie. But she also says they are now shocked by his school aid cuts and his other education reforms.
"They didn’t understand that they were voting against themselves,’’ she said.
The 35,000 people swarming West State Street for Saturday’s Public Worker-palooza rally represented a core Democratic constituency — teachers, social workers and janitors.
The only thing missing was Democratic leaders.
Actually, that’s not entirely correct. Four Democratic legislators did show — Rep. Frank Pallone from Monmouth County and three state legislators from Mercer County, who show up at public worker events on auto pilot as their district is home to nearly 30,000 state workers.
It was a paltry delegation. And the rank and file who spilled onto the State House complex lawn and sat on the brownstone steps normally home to the lobbyists noticed the absence of top Democrats from a cathartic afternoon of bashing Governor Christie.
"Why are they just laying down for him?" said Pat Fuge, an English teacher at West Milford High School. "They are the majority party if I’m not mistaken."
Saturday’s event was historic for the size of its turnout — and lack of turnout by the Democrats who have relied on public workers’ money and muscle for decades. Democrats rarely miss an opportunity to hand-pump a public employee union crowd or grab a bull-horn to fire off a few class-warfare barbs. Even former Gov. Jon Corzine, a onetime Wall Street titan, roused the rank and file with a pro-union speech in 2006.
But they were no-shows on Saturday. Democrats took a poll-driven power walk away from their comrades instead of marching in solidarity. "The Democrats forgot who they were," said Karen Perry, a school administrator from West Orange.
It may take weeks to know whether the rally succeeded in turning public opinion against Christie. But one thing is clear, the rally marked a milestone in the identity-makeover of the machine-dominated Democratic Party. It is a party shifting from pro-labor toward pro-business, from being liberal toward being plain-vanilla "moderate."
Despite the decision to defy Christie by enacting a "millionaires tax" for fixed-income senior programs last week, Democrats cannot be counted on as being a monolithic, knee-jerk opposition to the Christie agenda.
Democratic leaders on Saturday bristled at suggestions that their absence from the rally signaled a deliberate distancing from their loyal allies. Officials said they were not invited by the organizers, who wanted to put a "human face" on the Christie budget cuts and reforms and not have it upstaged by politicians. (Rally organizers confirmed this.)
Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver of Essex County said many more Democratic legislators would have attended if they had been invited. Oliver said her absence is not a sign that she "devalues" support of teachers or other public employees.
But the Mercer lawmakers and Pallone didn’t get invitations. No one turned them away. In fact, several speakers lauded them from the stage. Does a politician really need an invitation to show up at an event jammed with a historic number of core constituents?
"I don’t need an invitation when my constituents are in the heart of my district,’’ said Sen. Shirley Turner from Mercer County. "These are my peeps."
There are other explanations for the Democrats’ absence. A recent internal poll, rolled out to Democratic legislators two weeks ago in private briefings, found that voters did not want partisan gridlock and wanted the Legislature to work with the new governor. A Democratic show-of-force at the event would have made it easy for Christie to paint his partisan rivals as a protector of the Trenton status quo, a predictable whiney voice in the Trenton echo chamber.
Some Democrats, who voted for a series of unpopular pension reforms earlier this year, might not have gotten such a warm reception. Barbara Keshishian, the New Jersey Education president, warned Democrats that the 203,000-member union has "very long memories" — which is another way of threatening those who vote against their interests.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney is an official for an ironworker’s local in South Jersey and has tangled with public employee unions with pension benefit reforms. He was not happy with the rally and accused union officials of telling their members "only half the story,’’ and carefully omitting their support for expensive benefit enhancements and controversial decisions to borrow money for the pension system, that have contributed to the state’s fiscal crisis — and their own unpopularity with the general public.
"It’s easy to tell your members that someone else did it rather than look them in the eyes and say we made mistakes,’’ he said.
But there is another political calculation at work — a sense that rank-and-file teachers, police and firemen are not as pro-Democratic as they used to be.
Oliver said she has been told by public employee union leaders in private meetings that large numbers of their members voted for Christie last year. And other union officials have also said that many of their members were not enthused by Corzine and simply stayed home.
Staying away may not have been such a political risk after all. Fuge, of West Milford, said she knows teachers who supported Christie. But she also says they are now shocked by his school aid cuts and his other education reforms.
"They didn’t understand that they were voting against themselves,’’ she said.
