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Frelinghuysen kicks off bid for eigth term

March 30, 2008

Frelinghuysen kicks off bid for eighth term

As congressman announces, Democrats say they'd help everyday man

By Matt Manochio
Daily Record

MORRIS TWP. -- U.S. Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen on Saturday officially announced his bid to seek reelection to Congress to serve his eighth term.

"I'm proud to look out for your interests in Washington," Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, told roughly 150 supporters inside a Madison Hotel ballroom.

Frelinghuysen's biggest applause lines came when he spoke of securing the nation's borders and reauthorizing the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). He said partisanship has derailed the current prospects of passing the bill in the House, while the Senate already approved it.

He said he's working with Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler of North Carolina to force a floor vote on FISA.

"The Senate has acted. It's the House that needs to act sooner rather than later," Frelinghuysen said.

Frelinghuysen acknowledged the tough times many residents face, including high gas prices, the housing market and the economy.

"First and foremost ... our citizens want Republicans and Democrats to work together and address these challenges," he said.

He also said New Jersey is overtaxed, and that he would "fight against any plan to raise taxes," which elicited loud applause.

Frelinghuysen also spoke eloquently about U.S. Sen. John McCain, the likely Republican nominee for president. Frelinghuysen, a Vietnam veteran, said that his one-year tour was nothing compared with what McCain -- who spent more than five years in a prisoner of war camp -- endured.

Frelinghuysen said people sometimes question why McCain has trouble raising his arms, and he tells them it's because the North Vietnamese broke them after McCain was captured.

"It's because they beat up on him unmercifully and threw him in prison," Frelinghuysen said. He added that what impressed him the most about McCain was that he had an opportunity to be released from the Hanoi Hilton because of his prominent father, a Navy admiral. Frelinghuysen said McCain's position was to stay until all the POWs were released.

Fiscally disciplined

That selflessness, along with McCain's intent to be fiscally disciplined when it comes to government spending and his military experience, are the primary reasons Frelinghuysen said he was enthusiastic about supporting McCain.

Frelinghuysen, too, asked the crowd to recognize the military men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Every American wants our troops' service in Iraq and Afghanistan to be as safe and as short a duration as possible," he said. "I work towards that goal every day, but I remain equally focused on ensuring the success of our mission."

A four-piece New Orleans jazz band played patriotic music as Frelinghuysen spoke to constituents and supporters -- many of them elected officials themselves -- both before and after his announcement.

Morris County was the third of four announcement locations throughout the 11th District that Frelinghuysen represents. He started with campaign stops in Sussex and Essex counties before heading to Morris Township, and left for a late afternoon rendezvous with supporters in Somerset County.

Three Democrats are running in the June 3 primary for a chance to oppose Frelinghuysen in November's general election. They are Harry Hager of Chester, Ellen Greenberg of Mendham Township, and Tom Wyka of Parsippany.

"Rodney has done nothing for small businesses, very little for veterans, nothing for public education, and nothing for senior citizens," Hager said in an e-mail about why he felt he'd be best to serve the 11th District.

"I spent 20 years as a commercial banker in New York making loans to small businesses. I spent 21 months in a combat zone in Vietnam. I am a former teacher and school board member, and I am a senior citizen."

In a phone interview, Wyka said Frelinghuysen isn't suited to grasp the struggles of the everyday worker.

"I think that between my two competitors, and even Rodney Frelinghuysen, I feel that I'm best suited to represent this district because I understand the struggles of the middle-class voters who are actually in the majority in the 11th District," Wyka said.

Attempts to reach Greenberg by phone and e-mail were unsuccessful on Friday and Saturday.