An open note to Phil Murphy’s young foot soldiers on inauguration eve

By Matt Rooney

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I remember attending Chris Christie’s inauguration in January 2010 with very high hopes.

Phil Murphy’s acolytes will do the same tomorrow.

My unsolicited advice: remember that your hero is a man.

Like all men, he’s flawed and susceptible to forgetting that he’s no stronger or better than the sum of the people who put him in office.

His head WILL get turned.

His judgment may falter.

People “who got him there” will be forgotten.

Therefore? You owe it to this new governor AND the rest of us, too, to (1) support him when he’s right but ALSO (2) stand up to him when he’s wrong.

#2 is undoubtedly the hardest part, especially for ambitious young climbers, but it’s also the most important.

Political operatives routinely talk about the importance of “loyalty” in their trade. I submit that that attitude gives rise to most of the ugliness and disappointment we see on the nightly news.

Loyalty, yes, but to what?

This principle: “Candor and accountability in a democracy is very important. Hypocrisy has no place.” (h/t Alan Dershowitz).

When there isn’t accountability?

Everyone loses, eventually, and the cause which brought you into this fight in the first place will be the biggest loser.

Trust me; I’ve seen it with my own two eyes.

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8405 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.