In political advertising, candidates often resort to attack ads to sway public opinion. However, a line should not be crossed where these ads become nothing more than misinformation and fearmongering. Unfortunately, Senator Vin Gopal, Margie Donlon, and Luanne Peterpaul have surpassed that line with their latest ad campaign, “Next.”
This ad is disingenuous and filled with fabricated claims, representing the lowest form of negative campaigning. Its purpose is clear: to unjustly vilify opponents Steve Dnistrian and Assemblywomen Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner by distorting their stances on specific issues.
It carelessly labels these candidates as “extremists” without evidence to support such a claim and falsely accuses them of wanting to ban abortions, arrest doctors, and impose massive penalties.
First, the right to abortion was codified in the State of New Jersey last session. Neither Marilyn nor Kim had been sworn into office yet. Since then, they have consistently supported access to safe and legal reproductive healthcare options.
The accusation that Assemblywomen Piperno and Eulner voted to defund Planned Parenthood and against funding a local domestic violence shelter is a blatant misrepresentation of their records. Senator Gopal frequently and incorrectly makes this exaggerated claim by citing their opposition to the overinflated 2023 budget, the largest ever at $54.3 billion.
The assemblywomen have continuously raised concerns about the lack of honesty and openness during the budget process. Despite promises of fiscal responsibility, the majority party added significant spending to the budget at the last minute. Worse, they kept the details of these added expenditures secret, making it impossible for the public to know what was being funded.
These actions demonstrate a lack of integrity in our elected officials. We, as voters, need to see through these deceptive tactics and elect leaders who prioritize transparency in government. We deserve leaders who will be transparent about their budget decisions and make information easily accessible to the public, unlike Senator Gopal and his cronies, who continue to pull the wool over our eyes year after year.
Moreover, the assemblywomen have been unwavering in their commitment to providing essential healthcare services to women, as evidenced by their support of bills like A3212. They have also consistently advocated for domestic violence shelters, such as introducing A2639 last year.
Interestingly, Senator Gopal is a Senate Sponsor of that same bill, so either his memory is failing him, or he is knowingly lying to you. But based on his track record, which includes stealing millions of dollars in funding from our district schools, implementing questionable sex education curricula for children as young as kindergarten, calling opponents of industrializing our oceans “conspiracy theorists,” and much more, I would argue the latter.
It is disheartening to witness the manipulative tactics employed by this so-called “Team Monmouth.” They are deliberately trying to distract you from the Senator’s abysmal voting history by resorting to desperate and inaccurate attack ads. This discredits their campaign, undermines the voters’ trust they seek to represent, and proves they are in this for themselves and their own personal agendas.
New Jersey deserves a political landscape prioritizing truth, fairness, and respect. We must refuse to tolerate deceptive tactics and demand accountability from career politicians who seek our support. It is time to restore integrity to the campaign process and rally behind honorable candidates like Steve Dnistrian, Assemblywoman Marilyn Piperno, and Assemblywoman Kim Eulner, who truly understand and represent the best interests of our district.
