State grants Greenstein funds to fight attack ads
Citing freedom of speech, Common Sense America chair stands behind spots
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer
Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (DMiddlesex Mercer) was awarded $100,000 in rescue funds by the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) last week to counter radio attacks made by an independent group called Common Sense America.

"It identifies them for who they are - a group that's come into the state to disrupt the clean election process." - Linda Greenstein

New Jersey's Fair and Clean Elections (FACE) Pilot Project, a publicly funded election program that the 14th District is participating in, offers rescue funds to those who are affected by negative campaigning. Greenstein, who helped draft the bill that created FACE, was happy with the decision.

"It isn't so much about the money, it's getting the program to work," Greenstein said. "This was something we built in as a safeguard. We thought perhaps a third-party group would intentionally come into an election to disrupt the program."

According to its Web site, Common Sense America is a new national organization dedicated to bringing accountability to those in power, and it has no fixed agenda.

Brian Brown, chairman of Common Sense America, disagrees with ELEC's decision.

"It's essentially creating an incumbent protection program," Brown said. "This highlights what our ads are about in the first place. She taxes, taxes, taxes and spends, spends, spends."

Brown says he has a right to do this.

"We have freedom of speech to highlight a candidate's record," Brown said. "It's part of American politics.

"They can't be stopped because they have a constitutional right to do it," Greenstein agreed.

However, Greenstein says the ads are false.

"They're putting out false things about my record," Greenstein said. "The sales tax, I voted against it. The tire tax, the realty tax, I voted against all of those. It's very common for right-wing groups to attack people on taxes."

She mentioned that it's not as if she has never voted for a tax, but that most of the taxes mentioned in the radio ads she did not vote for.

"They aren't false at all," Brown countered. "This is her way of hiding her record. You can't be voting against tax bills and then for the budget that includes them."

With the extra money, Greenstein hopes to counter their attacks, even though she says Common Sense America can spend a lot more than they can. They recently put out an ad on television, according to Greenstein.

"It identifies them for who they are - a group that's come into the state to disrupt the clean election process," Greenstein said.

Greenstein has the support of the Republican Party.

"I strongly call upon these swiftboat style thirdparty groups to end their unwarranted interference in the 14th District race," Assemblyman Bill Baroni, a Republican who is running for the district's state Senate seat, said in a press release.

The Republicans fully supported Greenstein's recovery of the rescue funds.

Greenstein was not surprised by their support.

"Nobody would want to be a part of this in any shape or form," Greenstein said.

Lou Jasikoff, Libertarian Jason Scheurer's campaign manager, gave his opinion, as well.

"It goes against the spirit of the law," Jasikoff said. "We don't want to see outside influence. I just wish people would have the same outrage for us. Everyone's saying, 'Poor Linda Greenstein.' What about, 'Poor Jason Scheurer'?"

Scheurer and Jasikoff believe it is unfair that independent candidates receive less money than major party candidates under FACE. They have filed a lawsuit in Superior Court to get equal funding. Although Greenstein said she might have to rethink the issue for later elections, she does not believe Scheurer should receive the extra money for this pilot program.

Brown said that anyone can fund and donate to Common Sense America, through its Web site. Although it's unknown how much money was spent by the group, Greenstein said it was fair to say that about $200,000 worth of media time was bought.

Brown said the group will continue to run the ads until the conclusion of the election.