Republican Rep. Scott Garrett is unusually socially conservative for a northeast politician, but as a January profile of him by Bloomberg Businessweek explained, he has built a Republican coalition by catering to the two sides of his northern New Jersey district: Wall Streeters to the east and rural farmers to the west.
Now, as Garrett has been more vocal about his opposition to gay rights, Democrats see him at risk of losing the economically conservative social liberals who live near New York City.
"His views are those of a rural Alabama conservative" casually noted Bloomberg Businessweek, The Democratic House Majority PAC has based a sharply critical ad on those words, throwing Alabama under the bus.
A Confederate flag waves behind an image of Garrett, as the narrator explains, "Garrett opposed banning Confederate flags from military cemeteries." (There was an actual vote on this subject in May 2016.)
Then the narrator throws another punch: "And Garrett says the Republican Party shouldn't support candidates who are gay." That charge is based on a Politico report from 2015, which said Garrett told House Republicans in a private meeting that he doesn't pay dues to the caucus' campaign arm "because it actively recruited gay candidates and supported homosexuals in primaries."
Months later, Garrett disputed Politico's characterization of his remarks, "I support anyone who supports what's in the Republican platform, which includes support for traditional marriage. That's what I said there."
That the Democrats would dare malign an entire state while accusing an opponent of bigotry reveals how little the party worries about winning votes in the staunchly Republican Deep South, and how little it expects Garden Staters to care about Alabama's feelings. But it adds an element of risk to the party's attempt to dislodge a vulnerable incumbent.
Now, as Garrett has been more vocal about his opposition to gay rights, Democrats see him at risk of losing the economically conservative social liberals who live near New York City.
"His views are those of a rural Alabama conservative" casually noted Bloomberg Businessweek, The Democratic House Majority PAC has based a sharply critical ad on those words, throwing Alabama under the bus.
House Majority PAC Ties Rep. Scott Garrett to "Dixie"
"Dixie" begins with corny fiddle music in the background and narrator paraphrasing, "His view are perfect for rural Alabama. So why is Scott Garrett representing New Jersey?"A Confederate flag waves behind an image of Garrett, as the narrator explains, "Garrett opposed banning Confederate flags from military cemeteries." (There was an actual vote on this subject in May 2016.)
Then the narrator throws another punch: "And Garrett says the Republican Party shouldn't support candidates who are gay." That charge is based on a Politico report from 2015, which said Garrett told House Republicans in a private meeting that he doesn't pay dues to the caucus' campaign arm "because it actively recruited gay candidates and supported homosexuals in primaries."
Months later, Garrett disputed Politico's characterization of his remarks, "I support anyone who supports what's in the Republican platform, which includes support for traditional marriage. That's what I said there."
Rep. Scott Garrett Hit for Supporting Confederate Flag, Opposing Gays
The ad's narrator notes the negative fallout Garrett has suffered from the controversy, and concludes with a final dig at Garrett, and Alabama: "Scott Garrett's views might sound fine in the Land of Cotton, but we're not singing his tune in New Jersey."That the Democrats would dare malign an entire state while accusing an opponent of bigotry reveals how little the party worries about winning votes in the staunchly Republican Deep South, and how little it expects Garden Staters to care about Alabama's feelings. But it adds an element of risk to the party's attempt to dislodge a vulnerable incumbent.