“There is no longer any shame in hypocrisy; it is a fashionable vice, and all fashionable vices pass for virtue.” ~Moliere

In a series of public online posts and in a released press statement published by Insider NJ, Ms. Leslie Huhn and Ms. Katie Rotondi of the Sussex County Democrat Committee have called into question my alleged beliefs and actions in relation to a series of social media posts appearing on the Sussex County GOP Twitter account by GOP Chairman Jerry Scanlan. As such, I find it appropriate to offer the following response to bring clarity to this conversation.

I am one of three Republican women who issued a joint public statement on behalf of the Sussex County Republican Committee and to take swift action to eliminate further questionable content posted by Chairman Scanlan on any Sussex County GOP social media accounts. Specific posts are offensive and in no way reflective of the Sussex GOP or our party platform or values.

Subsequently, the Sussex County Community College Board of Trustees has publicly stated that they will immediately follow up with this issue. As stated in the New Jersey Herald, “Trustee Howard Burrell seconded (SCCC Board President) Curcio’s earlier point about conducting a detailed investigation and providing an update to the community when one becomes available.

“This will not be just something papered over. We will look and see what we’ve got to do,” Burrell said. “We don’t ride people out of town on a rail; we believe in the rule of law. But to the extent that we can, we want to make sure that the public knows that this is a great institution — that we don’t endorse this kind of language and the kind of post at all.”

It is my understanding that Sussex GOP Chairman Scanlan is currently out of the state with his family; upon his return and as per Freeholder Director Herb Yardley, the Freeholder Board will be provided information from the Sussex County Board of Trustees for consideration prior to any possible formal action taken by the freeholders.

Conversely, it is eerily quiet from the Sussex County Democrats in relation to an offensive post by their own party Chairwoman, Ms. Katie Rotondi.

It is hypocritical to remain silent when just one short year ago, Ms. Rotondi found it appropriate to refer to Congressman Dan Crenshaw, visually-impaired due to an injury sustained in active military service to this country, as a “pirate”. In a puzzling explanation of sorts, one Democrat speaker at our most recent Freeholder meeting claimed this specific post by Ms. Rotondi was fair game, as during that period of time, Ms. Rotondi was pursuing a career as a comedienne.  Regardless of career aspirations, this is in poor taste, reminiscent of the comedy tactic of another entertainer, Kathy Griffin, who delighted the nation with an image of her holding the President’s bloody, severed head in the name of “comedy”. I fail to appreciate the humor in either post.

It is hypocritical for a member of the Sussex County Democrat Committee to publicly demand respect for an elected member of Congress, when the very same newly-elected Congresswoman in question thought it appropriate to vigorously declare her first order of business was to “impeach the motherf**ker” in reference to President Donald Trump. As a mother, I find that term crass and classless, and frankly, so should you.

It is hypocritical to remain silent in allegiance to Phil Murphy against an alleged rape victim, and to further stand silent when an additional five women are legally prevented from testifying in support of Ms. Brennan’s allegations of toxic working conditions in the Murphy campaign as per a “gag order” of the Governor’s Office.  As stated by the Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran’s headline this morning, “Murphy drive to silence women is hypocrisy on steroids”.

Katie Brennan is a Democrat, but she should know that women like me stand with her regardless of party.

It is hypocritical to stay silent against Representative Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and her fellow freshmen Democratic Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) who voted against House Resolution 246, Opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement targeting Israel.

In direct response to previous egregious, anti-Semitic statements made by Representative Omar, CD-5 Congressman Josh Gottheimer stated “The idea that certain members of Congress seemingly believe it is acceptable to use historic anti-Semitic tropes accusing Jews of dual loyalty, despite the broad condemnation of the entire House Democratic leadership, is beyond me….It is time for the House to act and reiterate that anti-Semitism, like all forms of hate, have no place in our public debate.”

I am a Republican and he is a Democrat, nevertheless I stand with Congressman Josh Gottheimer against this brash display of anti-Semitism.

As such, I firmly stand by my assertion that both Democrats and Republicans in this county, across this state, and in our nation have engaged in behavior that is not reflective of the tenets our respective parties claim to espouse.  I urge conversations to maintain decorum and return to policy instead of empty rhetoric that does nothing to further the safety and well-being of our communities, our state, and the nation as a whole. I am doing my part. I now call on you to do yours.

Dawn Fantasia

Sussex County Freeholder