NJ.com: “Ciattarelli’s campaign stands by” senior advisor who said they aren’t “taking money from jews”

Politico: “When reached for comment, Nadeem deferred to Ciattarelli’s campaign manager.” 

TRENTON, NJ — As a Ciattarelli campaign Executive Director’s comments that they aren’t “taking money from Jews” and want a “ban on same-sex marriage” draw more and more scrutiny, instead of doing what any normal campaign would do – immediately denouncing and firing this individual for his disgusting comments – the Ciattarelli campaign is doubling down, telling reporters it “stands by” him.

Rider University Rebovich Institute Director Micah Rasmussen summed it up simply: This is “an unmitigated disaster for Jack.”

And as Jack refuses mounting pressure to fire this senior advisor, it’s only getting worse.

Here’s what New Jerseyans have been reading:

• Politico: Republican nominee’s ally draws outrage with remarks about Jews, gay marriage
  • Ciattarelli “did not condemn the comments.”
  • Ibrar Nadeem, the Muslim relations adviser to Jack Ciattarelli, hosted an event Saturday where he delivered a wide-ranging, 20-minute speech that included a call to ban same-sex marriage. Toward the end of his remarks, Nadeem, who is Muslim, said that people in his community accuse him of “taking money from Jews,” to which he replied: “I check my bank account every day, brother, it is not there.”
  • During his own speech, Ciattarelli praised Nadeem and touted that he is the “first gubernatorial candidate in history that has a Muslim as part of his inner circle of advisers.”
  • When reached for comment, Nadeem deferred to Ciattarelli’s campaign manager.
  • Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who earlier this year unsuccessfully ran for governor against Sherrill, told reporters on Tuesday that “the lame explanation or attempts to justify what this individual said only makes it worse.”
  • “A real friend of the Jewish community doesn’t applaud disgusting antisemitic tropes,” said Gottheimer, who is Jewish. “They condemn them.”

• NJ.com: Campaign adviser’s comments on Jews, gay marriage spark new controversy in N.J. governor race
  • In comments that ignited a new front in New Jersey’s close and increasingly antagonistic battle for governor, a Muslim campaign adviser told supporters that if Republican Jack Ciattarelli is elected, he would work to upend same-sex marriage rights, according to a video recording shared by Democrats.
  • Dr. Ibrar Nadeem… assured supporters at the Muslims4Jack rally in Piscataway on Saturday that he had not accepted donations from Jewish contributors on the candidate’s behalf.
  • In remarks warming up the crowd minutes before Ciattarelli took the stage Saturday, Nadeem raised the prospect of overturning the state law protecting same-sex marriage. Nadeem told supporters they could count on Ciattarelli to support a ban on gay marriage, just as he did when the issue was up for a vote in 2012 when he was a state Assemblyman.
  • Ciattarelli’s campaign stands by Nadeem, [chief campaign strategist Chris] Russell said.

• Micah Rasmussen, Director of the Rebovich Institute for NJ Politics at Rider University: 
  • “This event was an unmitigated disaster for Jack. Says his anti-Semitic, anti-gay exec. director for Muslim relations ‘is in his inner circle.’ Says he's the first candidate in history to do so. Jack also responded to the slurs by telling him to ‘say what's exactly on his mind.’”

• Jewish Insider: Jack Ciattarelli’s Muslim affairs advisor bragged at campaign event that he doesn’t take money from Jews
  • Ibrar Nadeem, a Muslim affairs advisor to New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, bragged that he wasn’t taking money from Jews at a campaign event last weekend organized by a group called Muslims 4 Jack.
  • In remarks delivered shortly after Nadeem’s speech, Ciattarelli embraced the local Arab leader as a close confidante without condemning his comments about Jews.

• Patch: ‘We Want To Have A Ban On Same-Sex Marriage,’ Jack Ciattarelli Aide Says
  • An aide to Republican Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli has called for a ban on same-sex marriage at a recent endorsement rally.
  • The aide also made comments on "taking money from the Jews" before being praised by the Republican candidate.
  • Ciattarelli then expressed gratitude towards Nadeem, calling him “a very impressive man” who “hasn’t let me down one day.”

• Patch: Ciattarelli Camp's ‘Homophobic, Antisemitic’ Remarks Slammed By Officials
  • New Jersey Democrats, LGBTQ+ advocates, and Jewish community leaders came together Tuesday afternoon to condemn the actions of Republican Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and comments made by one of his top advisors.
  • “Hate and bigotry have absolutely no place in the great state of New Jersey… But apparently it does have a place in Jack Ciattarelli’s campaign,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). “(Nadeem’s) words are disgusting and vile, they’re blatantly antisemitic, they are homophobic, and they have no place in a campaign for governor or anywhere in our great state.”
  • After years of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, [Dean Dafis, Maplewood] committeeman told residents that New Jersey is “not going back, nor bending the knee, to hate, division, or hostility,” in light of Ciattarelli’s aide’s comments.

• Advocate: Aide to N.J. GOP governor nominee states opposition to marriage equality and to 'taking money from Jews'
  • An aide to Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for New Jersey governor, stated opposition to marriage equality and to taking money from Jewish people during a recent event.
  • Ciattarelli then took the mike and did not condemn Nadeem’s statements, instead saying, “Dr. Ibrar Nadeem. Just once I wish you’d say exactly what’s on your mind. Let’s hear it one time, one more time for the doctor.” He also called Nadeem “this very, very impressive man” who “hasn’t let me down one day.”

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