New Buono Campaign Ad: He Wants To Be President, She Wants To Be Your Governor

If you haven't seen it yet, the Buono campaign released their first TV commercial the other day for the general election. It's entitled "Your Governor". The ad talks about what we already know.

Chris Christie isn't running for Governor, he is auditioning for the 2016 presidential primary. He would rather focus on pushing his radical agenda than focus on fixing the problems facing our state.

Check it out.

Hypocrisy, Thy Name Is Christie: 'Stronger than the Storm' commercials go to politically active PR firm, cost $2M more than runner-up firm

Here's just another example of Chris Christie's "Do as I say, not as I do" hypocrisy.

In order to cash in on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and to promote himself to 2013 voters in New Jersey and 2016 voters around the country, Christie spent $2 million more than necessary to place himself and his family in those "Stronger than the Storm" T.V. commercials that are running throughout the country this summer. Furthermore he gave all that extra money to the politically active East Rutherford-based MWW PR firm according to the Asbury Park Press.

"The “Stronger Than The Storm” TV commercials starring Gov. Chris Christie and his family are providing a near $5 million windfall of taxpayer dollars for a politically active public relations agency, more than $2 million higher than what the runner-up firm planned to charge.

The ads are part of this season’s $25 million state tourism campaign funded by the federal disaster aid package approved by Congress after superstorm Sandy. Under terms of a state contract, subsequent campaigns for 2014 and 2015 will be subject to the availability of additional funding.

East Rutherford-based MWW and a subcontractor are billing the state $4.7 million for employee compensation and markups to run this year’s campaign, according to information obtained through a public records request by the Asbury Park Press. The remainder goes toward TV and radio commercial production, media buys and promotions.

The contract documents shine new light on the role Christie administration officials had in the TV commercials — controversial because they give Christie more exposure during a gubernatorial election year, and also because they introduce him to voters in other states in advance of a possible 2016 presidential campaign. The top official on the selection committee, appointed by Christie, once received a $49,000 loan from Christie when he was the U.S. attorney for New Jersey.

The two bidders had different views on how the campaign should be run. MWW proposed putting Christie in the ads. The other bidder, a team headed by the Sigma Group, did not...." read more

A statement released by the Barbara Buono, Christie's challenger in this year's campaign for governor ,had this to say about Christie's latest hypocrisy:

"Once again, Governor Christie has allowed his ego to get in the way of what's best for New Jerseyans. Based on today's report, the primary rationale for the winning selection was not cost nor experience but shameless self-promotion. This is absolutely outrageous, especially as families are still out of their homes and trying to rebuild their lives. Clearly this was not the intended use of $25 million in federal recovery funding. The Governor should be ashamed of himself for making critical decisions affecting hundred of thousands through the prism of his national ambitions. It is just wrong."

One NJ Releases 1st Television Commercial Highlighting the Real Story Behind Christie's Record

Fact: NJ Is Falling Further Behind

(NEW JERSEY) – Tomorrow, One New Jersey is going up with its first television commercial to help people learn about the real story in New Jersey. The spot will run as a six-figure, state-wide cable buy for the next few weeks, and is being supplemented by a robust online ad buy.



“Governor Christie touted a Jersey Comeback. But, contrary to his claims, we’re clearly falling behind,” said Joshua Henne, spokesman for One New Jersey. "Our first commercial seeks to serve as a wake-up call to Trenton that there’s a huge gulf between the rhetoric being espoused and the reality on the ground. The sad truth is that New Jersey is falling further and further back due to the wrong-headed policies and misplaced priorities of the past few years. No amount of hype or hyperbole can hide the fact that middle-class and working families are hurting, while millionaires and powerful interests get special treatment – and New Jersey ends up worse-off, as a result.”

The facts speak for themselves. Over the past few years, New Jersey has consistently trailed the rest of America when it comes to jobs. In fact, under Christie and his policies, the state’s unemployment rate reached its widest distance from the national average since the 1970s. Right now, New Jersey has the country’s 7th highest unemployment and is the worst state in the region when it comes to joblessness.

While Christie's policies have surely warmed the hearts of right-wing think tanks, they've had a chilling effect on New Jersey's families. Protecting tax cuts for multi-millionaires, but vetoing an increase to the minimum wage reveals a backwards set of priorities. Property taxes skyrocketed some 20% on Christie’s watch, while services are slashed. Fiscal pain is pushed along to municipalities, while local residents are paying more and receiving less from local government. New Jersey also became home to the 2nd highest percentage of mortgage loans in foreclosure in America, even though rates nationally are falling to their lowest levels since 2008.

Since launching in the Summer of 2011, One New Jersey consistently shines a light on those policies striking against the best interests of New Jersey residents. One New Jersey is also exposing efforts to divide the state and its people for political gain. Along those lines, One New Jersey has written op-eds and offered commentary on a whole host of issues - including economic failures, broken promises on jobs, regressive policies and New Jersey’s chronic unemployment. A true “Jersey Comeback” would, indeed, be a great thing. Unfortunately, that’s not the real story, as the facts prove otherwise.

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One New Jersey is an independent 501(c) 4 advocacy organization that monitors policy positions and actions of elected officials and brings to light their records on the issues that matter to New Jersey’s middle-class and working families. You can follow @OneNJ on Twitter and search for “One New Jersey” on Facebook.