Corzine, Christie, Conspiracy Theories, and Sauerkraut

Written by Dennis "DJ" Mikolay Thursday, 05 November 2009 06:41

Columns - Third Party Voices

While watching various reporters covering political events on television, I often wondered if it is in any way awkward to attend an event for a candidate you don’t support?

The answer is: yes. But it is also a great deal of fun!

Last night, Monmouth University’s political science club hit the road to visit the two front-runner’s campaign celebrations. The order of our visits was determined by polling. We hoped to be present when the winner announced his victory, and since Christie was in the lead, our bus rolled into the Corzine camp first.

The atmosphere at Corzine’s banquet was rather melancholy. As our professor noted: “This doesn’t feel like a winner’s atmosphere.”

It truly didn’t. That being said, Corzine’s banquet was the highlight of the trip, as we were able to meet, and in some occasions, briefly chat with prominent political figures. Congressman Pallone was kind enough to pose for photos with students, and even took time to speak with some of us. He spent the entirety of our stay at the event on the floor, speaking to reporters, supporters, and students. He even graced us with an interview, live on air with WMCX (Monmouth University’s radio station).

We also had the pleasure of meeting Senator Lautenberg; while it was a very brief encounter, I was impressed with the Senator’s cheerful demeanor, and overall welcoming attitude. Lautenberg also gave WMCX a brief interview, and posed for photographs.

Chris Christie’s event was far more crowded than his Democratic rival’s. The Republican candidate also proved his fiscal conservativeness by providing only crackers and cheese as a snack, a far cry from Corzine’s wide array of delicacies, which included free chicken and sauerkraut.

There was electricity in the air at the Christie banquet, as his supporters mingled and celebrated the imminent victory. Unfortunately, when Chris Daggett (my candidate of choice) announced his campaign had come to an end, the independent’s speech was televised for the audience. Christie’s supporters loudly jeered Daggett, and joyfully sang at his departure.

I was a volunteer for the Daggett campaign, and this wasn’t the first time we had been disrespected by Christie’s supporters. Prior to the debate at William Paterson University, an over-zealous Christie supporter broke the police line dividing candidacies, and approached my fellow Daggett supporters, readying herself for a physical confrontation.

“How much did Corzine pay you to be here? You should be ashamed of yourselves!” She shouted.

Eventually, a police officer directed her back to her proper location.

I am proud to have cast my vote for Daggett, and will never apologize to anyone for voting my conscious. Any crazy conspiracy theorist that honestly believes that Daggett was “hired” to pull votes from Christie needs to first sedate themselves, and then examine the history of American politics. Even GOP hero Teddy Roosevelt ran as a third party candidate when he was spurned by the Republican Party; to say third party candidates are saboteurs is ridiculous, and any effort to discredit Daggett was simply the attempts of ill-informed Christie supporters to over-simplify our complex political system.

That being said, I hope Christie delivers on his promises, and while I think some of his supporters were a little too excited (one fellow chanted “Christie for president!” during his victory speech), I wish him nothing but good luck.

Chris Christie has an uphill battle ahead of him, but if he manages to clean the corruption and wasteful spending in Trenton, he will earn the respect and admiration of his critics. Now it is time to put our differences aside, and ready ourselves for a new administration, and hopefully, a new lease on political life.