Beware of ex-liberals like Jeffrey B. Steinfeld
/Jeffrey B. Steinfeld is the president of the Pascack Valley Regional High School Board of Education. Mr. Steinfeld is a well-known immigration and criminal defense attorney, who maintains a number of political relationships that allows him to practice municipal law as well. According to his law practice's website, Mr. Steinfeld specializes in "sexual offense cases":
"When a person is arrested in New Jersey for a sex crime like lewd conduct, child pornography, child molestation, sexual assault, indecent exposure, sexual battery, pimping, prostitution or pandering, they will likely be treated as if they have already been found guilty... We cannot stress enough how important it is that you speak with your attorney before answering questions or making statements to police or prosecuting lawyers. They can, and most likely will, use your words and actions against you, which will damage your case. You will need aggressive and highly experienced representation. We have extensive litigation experience and are well versed in all laws pertaining to New Jersey sex crimes... If you have been arrested or are under investigation for a sex crime, contact a New Jersey Sex Crimes Lawyer from our firm now for help."
Let's read that last part again. Just so it is clear, Mr. Steinfeld identifies himself, on his website, as a "Sex Crimes Lawyer."
Mr. Steinfeld recently wrote a column in the Bergen Record (April 8, 2016), in which he took to some name-calling in defense of "transgender rights." In this case, the "right" of a person with a penis to use the same facilities as girls aged 14 through 17. Mr. Steinfeld admitted to being "angered" before writing the letter, and it this anger that may have got the better of him.
In his column, Mr. Steinfeld accuses those who support "religious freedom" of "bigotry" and calls them "radical and extreme." He goes on to cite a group that is steeped in its own controversies, The Southern Poverty Law Center, as evidence that those who disagree with him are guilty of "anti-LGBT hate." Enough of the name-calling!
Mr. Steinfeld is a member of the ACLU. We recall when people said organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU were "communist front" groups. According to some, these groups are "anti-Christian" and "anti-American." And we remember how people like Mr. Steinfeld said that to name-call like that was unfair.
Here at Jersey Conservative we respect the ACLU for its committed defense of the First Amendment, even as we disagree with them on what appears to be their war on religion. We try notto name-call because people and organizations are seldom all-good or all-bad. Name-calling nurtures a childish and simplistic view unworthy of adults whose business should be the process and furtherance of democracy.
If Mr. Steinfeld cannot understand why someone would be concerned about allowing people with penises into the toilet, showering, and changing facilities of underage girls, perhaps he should watch the video below:
And if Mr. Steinfeld still wants to engage in name-calling, perhaps he should consider how he might be characterized for choosing to make money as a Sex Crimes Lawyer and for representing the clients he has. Clients like the man who pleaded guilty to the sexual assault of his daughter's 19-year-old boyfriend. Or the man who beat his school teacher wife to death with a baseball bat. Or the man convicted of killing his girlfriend's two-year old son. Or the 39-year-old man convicted of giving alcohol and drugs to a 13-year-old girl and then raping her. Need we go on?
Mr. Steinfeld may well argue that everyone -- even a violent sexual predator -- has the right to be heard and that judgment should be reserved until all the evidence is scrupulously examined. We can't say that we disagree, but we would simply add that the same should apply to average people without criminal charges against them -- average people who are only concerned for the safety and welfare of a child or grandchild. We question Mr. Steinfeld's temperament.
Jeffrey B. Steinfeld calls himself a liberal when, in fact, he is nothing of the sort. A liberal is tolerant of other opinions , generous of spirit, someone who is -- well -- liberal. Now Mr. Steinfeld might have been a liberal at some point in his life, but his recent letter indicates that he has left liberalism some way behind and is now more of an authoritarian -- demanding that everyone adhere to his way of thinking and name-calling when he doesn't get his way. Now that's not liberal, which makes Mr. Steinfeld an ex-liberal. We'll be watching him and the voters of the Pascack Valley Regional High School Board of Education should too.
