Bernie Sanders vs. Sue McCue (Rutgers Super PAC)

If you want to bring down the levels of violence in New Jersey don't hold your breath.  The Rutgers Super PAC hobnobs with the entertainment industry and there is money in violence.

Think about it.  France passed legislation a few years ago that bans overly thin models from the fashion industry because studies show that young women are influenced by the sight of these models to develop eating disorders.  Britain is looking to ban the consumption of alcohol on broadcasts because government studies show that it leads to alcohol-related disorders.  Here in America, we have long banned tobacco commercials for the same reason.  But politicians tell us to believe that subjecting an average child to 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school and, by age eighteen, 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 40,000 murders, will have no effect on his or her development at all.

We've known that violent-content acts like a drug on childhood development since President Bill Clinton first highlighted the problem in the 1990's.  He pointed to study after study and the marketing documents of the entertainment industry itself.  All the evidence was there.  And then the entertainment industry increased its campaign contributions by 1,000 percent and spent hundreds of millions on lobbying and soft money to convince Congress to forget every study it had read.

Bathed in this new-found ignorance, members of the New Jersey Senate happily allow their grandchildren to watch a Tarantino bloodbath on TV, while they strip single moms of the right to defend themselves and their children.  "Rely on the police," they are told when -- because of the economy people like the Senators have bestowed on them -- they must live and work in dangerous areas and police response times are simply too long.  You and your children can not hide for that long a time and expect to survive. 

Of course, the Senators have money and live in low crime areas with good police protection.  And although they work in Trenton, they work in buildings protected by dozens and dozens of men with guns.  Thick, burly, well-trained men who know how to kill if the need arises.  The Senators value their lives, even as they devalue the lives of everyone else.  As do the rich "activists" like the billionaire Bloomberg and all those Hollywood people and New York celebrities from the ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

Their message is simple:  We want to make a fashion statement that overturns the Bill of Rights and leaves the poor, working, and middle classes defenseless -- while we make wheelbarrows full of money feeding the culture of violence.

Now Bernie Sanders, the Senator from Vermont (where the Second Amendment is alive and well), is calling out the legal bribery that allows the entertainment industry and others to buy politicians and give us laws nobody wants, while blocking laws everybody is asking for.  Bernie Sanders is coming after Sue McCue and the Rutgers Super PAC.  And if he has his way, the process of legal bribery will become illegal again.

Here is an instructive video featuring Professor Elizabeth Warren, the Senator from Massachusetts.  In it, Mrs. Warren dispels forever the myth that donors simply pay for "access." 

Rutgers bosses stonewalling about PAC

While the boss of the Rutgers SuperPAC makes fashion statements, the Rutgers President and the Chairman of its Board of Governors hide out from public scrutiny.

Three weeks ago, religious leader and family rights activist Rev. Greg Quinlan wrote to Rutgers President, Robert Barchi, and Chairman of the Board of Governors, Greg Brown.  Rev. Quinlan's letter was very respectful.  Like any taxpayer of New Jersey, he wanted to know how Susan McCue, as a member of the Board of Governors, can run a Super PAC whose sole purpose is to influence the election of legislators in New Jersey.  Those same legislators who are responsible for taxing and spending money on behalf of Rutgers.

Rev. Quinlan has yet to receive the courtesy of a reply from these two "role models for the leaders of tomorrow."  Does having a position of power give you the right to display contempt for the ordinary citizens who fund your institution and its salaries, perks, and benefits?  Apparently it does -- and apparently this is what they are teaching at Rutgers these days.

We have been assured that the issue is not going away and that eventually, Messrs. Barchi and Brown will have this placed under their noses so much and so often that they will end up commenting on it, if only by mistake.  Watch... and see if we are not correct. 

Here is the letter:

Garden State Families

Rev. Greg Quinlan, President

October 21, 2015

Mr. Robert Barchi, President

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

83 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1281

Mr. Greg Brown, Chairman of the Board of Governors

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Chairman & CEO

Motorola Solutions, Inc.
1303 East Algonquin Road
Schaumburg, Illinois 60196 

Dear Messrs. Barchi and Brown: 

I would like to bring a serious conflict-of-interest to your attention. 

Susan M. McCue -- of Alexandria, Virginia -- is currently serving as one of the 15 members of the Rutgers' Board of Governors responsible for policy and oversight of the University.  Ms. McCue is a political consultant who controls a business called Message Global LLC, where she serves as President. 

Susan McCue is also President of the General Majority PAC -- an organization that in the last two election cycles has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat or elect members of the New Jersey Legislature.  This is from her biography on the General Majority PAC webpage:

Susan M. McCue is one of the nation’s top political strategists and President of Message Global, LLC, a firm she founded... Susan served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for eight years, where she built and managed his leadership, policy and political operations.

She also co-founded the much-praised Senate Majority SuperPAC to elect Democrats in 2012 to the U.S. Senate, and in 2013 she founded the Fund for Jobs, Growth and Security, now called General Majority PAC, to elect Democrats in state races. 

The taxpayers, through their elected representatives in the New Jersey Legislature, fund Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey.  Should a member of Rutgers' governing Board be engaged in the election or defeat of members of that Legislature?  

What effect will her presence on the Rutgers governing Board have on legislators who, when exercising their own statutory oversight, find themselves facing a quarter-million dollar cable buy advocating their defeat or re-election? Will legislators think twice before taking up the cause of a disgruntled Rutgers employee or student.  Legislators must already know that they take on Rutgers' powerful and incumbent at their peril.  McCue's presence has already had a chilling effect on free expression in and outside the Legislature.  

Lastly, the source of Susan McCue's power -- Citizens United and other decision by that failsafe of the establishment, the national Supreme Court -- and her misuse of it to amplify the voice of rich corporations to drown out the voices of millions of American people makes a mockery of our democratic process and threatens democracy itself.  Is this the example you want Rutgers students to follow? 

Thank you for your time and consideration.  I look forward to your answers to my questions  and to any ideas you might have on how to address this threat to legislative independence and democracy. 

Sincerely,

Rev. Greg Quinlan

*Rev. Quinlan can be reached at: GQuinlan@gardenstatefamilies.com

Rutgers SuperPac makes bi-partisan governance difficult

In the blue state to our west, Pennsylvania Republicans managed to use low turnout to their advantage to take another Democrat legislative seat.  Yesterday's Republican win in Senate District 37 extends their control of that chamber to 31-19.  Republican Guy Reschenthaler defeated Democrat Heather Arnet by 10 percentage points (6,000 votes).  The seat had formerly been held by Democrat Matt Smith.

Ditto for the blue state to our north, where NY Republicans easily held on to a seat the Democrats had hoped to pick up.  After Republican Senator Tom Libous was convicted of lying to the FBI, Democrats were buoyed by polling that showed the 52nd Senate District in play -- even though Libous had won his last election with 59 percent of the vote.   Democrats put up Barbara Fiala, a former county executive and state motor vehicles commissioner, against Republican Fred Akshar, a county undersheriff.  The Republican received 79 percent of the vote, crushing the Democrat by more than 50 percentage points -- a 30,000 vote margin. 

Here in New Jersey Republicans watched as all their challengers to Democrat incumbents were defeated, as well as the loss of three -- possibly four -- Republican incumbents.  Much of it had to do with the intervention of SuperPACs, funded largely by the super-wealthy one-percent.  It is important to note here that while the Democrats had critical assistance from SuperPACs, the Republicans did not.  The Republican SuperPAC that could have made a difference, pulled a Lord Howe on our own General John Burgoyne (read Jon Bramnick) and went instead to New Hampshire.  And slaughter followed that decision.

The Democrats' principal SuperPAC is the Rutgers Super PAC, so named because it is controlled by Rutgers' Board of Governors member Sue McCue (thank you, Governor Christie).  Not only is Rutgers allowing Governor McCue to operate as an influence on those who fund this state university, but Rutgers will be at fault when bi-partisan governance as we know it grinds to a dead halt.

Why?  Because the presence of the Rutgers SuperPAC makes it impossible for Republican legislators to cross the aisle and make difficult votes on the tough fiscal issues facing New Jersey.

The reason for this is simple:  The Rutgers SuperPAC exists to destroy Republican legislators.  Period.  Full stop.  That is its stated purpose.

Why would Republican legislators cast a controversial vote, knowing that the Rutgers SuperPAC will eviscerate them for it, while it gives their Democrat colleagues a pass?  And for Republican legislators, the lesson from yesterday is that nobody will be able to save you when the Rutgers SuperPAC decides to destroy you.

When this comes to pass, Rutgers and its SuperPAC will have to take the blame for the end of bi-partisan governance in New Jersey.

Did Super PAC's Sue McCue break ethics rules?

Last year, in probably the single most bizarre appointment of his career, Governor Chris Christie appointed Susan M. McCue, a Washington DC career insider and establishment critter, as one of the 15 members of the Rutgers Board of Governors.  These are the people who set policy and control what goes on at New Jersey's state university. 

DC party gal Sue McCue, friend of world class tax-rip-offs.

Susan McCue is a Democrat and was Senator Harry Reid's chief of staff and hatchet lady.  Before going Hollywood, Sue McCue ran the Senate Democrats' Super PAC that was so successful in holding off Republican domination of that body.   But then she did go Hollywood and started shilling for one of the biggest self-promoting tax avoidance artists in the WORLD -- the formerly Irish artist (now a citizen of wherever he can avoid paying taxes), the one and only Bone-job. 

Senator Reid is a FOG -- Friend of George (as in Norcross) -- and it was probably through this conduit that Sue met Chris and led Chris to appoint Sue to the Rutgers Board of Governors.  There is no doubt that Sue McCue has an impressive resume -- when it comes to crushing the nuts of the NJGOP.  McCue's Super PAC shut out the GOP's effort to pick-up legislative seats in 2013, when the Governor was winning by 20 points.  Then got their own nuts handed to them by the Pennsylvania GOP when they tried to do the same there in 2014.  PA Republicans heavily padded their majorities in both chambers despite the GOP Governor losing by 10 points.

This year Sue McCue is at it again.  Her General Majority SUPER PAC is spending millions against Republican Assembly candidates -- much of it improperly or at least unethically "wheeled" from other PACs. 

But there's a larger issue here for this resident of Alexandria, Virginia.  Is Susan McCue's involvement in her Super PAC even ethical?  Does it present a conflict of interest?

The by-laws of the Rutgers Board of Governors states:  "Members of the Board of Governors are covered by the "special state officer or employee" provisions of the New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law (NJSA 52:13D-12 et seq.) and by the University Conflicts of Interests Policy for Members of Board of Governors, Trustees..."

The Policy warns each Member of the Board of Governors "to ensure that no detriment or appearance of detriment to the University's interests results from a conflict between the best interests of the University and any personal, financial, or other interest of a Board member or University officer."

The Policy states:  "Rutgers, The State University is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey and provides public higher education services.  The University is 'impressed with a public trust,' and members of the Boards of Governors, Trustees, Camden Board of Directors, and University officers have a fiduciary duty to the University.  A Board member's and officer's fiduciary duty provides that he or she shall always be guided by the best interests of the University.  Thus, Board members and officers may not act on matters in which they have a financial or personal interest that might interfere with the performance of their duties."

"Members of the Boards of Governors or Trustees, the Camden Board of Directors, or University officers shall not have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in any business or transaction or professional activity, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his or her duties in the public interest."

"Members of the Boards of Governors or Trustees, the Camden Board of Directors, or University officers shall not undertake any employment or service, whether compensated or not, which might reasonably be expected to impair their objectivity and independence of judgment in the exercise of official duties."

"Members of the Boards of Governors or Trustees, the Camden Board of Directors, or University officers shall not knowingly act in any way that might reasonably be expected to create an impression or suspicion among the public having knowledge of their acts that they may be engaged in conduct violative of their trust as a special State officer or State officers."

It looks like Susie McCue has a lot of explaining to do.

We have received some requests for Rev. Greg Quinlan's contact information regarding his letter to the Rutgers President and Chairman of the Board of Governors.  Greg may be reached at 513-435-1125.

Super PAC's connection with Rutgers questioned

Rutgers Super PAC party boss Susan McCue at a cocktail dinner party with Washington, DC insiders.

In a letter to the Rutgers President, Robert Barchi, and Chairman of the Board of Governors, Greg Brown, religious leader and family rights activist Greg Quinlan questioned how Susan McCue, as a member of the Board of Governors, can run a Super PAC whose sole purpose is to influence the election of legislators in New Jersey.  Those same legislators who are responsible for taxing and spending money on behalf of Rutgers.

Here is the letter:

Garden State Families

Rev. Greg Quinlan, President

October 21, 2015

Mr. Robert Barchi, President

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

83 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1281 

Mr. Greg Brown, Chairman of the Board of Governors

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Chairman & CEO

Motorola Solutions, Inc.
1303 East Algonquin Road
Schaumburg, Illinois 60196 

Dear Messrs. Barchi and Brown: 

I would like to bring a serious conflict-of-interest to your attention 

Susan M. McCue -- of Alexandria, Virginia -- is currently serving as one of the 15 members of the Rutgers' Board of Governors responsible for policy and oversight of the University.  Ms. McCue is a political consultant who controls a business called Message Global LLC, where she serves as President.   

Susan McCue is also President of the General Majority PAC -- an organization that in the last two election cycles has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat or elect members of the New Jersey Legislature.  This is from her biography on the General Majority PAC webpage: 

Susan M. McCue is one of the nation’s top political strategists and President of Message Global, LLC, a firm she founded... Susan served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) for eight years, where she built and managed his leadership, policy and political operations.  

She also co-founded the much-praised Senate Majority SuperPAC to elect Democrats in 2012 to the U.S. Senate, and in 2013 she founded the Fund for Jobs, Growth and Security, now called General Majority PAC, to elect Democrats in state races. 

The taxpayers, through their elected representatives in the New Jersey Legislature, fund Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey.  Should a member of Rutgers' governing Board be engaged in the election or defeat of members of that Legislature?   

What effect will her presence on the Rutgers governing Board have on legislators who, when exercising their own statutory oversight, find themselves facing a quarter-million dollar cable buy advocating their defeat or re-election? Will legislators think twice before taking up the cause of a disgruntled Rutgers employee or student.  Legislators must already know that they take on Rutgers' powerful and incumbent at their peril.  McCue's presence has already had a chilling effect on free expression in and outside the Legislature.   

Lastly, the source of Susan McCue's power -- Citizens United and other decision by that fail-safe of the establishment, the national Supreme Court -- and her misuse of it to amplify the voice of rich corporations to drown out the voices of millions of American people makes a mockery of our democratic process and threatens democracy itself.  Is this the example you want Rutgers students to follow? 

Thank you for your time and consideration.  I look forward to your answers to my questions and to any ideas you might have on how to address this threat to legislative independence and democracy.

Sincerely,

Rev. Greg Quinlan