OPINION
There was a time in American history and culture where such legislation would have never been presented, let alone tolerated. There was a time when such sick materials would get nowhere near our schools; when mothers and fathers had a voice — a loud voice — in protecting our children. Now parental rights are being crushed as the far left works to destroy neighborhood schools, remove parents from the education equation, and take control of our children’s education from their ivory towers in Trenton.
One would think that the major political parties would unify in opposition to such radical, child-endangering legislation and side with parents in protecting their children from predators. But the Democrat Party is controlled by counter-cultural activists who removed God from the platform of their Party several years ago and are now melting down over a new law in Louisiana to post the Ten Commandments — the absolute, inconvertible basis of Western Civilization on the wall of each classroom.
Meanwhile, the NJGOP staggers around like a lost soul not knowing which way to turn, where to stand, what to stand for, or who to support. Elected Republican legislative leaders mouth the words that they back parental rights while posing beneath an NJEA union banner and taking NJEA money. The GOP takes no meaningful position on key legislation that undermines parental rights, threatens the well-being of our children, or weakens our culture.
Despite the obvious moral reasons for unanimously opposing this bill, New Jersey Republicans could have easily taken a lesson from the victory of Glenn Youngkin in Virginia who won the governor’s race on a parental rights platform.
There is no better issue to embrace the defense of children, parents and families from left-wing forces than A3446, the Grindr Bill. But, on June 6, 2024, A3446 was released from the Assembly Education Committee with a vote of 7 YES, 1 NO, and 1 ABSTAINING. Democrats Lampitt, Stanley, Bagolie, Collazos-Gill, Morales, and Swain all voted YES and were joined by Republican Michele Matsikoudis who also voted YES. Republican Erik Simonsen voted to ABSTAIN and only Republican Dawn Fantasia voted to oppose A3446
The real story here is just how deeply divided the Republican Assembly members were. One YES, one NO, and one ABSTENTION demonstrates that there is absolutely no principled position on these key issues within the Republican caucus. No consensus on where the GOP stands with regard to protecting children in ways that every single American would have been united on just a decade ago. Worst of all, there is nothing on the horizon to suggest the Party of Lincoln will ever come together to speak.
It has been reported that consultants advised Republican legislative candidates in 2023 to avoid patriotic groups like Moms for Liberty, to distance themselves from the parental rights movement, and to reject issues that may be controversial, opting instead for a cult of personalities. Thus, Republicans have put their seal of approval on a gas hike, lifting the Christie era cap on property tax hikes and signing off on left-wing bills like S588 the “Misinformation and Indoctrination Bill.”
Phil Murphy and the progressive radicals in his party do not need Republican votes to advance their left-wing agenda. But when one single liberal Republican throws their support to one of these bills, it becomes “bi-partisan” and “Common Sense”. And it demoralizes the conservative base of the Republican Party.
So where will much needed conservative leadership come from? All the leading candidates for Governor are dodging and weaving on key issues trying to placate conservative activists while appeasing Party bosses who may or may not control the layout of the primary ballot. Occasionally, one of them may speak on an issue or two, but this is limited and often half-hearted. There is NO sweeping and compelling message to return New Jersey to the conservative state it once was. There is one simple reason for this condition: neither the GOP “leadership” nor the current crop of candidates understand or believe in true conservative principles. In fact, they fear these principles.
Should the GOP persist in pointless existence it will remain a permanent minority with no ability to deliver the historic change this state desperately needs.
Steve Lonegan is a former mayor of Bogota and a longtime conservative leader.