planned trip to
Afghani region
Soaries criticizes
planned trip to
Afghani region
By charles w. kim
Staff Writer
CHARLES W. KIM Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th District) talks to members of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association during a picnic for supporters at Reichler Park, South Brunswick, on a recent Sunday afternoon.
Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th District) is rallying support at home and showing it very far away.
Holt hosted a picnic for supporters of his re-election bid Aug. 11 at Reichler Park on Route 522 in South Brunswick.
About 60 local Democratic Party members attended the event and enjoyed hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as the music of the two-piece band Hospital.
Holt addressed the crowd and asked them to tell their neighbors about his candidacy.
"We have a good campaign from the top down, but word of mouth is the best," Holt said.
Holt credited the assembly with helping him win the last two close elections for the 12th District.
"This network helped us win," Holt said. Holt pointed to his record during the last two terms, and said more needs to be done. Holt said that he opposes the privatization of Social Security because of the stock market’s recent volatility.
"The program works," Holt said, adding that fewer seniors are now living in poverty, as compared to before the program started.
Following the picnic, Holt said that he planned to travel to Afghanistan later this month to show support for the military troops there. Holt said that he plans to travel to the region to meet the troops at the end of the month. The trip is expected to last five days, with a swing through Pakistan. According to a campaign press release, Holt will present troops with a banner signed by well-wishers in the district. The first signing of the banner was Aug. 13 in Trenton. Other signing sessions are planned throughout the district prior to the trip.
Holt’s opponent in the race, the Rev. Deforest "Buster" Soaries, also issued a statement regarding Holt’s trip.
In that statement, Soaries called Holt "conflicted" for taking the trip. Soaries claims that Holt voted against President Bush’s Homeland Security Act last month.
"It is the height of irony for Rush Holt to visit the brave men and women fighting the war on terror. I hope visiting Afghanistan will help Mr. Holt see that he is wrong to vote against important homeland security legislation," Soaries wrote in the release.

