BRIDGEWATER – Tom Kean Jr. doesn’t cross CD-7 to do town halls, but on Monday night, California Rep. Ro Khanna crossed the country to do precisely that.
“Tom Kean is not here. Someone needed to show up,” Khanna said before taking the stage at the local Marriott hotel.
About a thousand people were jammed into a hotel ballroom to hear Khanna. The event venue was switched at the last minute to accommodate the crowd.
Officially, Khanna’s visit was designed to pressure Republicans in swing districts to oppose cuts in Medicaid.
But the overlapping story in the room was that Kean, who was elected in the fall of 2022, refuses unscripted interactions with the public. He holds no live town halls and a recent telephone “town hall” lasted about 40 minutes and the questions were read to the congressman. He did not actually speak to people. A cynic could say the strategy works; Kean won reelection last fall.
Addressing the crowd, Khanna, who grew up in Bucks County, Pa., praised the congressman’s father, Gov. Thomas H. Kean, as a man who supported civility in politics and transparency.
Khanna said Rep. Kean is “dishonoring” the tradition of his own family.
Tough talk indeed.
An email message Monday night seeking comment from the congressman about Khanna’s comments drew no response.
There was a time in American politics when it was considered “ungentlemanly” for a congressman to visit another member’s district to criticize him. Those days are gone.
As the evening ensued, one question was about Silicon Valley, which Khanna represents. Geographically, this is south of San Francisco.
Here it is. A year ago, many top tech executives were criticized by those on the right for being too liberal. But now, many are cozying up to Donald Trump. What gives?
Khanna said the answer has nothing to do with any philosophical change.
He said they just thought they would make more money under a Trump Administration.
“How is that working out?” he added, with Trump’s tariffs clearly in mind.
Khanna represents the progressive wing of the Democratic party and most in the room shared those sentiments. Some said Democrats are not working hard enough to stop Trump.
One person said Democrats in the House should seek to impeach Trump, just to make a statement.
Another asked Khanna to endorse Ras Baraka for governor. Of the six candidates in the race, Baraka seems the most liberal.
Khanna, not surprisingly, said he was going to avoid commenting on Jersey politics.
But he predicted that the progressive wing of the Democratic party is ascending and that Dems should not fear taking bold stands.
Khanna said he backs higher taxes on the rich and still gets reelected in a district with many rich people.
He said the party will have a multiplicity of leaders going forward, not just one.
Twice referring to the party’s support for diversity and fairness, Khanna said Democrats have “become the party of Lincoln.”
Rep. Ro Khanna recently criticized his opponent, Tom Kean, for not upholding his family tradition in politics. Khanna, a Democrat representing California’s 17th Congressional District, pointed out that Kean comes from a long line of politicians, including his father, former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean Sr., and his grandfather, former US Representative Robert W. Kean.
In a recent interview with Insider NJ, Khanna expressed his disappointment in Kean for not following in his family’s footsteps and continuing their legacy of public service. He emphasized the importance of upholding family traditions and values, especially in the realm of politics where integrity and dedication are crucial.
Khanna also highlighted the contrast between himself and Kean, noting that he comes from a family of immigrants who worked hard to achieve the American dream. He emphasized the importance of representing all constituents, regardless of their background or political affiliation.
In response to Khanna’s criticism, Kean defended his record and emphasized his commitment to serving the people of New Jersey. He pointed to his experience as a state senator and his work on issues such as education and healthcare as evidence of his dedication to public service.
The exchange between Khanna and Kean highlights the importance of family traditions in politics and the different paths that individuals can take in their pursuit of public service. Ultimately, voters will have the opportunity to decide which candidate best represents their values and priorities in the upcoming election.
