Conservative politicians frequently slam Democrats for supposed efforts to limit free speech, but a new ad from the New Jersey Democratic State Committee (NJDSC) is highlighting a Republican gubernatorial candidate's efforts to ban cursing.
The candidate, Jack Ciattarelli, once served on the Raritan Borough Council board in the 90s, where he supported an ordinance that banned "rude or indecent behavior," including cursing. Violations imposed fines of up to $500 and three months in jail.
Incumbent Democrat Phil Murphy's team said of the ban:
"Republican gubernatorial candidate Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is out of step with New Jersey — from his support for the Trump agenda to his opposition to public health measures to his attacks on LGBTQ inclusion and much more. But there is one issue where Ciattarelli's position might be even further outside the mainstream: his opposition to a favorite Garden State tradition, cursing."
Murphy shared NJDSC's video of New Jersey residents reacting to Ciattarelli's ban.
Watch below.
What a knucklehead.pic.twitter.com/nyGZKgJaaj— Phil Murphy (@Phil Murphy) 1633969347
Their reactions were predictably profane, ranging from "You're sh***ing me!" to "No f***ing way!" and "This is f***ing New Jersey!"
One subject said the initiative sounded "nice," but—when asked if she was serious—responded "F**k no!"
The message at the end of the video reads:
"Let's show Jack how New Jersey f*cking does it."
The ad generated lots of buzz online.
Hilarioushttps://twitter.com/PhilMurphyNJ/status/1447598478633357316\u00a0\u2026— BustedRustyCamera (@BustedRustyCamera) 1634274477
This is effin awesome\u2026https://twitter.com/philmurphynj/status/1447598478633357316\u00a0\u2026— Roger Soman (@Roger Soman) 1634216751
They heaped praise on the video as a great political ad for its effectiveness and irreverence.
This is one of the best campaign ads I've ever seen. Can these guys come to Texas. I bet they'd have a lot to say about Abbott. @MomsDemand #txlege #VoteBlueToSaveTexashttps://twitter.com/PhilMurphyNJ/status/1447598478633357316\u00a0\u2026— Tricia Dwyer-Morgan, MPP (she/hers) (@Tricia Dwyer-Morgan, MPP (she/hers)) 1634163050
what a great ad! who created it?https://twitter.com/PhilMurphyNJ/status/1447598478633357316\u00a0\u2026— Robert Greenwald (@Robert Greenwald) 1634151190
Best f*cking ad ever.https://twitter.com/PhilMurphyNJ/status/1447598478633357316\u00a0\u2026— Gopher Smith (@Gopher Smith) 1634149377
Top 3 NJ campaign ad, bested only by Sen Sacco\u2019s \u201cI be from North Bergen, son\u201d and \u201cThings younger than Frank Lautenberg\u201d from the Andrews primary. #ripFRLhttps://twitter.com/PhilMurphyNJ/status/1447598478633357316\u00a0\u2026— Zoe B. (@Zoe B.) 1634125802
My new all-time favorite political adhttps://twitter.com/PhilMurphyNJ/status/1447598478633357316\u00a0\u2026— J Daniel Ford (@J Daniel Ford) 1634085125
The New Jersey gubernatorial election is November 2.
