Cancer Survivors Getting Smeared in N.J. Campaign Ads

Running a negative campaign in New Jersey is nothing new, but bashing cancer survivors who happen to be your opponents is an entirely new low.A campaign mailer in New Jersey’s 11th District in Monmouth County called into question incumbent Assemblyman Pete Biondi’s voting record in the People’s House. The ad ripped Biondi for missing critical votes when he was supposed to be representing the people who elected him. It turns out Biondi was getting treatment for cancer.

“It’s kind of sad, if you ask me,” said Biondi, 69, who finished chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma four months ago. “It’s in remission. These guys are a little late getting their stuff.”

Former Olympic Gold Medal sprinter Carl Lewis, who was disqualified from running for state Senate this year, was still in campaign mode recently when he referred to incumbent State Senator Diane Allen as “Your senator right now is dancing across the stage, just had … a cancer scare and you know what, guess what? Every single person in this room is paying for her health care.”

“No one should have to take a cheap shot for fighting cancer,” said Assembly Republican Conference Leader Jon Bramnick. “Even when political campaigns get down and dirty there are certain bounds of human decency that should not be crossed. Knocking someone for receiving cancer treatment is one of those lines.”