Gov. Jon Corzine (D) of New Jersey in huge scandal

[Mustang]

A memo has yet been released of Jon Corzine's campaign memo that threatens job loss unless they manipulate data and use tax payer programs to fund his campaign, and other underhanded tactics to win.
And on a side note, Jon Corzine called his Republican opponent a "Fatso".
The leak was released on 101.5 radio in New Jersey. The leaked memo will be released tommorrow.
Jon Corzine has already denied any involvement before the memo has been released.
The confidential memo has Jon Corzine's name on it.

Under New Jersey law, Jon Corzine could step aside for another candidate to take his place, but he will never do that because he has already spent tens of millions of dollars on his campaign and plans to spend many millions more. (He's a billionaire).  

[Chris]

Moving to Politics.  Please review the rules for the Breaking News forum before posting a thread.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

sources please

[Mustang]

Please put this in breaking news. Here's the source.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/10/gov_corzine_memo_instructs_adm.html

Memo from Gov. Corzine's office asks administration to orchestrate job creation events

TRENTON -- In the midst of a tough re-election campaign focusing on his stewardship of the economy, Gov. Jon Corzine’s office recently instructed his cabinet officers to orchestrate events showcasing job creation -- even if it is "a stretch."

In an Oct. 5 e-mail obtained by The Star-Ledger, Corzine deputy chief of staff Mark Matzen asked the commissioners of several departments to "come up with an event or two or three that show job creation or economic development in the private sector." The events, planned for this week, would "get our message out" that "the economic policies of Governor Corzine are working," in part by generating "stories in weekly as well as daily newspapers," Matzen wrote.

Highlighting positive things such as job creation is customary for incumbent governors seeking re-election, but Matzen’s memo went further.


    Read the full memo

"I know that it might be a stretch for some of you, but please be creative," the e-mail states. "While many programs might not created (sic) jobs directly, they do have some connection to job creation either through training, giving money to sustain employment or create demand for workers."

    Full coverage of the New Jersey governor's race

As the state’s unemployment rate has crept up in recent months, Corzine has pointed to private sector job growth as a silver lining. Last month, the state announced an increase in private sector jobs in July and August, even as the overall unemployment rate hit 9.7 percent in August -- matching the national rate.

Steve Sigmund, a spokesman for Corzine, said the effort "doesn’t have anything to do with the campaign. It is not coordinated with the campaign."

"It is a note encouraging cabinet members to communicate about what this administration is doing and has done to get New Jersey through a national economic crisis," he said.

Asked about the "stretch" language, Sigmund said: "It might be a stretch for you to do a job creation event when they’re a commissioner of health," for example.

Today, Corzine’s official schedule featured two events connected to job creation. In Union Township, the Democratic governor cut the ribbon for a new call center for Elizabethtown Gas, which the state says will create 53 jobs by December. In Jersey City, Corzine praised the decision of a financial services firm, the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, to bring 1,600 jobs from Manhattan to Jersey City by 2013.

"This is a very good day," Corzine said at the Jersey City event. "I’m almost troubled that it is in the midst of a political campaign, because this is something that is real for this city, county and state."

Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie’s campaign manager Bill Stepien said it appears Corzine is mingling government business with campaign events.

"It’s very concerning that Governor Corzine appears to be using taxpayer-funded goverment workers to help assemble campaign-type events for his election," Stepien said. "The Governor has some serious questions to answer."

Carl Golden, who was a top aide to former Republican Govs. Tom Kean and Christie Whitman -- both of whom ran for re-election -- said the e-mail struck him as clumsy but not inappropriate.

"They have created for themselves enough of a defense ... as simply a part of what governors and cabinet people do," Golden said. "It isn’t really going to fool anyone. They’re going to look at it and say clearly he’s talking about job creation because he’s three weeks away from an election."

It’s common for governors seeking re-election to make the most of the powers of incumbency -- including public appearances as the chief cheerleader for the state.

State election laws try to keep some distance between governing and campaigning. Under Election Law Enforcement Commission rules, travel to and from campaign events must be paid by the campaign, not the state. A staffer on the state payroll can’t use government resources or time during the workday for campaign activities, but can take a vacation or volunteer in the evenings using their own or the campaign’s property and computers.

At public appearances that are government events, rather than campaign events, the state tries to honor free speech unless it is "express advocacy -- vote for me, support me," elections officials have said.

The Jersey Journal contributed to this report.