Governor Phil Murphy is being criticized for a directive sent Thursday to to top New Jersey officials telling them not to travel out-of-state as Covid-19 cases, particularly those of the delta variant, surge. Meanwhile, the governor himself is currently not in New Jersey, as he is on vacation at his 23-room, multimillion-dollar villa in Italy. The governor was expected to return to New Jersey Thursday evening.
Three sources with direct knowledge of the directive confirmed that it was true, and has been issued to Murphy’s Cabinet, as well as other high-level state officials.
Just a few days ago, Governor Murphy said that his decision to take a vacation in Italy was not in bad judgement, even though cases of Covid-19 were surging in New Jersey then as well.
“Listen, I’m no different than any other family,” Murphy said. “After this past 17 months, just having a few days together is something that I think all of us want to do with out family, and I’m looking forward to that.”
Jack Ciattarelli, Murphy’s opponent in the upcoming gubernatorial election this November, blasted the governor for the vacation.
“While ‘Rome is burning’ here in New Jersey, Murphy is living in the lap of luxury and too rich to care about the communities and families impacted by the small businesses who had to close their doors forever,” Ciattarelli wrote on Twitter.
At the time, Murphy said that although he would be in Italy, he would never be “more than a call or text away” from being reached if needed.
He could do what he wants because HE is the governor and HE is a leftist who is protected by the press. He can also call you a knucklehead when he doesnt like what you are doing.
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I am a lifelong and loyal Democrat. And I remember back in 2007 when President Bush ordered a troop surge in Iraq to secure the country from Al Qaeda insurgents, who were making significant gains. Although the surge was extremely successful – so much so, that in July of 2008, the US sustained the lowest number of monthly casualties since the beginning of the war – surges are nonetheless evil, as evidenced by the current surge in virus cases. Which is why then-Senator Barack Obama opposed the surge in Iraq, and why I am certain he opposes the current pandemic surge. However, the same thing can not be said about the Republicans, who seem to be in favor of surges, as evidenced by their support of the surge in Iraq, and, who no doubt, support the virus surge. Which is why I will always remain loyal to the Democratic Party, and why I feel indebted to Barack Obama – because I can’t fathom how anyone in public office can be supportive of surges when surges are the very source of our pandemic woes.
I’m confused. Isn’t Jack the person going against Murphy for Governor in Israel or just got back trying to get the backing of Lakewood. How can he say anything right now.