O’Scanlon Tweet Garners Response

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My Senator, Declan O’Scanlon, tweeted on Mother’s Day with a tone that disregards the lives of mothers everywhere. In it he states, “So..first time I’m going to suggest this….but it’s time. Everyone…defy the @GovMurphy ! Go outside your house!! It’s ok, you can trust me! Look South/Southeast… revel in that moon! We’re likely going to take this rebellion a few steps further next couple weeks. Get ready!” His disregard for life by inciting rebellious behavior is reckless and dangerous. I’m so ashamed of him. This is not responsible leadership! One can disagree without a call to defiant action.

NJ is one of the hardest hit states and is still fighting to flatten the curve. O’Scanlon does not have a record for supporting women or common sense, and this inflammatory language is divisive when we need leaders to work together to make important decisions based on complicated factors. Governor Murphy is not blocking the moon! You can go outside safely! Just trust him? It’s fine?

This tweet on Mother’s Day and also at the end of National Nurses Week says a lot about him and his priorities. O’Scanlon has joined Trump, the GOP, and Congressmen Chris Smith in risking lives for their political agenda.

This is not leadership in a crisis! Mothers and NJ families everywhere, especially in his NJ District 13 deserve better.

Amy Eklof, Little Silver

My state senator, Declan O’Scanlon, tweeted on Mother’s Day the following: “Everyone, defy @govmurphy. Go outside your house …We’re likely to take this rebellion a few steps further next couple of weeks! Get ready!”

This tweet telling people to defy the governor is both silly and irresponsible. In fact, the governor’s executive order explicitly encourages people to go outside. Far more disturbing, O’Scanlon’s final sentence threatens worse to come soon. What will that be? Armed militia? Spitting at cashiers and police, like some protestors did in other states? This tweet shows poor leadership and poor judgement. I am embarrassed that Senator O’Scanlon is my representative during this horrible time. Of course, the virus does not care about party affiliation.

Most of us in NJ have friends and family who have had the virus and many who have died. We support our health care workers, EMTs, police officers, and essential workers who are putting themselves on the front line, putting their safety and comfort aside to help us.

And Senator O’Scanlon. What is he doing? Inciting defiance and possibly riots? While we have not agreed on everything, I have always thought of him as a reasonable man. Not anymore.

Liz DeBeer, Fair Haven

Declan O’Scanlon via Twitter

@declanoscanlon
May 11

I’m obviously not calling for mass insurrection…but if the Governor doesn’t responsibly move soon the economic devastation we inflict will be irreversible.

The article originally appeared in the May 14 – 20, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.