Constituents Urge Congressman Chris Smith to "Have a Heart"

Valentine’s Day 2018 brought 50 concerned constituents from all corners of New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District to the Freehold office of Congressman Chris Smith to show their love of country and democracy. With colorful signs and hand-made valentines, they urged their 19-term member of Congress to “Have a Heart” and listen to the people he was elected to represent.

“Dear Congressman Smith,” a constituent from Colts Neck wrote in a valentine, “Don’t let time run out on our dreamers.” Another card read, “Please find a place in your heart for women who need contraception and family planning.”

Both messages were among the hundreds of valentines the group had mailed to Rep. Smith’s Washington office earlier in the week or hand-delivered to his Freehold office in the Raintree Shopping Center on February 14.

Outside, the “Have a Heart” ralliers wearing red gave out balloons and sang familiar tunes with re-tooled lyrics apropos to their concerns. The sentiments on signs and the day’s speakers made it clear that this gathering was more than fun and games.

“We asked people to bring signs showing support for the issues that touch their hearts,” said Wendy Sabin, one of the event’s organizers.

People obliged, with flair – “Keep My Heart Beating. Vote for Affordable Healthcare” – creativity – “We Want a Date for a Debate” – and passionate pleas to “End Congressman Chris Smith’s War on Women.” It is women, the rally-goers agreed, who are most often the target of Smith’s extremist views and voting record.

Sabin was the afternoon’s first speaker. “You all know why you’re here today!” she began, and then asked, “Is it because of Chris Smith’s medieval views on women’s health? Is it because he’s determined to defund Planned Parenthood and over 60 times voted to repeal the ACA? Or that he condemns women for wanting to prevent a pregnancy, but won’t speak out about a misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic, racist president?”

Each question drew a resounding “yes” in response.

“Clearly, we have strong feelings about a variety issues,” said Priscilla Robinson, another of the event’s organizers. “We reach out to the Congressman all the time in a variety of ways – with email, phone calls, letters, even text messages – but also through rallies like these.”

Smith’s constituents have been gathering at his Freehold offices on Wednesday afternoons since the beginning of the Trump administration. Simply having a dialogue, discussion or Q&A session with Smith is not an option. As Sabin pointed out, “He doesn’t live in the district; only comes here for photo ops and fundraisers, and hasn’t held a town hall meeting in almost 25 years.”

He hasn’t had to, Jen Fluharty, another of the day’s speakers noted. Until very recently, NJ 4th was considered a safe Republican district where Smith winning re-election was a foregone conclusion.

“Not anymore,” Fluharty said.

According to multiple sources, including a February 8th NBC News Report, “New Jersey’s 4th Congressional District, represented by veteran GOP Rep. Chris Smith” is now in play for the 2018 midterm elections.

“Now,” Fluharty stated, “it’s our job to use every tool at our disposal – canvassing, making phone calls, voter registration, getting involved in politics at the local level – to get out the vote and elect someone who is not Chris Smith to represent us in Washington.”

This is achievable, Fluharty concluded. “If we can bring out 50 people on a February afternoon, when many people are still at work or with kids just home from school, there’s no telling how many we can energize and mobilize to make a real difference between now and November 6th.”