Trump's a 'Charlatan,' says Hillsborough Republican

By CARLY BALDWIN (Patch Staff)

Hillsborough, NJ -- Other than the governor, he’s the first Republican politician in New Jersey to publicly bash Donald Trump — and he represents South Brunswick.

“Sitting silently and allowing him to embarrass our country is unacceptable. He is not fit to be President of the United States,” said Republican New Jersey Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli Thursday. Ciattarelli represents the 16th District in the state Assembly, which covers Branchburg, Flemington, Hillsborough, most of Somerset County, Princeton and South Brunswick.

The statement was released by Ciattarelli’s office. Plenty of Democratic politicians have criticized Trump, but other than Gov. Chris Christie, who is hot on Trump’s heels in the GOP nomination, Ciattarelli is the first Republican lawmaker in the state to publicly distance himself from the reality TV businessman.

“Mr. Trump preys upon our worst instincts and fears. On important issues, he is a charlatan who is out of step with American values. He is a celebrity in his own political reality TV show. He is a Republican who is out of step with the Party of Lincoln,” said Ciattarelli.

This is not the first time Ciattarelli has called out a fellow Republican. In 2013 he called on Iowa Congressman Steve King (R) to resign after King said that for every child of illegal immigrants “who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there who weigh 130 pounds and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”

Meanwhile, a rabbi in Edison, and who until last year led a large congregation there, praises Trump, and started a Facebook campaign in support of him.