ASBURY PARK ? President Barack Obama and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently teamed up to show the word that two icons of the Democratic and Republican parties respectively were ready to take on the recovery efforts of Hurricane Sandy together. Many political observers saw this combined effort as being mutually beneficial to both politicians, as recent Electoral College tallies and Garden State polls have shown.
The same sense of crossing party lines for a common cause has compelled the Monmouth County Democratic Organization, the Monmouth County Republican Committee and the New Leaders Council NJ to unite to sponsor a Hurricane Sandy relief party concert at the legendary Stone Pony.
The bipartisan bash will take place on Sunday, December 30, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m..
The event will feature multiple bands, whose sets will be interspersed with brief speeches by elected officials and dignitaries. Confirmed bands for the event include the B Street band, The Pat Roddy Band, Joe Orlando and the Cryers, Vinny Pastore and the Crazy Horse Band and Back Up Jackson. NJ 101.5?s Kevin McArdle will emcee the event.
The New Jersey Young Republicans and the New Jersey Young Democrats are also sponsoring the event.
Tickets will start at $25 for general admission. All proceeds raised at the event will be donated to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund. Attendees can also bring food and cleaning supplies for donation to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Local Democrats and Republicans alike concurred that during this particular post-Sandy holiday season, partisan bickering should take a backseat to serious fundraising to help restore the Jersey Shore.
?It?s important to demonstrate that we can put aside political differences for all of the people that need help,? said John Bennett, chairman of the Monmouth County Republicans. ?This is not Republican or Democratic help ? it?s just the right kind of help. Bringing people together is what we think should be done.?
?We?re taking Governor Christie?s and President Obama?s lead on this,? said Joe Grillo, executive director of the Monmouth County Democratic Organization and chairman of the Asbury Park Democrats. ?They showed the world that when the chips are down, New Jersey bands together to help our neighbors. In the end, we?re all New Jerseyans, we?re all Americans, and politics gets lost at the door when it?s time to rebuild and restore the Jersey Shore.?
At the same time, the fact that Democrats and Republicans are about to party together didn?t completely quash the desire for some form of political combat.
?It?s been a generation since the Republicans and Democrats have partied together for a good cause,? Grillo said. ?I may have to arm wrestle [Republican Assemblyman] Declan O?Scanlon. I?ll do it for charity. We?re going to roll the dice and see what happens.?
O?Scanlon, of Little Silver, who represents the 13th state Legislative District, answered Grillo?s call to arms.
?I accept his challenge,? O?Scanlon laughingly said, who has been working together with Grillo to help organize Sunday?s event. ?Hopefully, moving forward, we?ll hold more bipartisan fundraising events together here in Monmouth County and the entire Jersey Shore.?
Grillo said that there might be some ?surprises? in his Asbury Park hometown at Sunday's concert, but said there is no surprise about why the bipartisan fundraiser?s particular venue was picked. Bruce Springsteen helped to define the Jersey Shore sound from the Stone Pony?s stage. Springsteen, an unapologetic Democrat and New Jersey?s unofficial poet laureate, famously embraced Christie, the Republican rock star, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, a moment which symbolized bipartisanship at its best.
?The Stone Pony symbolizes the resilience of the Jersey Shore,? Grillo said. ?Asbury Park survived decades of abandonment, corruption and a downward economic spiral. This town stood tough and hung in there. And now, so will the entire Jersey Shore, united together. It?s a total communal effort now. When it hits the fan, we all come together.?
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