Lonegan Calls Booker 'Hollywood Stand-In for Obama'

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul came to Clark Friday to endorse former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan in his run for Senate against Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Paul introduced Lonegan and told the crowd that Lonegan could win, even in a historically Democratic state like New Jersey, with their support. Currently, Lonegan lags well behind Booker in the polls.

Click here for more from Paul, including his jabs at Cory Booker and President Obama and his response to criticism that he voted against Hurricane Sandy aid for New Jersey.

"On Oct. 16, I will be on the ballot against a guy named Cory Booker," Lonegan said. "But who's really on the ballot is a man named Barack Obama. Because Cory Booker is the Hollywood stand-in in this election for Barack Obama."

Lonegan continued, adding that the election for seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg is "not just a referendum not just on the Obama agenda but it's a referendum on the future of our Constitution and our Bill of Rights."

He called Booker "the candidate of the far left liberal extremists, that gave us Obamacare, Common Core education standards, NSA intrusion into our privacy, a massive explosion of government, assault on individual liberty, assault on the private sector, and puts us on the verge of being engaged in another war, and an embarrassment in the Middle East." 

Lonegan also attacked Booker's record in Newark, saying "hundreds of millions of dollars of corporate subsidies" have resulted only in "nothing more than an unemployment rate of over 14 percent."

Lonegan stressed free enterprise and small businesses as "the backbone of America" and said Booker and Obama believe instead in creating "a bigger welfare state, more government entitlement programs and undermining individual liberty."

"Barack Obama and Cory Booker think the government is going to create jobs for us, the government is the answer to our problems," Lonegan said. "Let me tell you something – President Obama, give us our freedom and we'll create all the jobs you need. Give us our freedom and we'll make America the world's leader once again on every level. Give us our freedom, and we'll return America to prosperity and leadership." 

Lonegan thanked Paul for coming up from Washington and called him "the voice of leadership in defending the most important core principal of being an American, our individual liberty." 

Lonegan also accused Obama of making American look weak with his approach to Syria, mentioning a video Friday from Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri calling for attacks on America. 

"We have so been demeaned in our leadership that he has had the audacity to threaten our country," Paul said.  

Besides Paul, Lonegan was preceded at the podium by endorsements from Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso and Tea Party sensation "Barbara from Harlem."

Lonegan raised more than $59,000 at two fundraising events with Paul on Friday, according to campaign officials.

READ MORE:

Rand Paul Slams Booker, Obama; Says Lonegan Can Win in NJ

Mayor Bonaccorso: 'It's Time for Steve Lonegan'

Hundreds of Lonegan, Paul Supporters Come to Clark Rally

Protestors Gather Outside Rand Paul, Steve Lonegan Event