Joseph Caruso has been around New Jersey politics for a while.
A business entrepreneur from Wayne, Caruso ran once for the state Assembly, once considered a run in CD-11 and is now involved with a new political action committee.
Called America Rising, social media sets forth its purpose:
“America Rising is an organization established to defend the sovereignty, security, and prosperity of the United States. We back leaders and causes at every level of government that put American citizens and their political, personal and economic liberty above all. We support the essential uniqueness of American citizenship – and we back officials and candidates who respect the constitutional limits placed on government by America’s Founders. We back individuals, referendums and legislation – on all levels of government that seek to end reckless government spending, waste and the fraudulent abuse of taxpayers’ money. We stand with those who protect the God-given liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and enumerated in the Bill of Rights. We stand against any candidate, organization, or initiative that opens our borders to illegal immigration, subverts public safety, or undermines American sovereignty and the rule of law.”
That’s pretty high falutin – as one would expect.
When I met him recently at a diner, Caruso was blunter.
Caruso and his new PAC swing heavily to the right. But he offers no love for the established Republican Party.
Here’s his diagnosis:
“The Republican party needs an enema and it really needs to be cleaned out.”
A recent release from Caruso also took note of the leftward drift – or perhaps it’s a wave – of today’s Democrats.
While some moderate Dems – Caruso mentioned Josh Gottheimer – condemn the rise of Democratic socialism, Caruso said they should look in the mirror.
“For years, the mainstream Democrats, who often identify as ‘progressives,’ have championed irresponsible financial and security policies that emboldened the DSA progressives,” he said in the release.
In our chat, he went a bit further, saying that the Dems are “eating their own” and that the Democratic Socialists of America should be running as a separate party.
The philosophical divide among Democrats is not his worry.
He said his PAC is looking for individuals who seek to “protect the inalienable rights of Americans and adhere to the historic values upon which our Republic is based.”
And he wants them on all levels of government. He says he is looking for candidates who are ready to run for the school board and up.
And when he finds them, Caruso said the PAC will help them raise money and craft a winning message.
To that end, he has a big goal.
“By the end of the year, we will put candidates in the field for 2027 up and down the line,” he said.
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