Sen. Menendez: U.S. Can't Risk GOP Policy

While U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey) attends the Democratic National Convention this week, he wants voters to know they have a clear choice between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Menendez, who is the honorary chairman of the state's delegation, talked about the failures of the Bush Administration and the progress made under Obama: "He inherited the Bush Great Recession, the new Depression, businesses that made risky bets with two wars raging abroad, while millions of people in our country go to sleep every night without health care insurance."

He said Obama — despite opposition in the House and Senate — has passed historic health care legislation, brought troops home from Iraq, gave out college Pell grants and kept student loan rates low.

Menendez said voters shouldn't be fooled by the promises being made by the Republican candidates, because they've heard them before. "We understand the critical nature of this election, which way the country goes, under the Romney and Ryan vision that you're on your own," the senator said.

"What we don't want to do is go back to the policies of Romney and Ryan, risky bets, collective debt, ending medicare as Romney and Ryan promote a voucher program,  — we could end up in another war like Iraq."

Menendez said the New Jersey delegates are a diverse group that represent the multiculturalism of the state. They include Newark Mayor Cory Booker, State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), Newark Council President Donald Payne Jr., and Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (D-Essex).

"The New Jersey Democrats will feel their spunk, we'll show the real Jersey that we represent. The state has shown in the polling it believes in the vision of the Dmemocrats," he said. "I'm feeling optimistic, I'm feeling the electricity."

"I'm looking forward to the president and Joe Biden — to remind the American people what we've inherited, what we've achieved and where we can lead the country in the next four years."