Lonegan fires adviser after he rants about Booker
U.S. Senate candidate Republican Steve Lonegan has fired a longtime adviser (Mel Evans/AP Photo, file)
New Jersey Republican Senate candidate Steve Lonegan has fired a campaign adviser after he gave a profane interview bashing Democrat Cory Booker and questioning his sexuality.
Lonegan says campaign consultant Rick Shaftan’s comments to the political website Talking Points Memo are not reflective of his views or that of his campaign.
He says his longtime adviser was “distasteful and offensive” and is being fired immediately.
Shaftan told the website that Booker’s Twitter exchange with a stripper that was made public “was like what a gay guy would say to a stripper,” and that he should have been more salacious, including complimenting her breasts.
Booker, who is single, has ducked questions about his sexuality.
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