Geraldo Rivera Eyes NJ Senate Seat

Geraldo Rivera had some harsh words for the Republican Party when he stopped by Fox News on Friday.

The comments, recounted on politico.com took place during the shows, “Studio B with Shepard Smith” and “Fox and Friends.”

On “Studio B,” Rivera told Smith, “The Republican Party, though, nationally has drifted away from the party of business, the party of free enterprise, the party of ‘come on, use your native abilities to pick yourself up by your bootstraps,’ and we’ve become the party of scolds. The party of no, you can’t have an abortion. No, if you’re gay you can’t be married. No, if you’re an immigrant you can’t possibly think you are going to get on line to become a citizen of the United States.”

Rivera continued to assail the Republican Party’s handling of immigration reform saying, the “nativist” side abandoned President George W. Bush on immigration reform.

“They made the brown skin people and other immigrants the enemy,” he said. “Talking about machine guns on the border and self-deportation and concepts like that, why would a Latino person want to vote for a Republican under those circumstances?” Rivera asked.

Rivera also commented on his vision for the Republican Party. He said it is more than what has been recently portrayed, calling it, “cliché.”

“We’ve got to go back to the party of inclusion,” Rivera said. “The big tent Republican Party where we say to the Democrats, ‘listen, we’re not forfeiting the black vote to you just automatically, or the Latino vote, or the Asian vote.’”

The criticisms came as the 69-year-old former talk show host and current New Jersey resident said he is, “truly contemplating” running for political office in 2014.
Rivera has been eyeing the New Jersey Senate seat held by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who is up for re-election in 2014.

“The Senate race is still a good year away, so I’ve got some time to hone a message and ride my Harley to all parts of the Garden State,” he explained.
“It’s a great way, I think, to end my professional life, to give back in a sense,” Rivera said.

Rivera concluded the interview with Smith by saying, “I haven’t made the decision, but I will definitely invite you to the victory party.”