IT'S TIME TO CALL IN HATCHET MEN AGAINST THE CLINTONS

IT'S TIME TO CALL IN HATCHET MEN AGAINST THE CLINTONS

By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN

Published in the New York Post on March 9, 2008.

Clintons are trying to steal the nomination from Barack Obama - and he can't let them.

The Clintons' campaign attacks put Obama in a bind.

If he doesn't answer in kind, he's toast.

But if he does, they'll have forced him off his winning message of hope and change from the bitter politics of the Bill Clinton and George W. Bush eras.

If they pull him off his game and onto theirs, they can wrest away the Democratic convention victory that he's earned.

The solution for Obama is clear: Reply in kind, but do it through surrogates.

Obama must answer Hillary's negative attacks and make counterpunches of his own to rock her back on her heels.

His holier-than-thou posture is fine for the opening stages of a campaign, but when your opponent starts throwing mud, you've got to answer.

While Hillary takes aim at Obama's buddy, Tony Rezko, the Obama people need to explore the dimensions of Hillary's relationship with con artist Norman Hsu, who donated almost a million dollars to her campaign, money he'd scammed from gullible investors.

Obama needs to enlist the likes of Ted Kennedy and his other supporters in making the case against Hillary.

After her victories in Texas and Ohio, Hillary is once again in play. Negatives about her matter. A full frontal assault on her integrity and on Bill's conflicts of interest (remember they have joint finances) will work and will stop the bleeding in the Obama campaign.

The Clintons would like nothing better than for Obama to remain passive, clinging to his desire to raise the tone of our politics.

If Sen. Clinton resorts to negative ads in the remaining primary states, Obama needs to do so, too, always keeping himself off camera and using an announcer to articulate his message.

As long as his attacks center on Hillary's and Bill's financial dealings and their relationships with lobbyists and special-interest groups, he will remain on message and his attacks will be in sync with his general approach to the race.

But Obama must make no mistake - it's time to fight back.

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2008 AVP Volley Ball returns to Belmar

BELMAR — After spending the last two summers in Seaside Heights, the Association of
Volleyball Professionals tour will return to the borough this summer.

"We are thrilled to bring the AVP Crocs Tour back to Belmar this year,'' said Leonard
Armato, tour commissioner and chief executive officer, in a written statement released today.

"The Jersey Shore has always been a huge supporter of the AVP and though we are sorry to leave Seaside Heights, we are excited to head back to the beach in Belmar. Hopefully in the coming seasons we will be able to operate multiple events on the Jersey Shore and look forward to partnering with both Belmar and Seaside Heights in the future.''

"We are pleased to welcome the AVP back to Belmar this summer,'' said Mayor Kenneth E. Pringle, who in 1991 brought the first AVP event to Belmar one year after he became mayor. "We are excited to be working again with our old friends at the AVP, and are looking forward to making this year's AVP Belmar Open the best one ever.''

Two years ago, the tour left Belmar after Pringle's administration raised concerns about the tournament taking place over the busy weekend preceding July 4. Another concern was the introduction of nighttime competition under artificial lights.

In addition, a new tour sponsor at the time, liquor manufacturer Jose Cuervo, was not consistent with Belmar's strict policy of not allowing alcohol consumption on the beach.

Neither side detailed what discussions had taken place to resolve those old concerns this year.

This year, the AVP Crocs Tour Belmar Open will be held June 20-22 on the beach at the end of Fifth Avenue.

Beach access for the disabled to improve at Belmar beaches

It is often no day at the beach for the disabled who want to enjoy a day of sun and fun but have difficulty making their way across long stretches of sand to the water.

Beach access for the disabled was limited for far too long, until federal guidelines contained in the 1992 Americans with Disabilities Act went into effect. Towns constructed ramps from the street or the boardwalk to the beach, which helped people in wheelchairs get to the sand. But it didn't help them get to the water.

Now Belmar is working to improve beach access. The changes will benefit all residents, not just the disabled. Other beach towns should take note and start working to improve access before the summer season begins.

Belmar plans to extend existing wheelchair ramps at beach entrances at Fourth and 10th avenues to the waterline. The longer ramps also will benefit people who have trouble walking because of their age, fitness level or temporary ailment. And the ramp extensions will make life easier for parents with young children in strollers and anyone lugging beach chairs and umbrellas, playpens, coolers and other essential gear onto the sand.

The work at the Fourth Avenue beach entrance also will ease access at the site of popular beach events, such as volleyball tournaments. New beach badge booths are on the way, too. They will feature counters with lower shelves to make transactions more convenient for people in wheelchairs.

Every oceanfront town should work as hard as Belmar to make getting onto the sand a day at the beach.

Chef Tonys latest creation 10-hour braised Texas pork belly

10-hour braised Texas pork belly with ragout of cauliflower, wood ear mushroom and English peas and fondue broth. The pork belly is decadently rich, in taste and texture reminiscent of bacon and the tenderest pot roast you can imagine. Matisse Belmar NJ

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