Bill spadea wet the bed on the edison american flag "prop" ban, here's why it is a big issue

Oh, Bill Spadea, you’ve done it again! The New Jersey political commentator and radio host found himself at the center of yet another debate when he downplayed a fiery incident in a small Garden State town.

As a radio jock, sure, you want the listeners; you want people calling your show and complaining. It’s what you put on your pants for every morning before you head to the old farmhouse.

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Here’s what happened, a lawyer was removed from a public meeting after what nearly everyone but Bill Spadea, a Republican candidate for governor is calling an inappropriate display of authority by local officials. Instead of addressing the larger implications of silencing public voices, Spadea brushed it off as “not a big issue.” Oof.

Think about it. A Democrat community leader had police forcibly remove a man from a public meeting in New Jersey. Simply because he was holding a small American flag.

Folks do the math. Connect the dots. It’s apparent why Spadea wants to be hands-off on this. The law firm representing this township is owned by New Jersey Assembly Democrat Leader Craig Coughlin. Spadea doesn’t want to poop too close to the dinner table.

It’s apparent that Spadea has a reason for downplaying this, not because he doesn’t think it’s a big deal. He exposed some of what we are all seeing behind the scenes. What is more shocking is that Bill Spadea is a fellow Marine Corps veteran.

This is not ok. I hope that a younger and more motivated Bill Spadea, back in the Corps, would have pushed faces in for lesser offenses.

Now, running for governor, he’s saying don’t be distracted. No, be distracted. As Maxine Watters once said, get up in their faces. Make it so that the next time a Democrat gets into his head that he wants to violate freedom of speech and disrespect the American flag, he or she thinks twice about it because they’re going to remember what happened to that guy in Edison.

He has since apologized, but it’s too late. He only apologized because it’s politically the right move. Anyone who watches the video will show how deadset he and the Coughlin law firm lawyer were in having the police forcibly remove this man from a town hall meeting for nothing more than having a small American flag.

Now, let’s break this down. In New Jersey, where local politics are practically a spectator sport, public meetings are often where citizens voice their concerns—and sometimes their frustrations—directly to those in power. The removal of someone from such a setting raises all kinds of questions about transparency, accountability, and the right to speak freely. It’s the kind of thing that can fire up debates about democracy and governance, even at the local level.

Sometimes, people deserve to be removed when they violate the rules of decorum, but an American flag should be applauded, not policed.

But Spadea? He chose the “move along, nothing to see here” approach. And let’s just say that take hasn’t aged well. Critics have pointed out that dismissing the incident might seem tone-deaf in a state where local politics are sacrosanct, and standing up to power is basically a birthright.

Of all the people running for governor, what is most shocking is that Spadea chose this hill to expose some of what is going on behind the scenes in his campaign. He might not be the righteous conservative warrior he plays on the radio.

The lesson here? In New Jersey, every issue is a big issue—especially when it comes to the right to speak your mind. So, next time, Bill, maybe don’t hit snooze on stories like this. People are paying attention, and just remember there are plenty of one-issue voters out there who will remember this Election Day.

We’re no fans of Jack Ciattarelli here, but one thing we all agree on is that come next June, we want a governor who is going to fight for us, not one who wants to pick and choose battles based on where he stands in this twisted political web of New Jersey politics where there’s not much daylight between Democrats and Republicans.

Bill Spadea has failed New Jersey on this, boot.

Opinion by Phil Stilton / Editor – Shore News Network, USMC 1991-1995

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

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