- We're now joined by State Senator Joseph Pennacchio who is the Deputy Republican Leader in the State Senate of New Jersey.

Senator, great to see you, as always.

- Thanks for having me on, Steve.

Merry Christmas.

- We're taping right before Christmas.

We'll be seen in 2024.

Senator, let me ask you this.

The election in November spoke for itself.

People can decide what it means, but on parental rights, you and many of your colleagues were saying, "Hey, parents are getting cut out of certain information "about their children that they should have," and it was a huge issue for you and many of your Republican colleagues.

And the argument didn't seem to convince enough people for the Republicans to gain more seats.

In fact, you lost them.

What's the parental rights issue for you, and why do you think it's not as popular as some people expected it to be?

- Well, regardless of the election, Steve, I think it still is a very huge issue 'cause it's a fundamental right of parents.

It's a constitutional moral right that the ultimate decision for whoever and whatever is in the best interest of that child lies with the parents.

- Okay, but here's the thing.

We actually had Governor Murphy on and I asked people to check our website out.

SteveAdubato.org will come up on the screen.

And I asked the governor about that.

I said, "Governor, look, if a parent needs to know that their kid's going to the Turtle Back Zoo or going on a field trip and they have to sign off, why wouldn't they have to know if a 10-year-old child in school said something to a teacher, to an administrator, someone about their confusion about their sexual orientation or their gender?"

And he said, "Steve, in theory, the parents should know, but not every parent is as supportive and loving, and that child could be put at risk."

What do you say to that argument, Senator?

- So that's a specious argument there.

If somebody thinks that a parent, whatever, dare hurt a child, there is many venues where a teacher, an administrator or anybody can go to try to help that child.

So, you know, that argument to me gives, it's not, it doesn't carry any weight.

Here is what the statistics say, and this is by some of the gay rights group.

If you have a sexual dysphoria, between 50 and 60% of those children that have got those dysphorias contemplate suicide.

As adult, over 40% of the people that have transitioned, 40% have actually attempted suicide.

So before a child puts themselves in harm's way, before a parent has to visit the morgue, or worse yet, see their child dead in a morgue, this is something that maybe that the parent should be seeking counseling with that child exactly what's going on with them.

- But just, before I leave this, Senator, so you're saying you can't imagine a parent ever not being supportive of their child who was questioning their sexual orientation or their gender?

You're convinced that every parent in every case would always be supportive?

And respectfully, Senator, you know that's just not true.

- Well, yeah, but the opposite's not true, either, to think that 100% of the parents would not be supportive.

First of all, most of those sexual dysphoria issues, they go away by the time puberty reaches.

It's said, they're not sexual identity issues.

They're sexuality issues.

They're gay issues, not sexual, not- - Why do you do call it, Senator, respectfully, you're calling someone sexual orientation or what they believe their sexual orientation to be "sexual dysphoria."

What adjective are you using?

- Well, that's the name of it.

That's what they call when you don't think that your body is housing the right gender.

It's a sexual dysphoria.

Not my term.

That's a scientific- - One second, Senator.

Are you saying that's someone's sexual orientation is sexual dysphoria as well?

- Sexual orientation?

You're telling me- - Yeah, they believe that they're gay.

- Steve, no, wait.

That's a sexual identity issue, not a sexual dysphoria.

Sexual dysphoria means that you don't know if you're a man, or you don't know if you're a boy or a girl depending on what age.

What I am saying is that a seven, eight, nine-year-old child, many who still believe in Santa Claus, should not be indoctrinated into thinking that perhaps you're thinking one way and you're allowed to be a boy or a girl or whatever you want to be.

Maybe that's an issue that the parents should have in consultation with perhaps some help, some medical advice to see exactly what's in this child's mind before the child hurts himself.

- Senator, respectfully, who's indoctrinating a child to believe that?

I'm not sure where that came from.

- Well, all the, you're getting rid of the pronouns.

You're having children, and the law itself, by the way, states that the diversity, inclusion, and equity issues, which teach us all this, starts from kindergarten to 12th grade.

You know any type of teaching that happens, Steve, in school up until nine, 10 years old, it's all indoctrination 'cause these kids don't have the cognitive ability in order to be taught objectively.

It's all subjective learning.

You learn your ABCs and you learn your math through rote.

These kids believe what the teacher tells them.

So if they're being told, "Look, today, if you don't feel like you're a boy "or you don't feel like a girl, "you know, just let us know "and we'll change your pronoun for you."

I think that's misguided, and I also think it's very dangerous for a child to be subjected to that.

- Senator, you have very strong views on a whole range of issues, and I'm curious about this.

Do you believe that the 2020 election was legally, officially won by Joe Biden and lost by Donald Trump?

- Well, the issue if it was won or lost, it's not up to Gill Pennacchio, but it was up to Donald Trump to make that case, and that case was never made.

Do I believe that there was some nefarious things that happened?

I do.

I think it happened more so because it was all voted by mail.

And this is not me talking.

You have Jimmy Carter as well as whoever, the Republican bipartisan commission.

They said that if you're gonna commit fraud in elections, most likely it's gonna be committed through the mail.

So to me, if you have one vote that's illegal, that's one vote to make- - Did Donald Trump lose the election?

- Obviously he lost the election.

Isn't Joe Biden the president?

- Yep.

Okay, and I just wanna be clear.

So the argument that the election was stolen, you don't believe?

- Which election?

2016 with Russia collusion?

Or- - 2020.

- Well, 2020, there's arguments on both sides.

I guess you gotta pay attention to who's narrative you believe.

- Well, what do you think?

I'm asking you, Senator, do you believe the 2020 election was quote-unquote stolen as the former president says, and many, many New Jerseyans and Americans believe.

What do you believe?

- No, Joe Pennacchio believes that it was up to President Trump to make that determination through the courts, and it just never happened.

- If president, former President Trump is a convicted felon by the time the election is held, Chris Christie was one of the only ones in Republican debates recently who said he would not support him.

Would you support President Trump if he were a convicted felon at the time of the election in 2024?

- In the election by the people?

Why don't we wait to see what happens?

That's too much of a hypothetical for Gill Pennacchio to make a decision one way or the other right now, Steve.

- But it's an open question.

You would consider supporting him if- - I gave you an open answer.

It's an open answer.

The answer's, I don't know.

- No, it's either yes or no.

- In the history of this country, has anybody ever been elected after they've been indicted and convicted of a federal- - No.

- No.

So, what...

So, for Gill Pennacchio to give you an answer to 250 years of American history has never happened, why would I want to subject myself to giving you an answer?

- Because it's interesting.

It was a question in the Republican debate for candidates running for president, and all of them except for former governor Chris Christie said they would not support him, or said they would support him, so it's a legitimate question.

Okay.

You're saying it's an open question.

Senator, let me ask you this, final question.

To what degree do you believe our democracy is in danger right now?

- Well, democracy is always in danger, and good things happen... Bad things happen when good people do nothing.

I think John Stuart Mills says that.

So- - That's right.

- Get involved.

You have to be involved.

I have to be involved.

People with opposing views have to be involved, and we've gotta follow the letter of the law.

- Agreed.

Senator Joe Pennacchio is the Deputy Republican Leader in the Senate, and we thank him for joining us.

Thank you, Senator.

- Thanks for having me, Steve.

- You got it.

Thank you everyone, and we'll see you next time.

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