Challenging Obama

As President Obama’s approval ratings continue to trickle downward, some Democrats are broaching the subject of a primary challenge based upon the most divisive and expensive policy position of Obama’s first term: the public option.

Hodes Shunning Town-Halls

Yesterday, Albert McKeon at the Telegraph took a swipe at Rep. Paul Hodes for his lack of public appearances during the August recess. Today, the paper's editorial board decided to get in on the fun:

Hodes has chosen to bypass the more traditional town-hall meetings in favor of these smaller, more selective forums. While technically open to the public, these sessions seem geared more to members, guests and residents of the chosen venues rather than an unrestricted exchange of ideas with constituents in a large auditorium or conference hall.

By contrast:

• Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank conducted his memorable session before more than 500 people at the Dartmouth Council on Aging building.

• Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill has hosted several town hall-style meetings, including one before an estimated 400 people at a Jefferson City middle school.

• And California Rep. Anna Eshoo attracted more than 1,000 constituents to a town-hall meeting at Gunn High School in Palo Alto.

Now few of these sessions would be categorized under the heading of civil discourse. On the contrary, some of them were downright ugly, and we've already condemned the actions of those participants whose sole purpose was to shout down those of a different opinion or disrupt these sessions with their boorish behavior.

But that's still no reason for Hodes, already an announced candidate for U.S. Senate next year, to avoid them. Surely, we would like to believe that the one-time assistant attorney general and special prosecutor is more than capable of holding his own before his constituents – as loud and verbally abusive as some might be.

It's not as if Hodes is a stranger to the concept. He was present for President Barack Obama's health-care town hall in Portsmouth last month, and he conducted one of his own shortly after being first elected in April 2007 at Milford Town Hall.

And it's pretty unlikely he will be able to run a senatorial campaign next year without taking part in what has become a New Hampshire political tradition.

As we said at the outset, we're disappointed by the congressman's decision not to schedule a single town-hall meeting on health care – a topic that has engaged voters like few others in a generation – during the August recess.

We don't know for certain whether Hodes came to this decision on his own or he's getting bad advice from his inner circle or party leaders in Washington.

Either way, for someone who prides himself on constituent service, his no-town-hall stragegy is a real head-scratcher.

Via the GraniteGrok guys, here is the Congressman attempting to defend his "public" schedule:

Taxpayer Backlash

House Speaker Terie Norelli’s mention of an income tax in a Portsmouth Herald story yesterday has stirred up some controversy across the state.

With the “tea party movement” primed and ready, it is not surprising that the backlash to Norelli’s touching of the third rail of NH politics has been quick and coordinated:

Conservatives raised the alarm yesterday after Speaker of the House Terie Norelli was quoted in a Portsmouth paper as saying she favors an open-ended review of state revenues.

The paper said she included a state income tax as one revenue source that should be included in the study.

Several Republican groups jumped on the remark as evidence that Norelli and other Democrats are ready to pass a tax they predict will damage the fragile economy. The phrase "out of touch with New Hampshire voters" appeared in a number of press releases criticizing Norelli.

Defending her colleague in the House, Senate President Maggie Hassan told the Union Leader, "We're getting a lot of noise from the other team when we really would like constructive ideas."

Norelli made the comments referencing a planned economic summit scheduled for sometime this fall to discuss state finances. As of yet, not further details concerning the summit have emerged.

Portsmouth Republicans Looking for Shea-Porter Apology

The Portsmouth City Republicans are calling on Carol Shea-Porter to apologize for calling them “tea-baggers” on her way to a private party in Portsmouth last week.

Here is the full text of Polidura’s letter to the editor, as well as Kelly Ayotte’s version of the events:

On August 27th, the Portsmouth Republican City Committee held a social event at the Sheraton Hotel in Portsmouth, featuring Kelly Ayotte as the guest speaker.

Shortly before the event began, we had an unannounced visit by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, who apparently thought she would be crashing a "Tea-Party".

Because she has kept a low profile and has been inaccessible by phone or mail, her visit created an opportunity for several attendees to query her.

We were respectful of her position, so we politely invited her into in the function room for refreshments. She declined as she was scheduled to attend another event in Portsmouth.

The following day, a report appeared in Foster’s Daily Democrat saying that during Mrs. Shea-Porter’s meeting with special interest groups such as Organizing for America, ACORN and the SEIU, she made the following statement: “Kelly Ayotte was there speaking to the tea-baggers.” She also said that she chose to appear at the event even though she had not been invited.

Her remarks are corroborated by the Portsmouth Herald, which chose not to print them. Both news sources indicated her use of “tea-baggers” several times during her gathering in Portsmouth.

It is regrettable that Mrs. Shea-Porter chose a sexually demeaning epithet to refer to Republicans gathered at the Sheraton, as well as those who have used Tea Parties as a vehicle to petition the government for redress of grievances, as is their right stated in the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Mrs. Shea-Porter’s “tea baggers” reference is another indication of how uninformed and far removed from her constituency she is, and the condescending attitude she has toward those with a different point of view than her own.

Our social event on August 27th attracted many people who have never attended a Republican event before. Approximately 95% percent of them had not participated in any Tea Party rallies.

Whereas her comments were specifically directed at the people gathered at the Portsmouth Republican Committee event which I organized, I call upon Representative Carol Shea -Porter to apologize not only for calling our group “tea baggers”, but also for calling members of her constituency who disagree with her the same.

Mrs. Shea-Porter, you need to set the record straight and retract your remarks. They are divisive and derisive in nature, and far from the spirit of civility you want the opposition to convey to you.

Sue Polidura
Vice-Chair
Portsmouth Republican City Committee

"Not All Voices Heard"

Today’s Nashua Telegraph took a swipe at Congressman Paul Hodes’ contrived and restricted health care forums.

Contrary to New Hampshire’s town hall tradition, Hodes’, “events aren't always open to the general public, and when participation isn't restricted, the locations don't allow for large crowds.”

Although the Congressman’s spokesperson defended Hodes saying, “he's been out there in excess” the truth is the Congressman’s first set of public appearances are occurring over the labor day weekend and only after intense public pressure to talk to his constituents.

On Wednesday, the New Hampshire Republican State Committee criticized Hodes for "contrived, restricted 'forums' that are not 'fully open to the public.'"

In a statement, committee Communications Director Ryan Williams wrote: "Paul Hodes has let down New Hampshire by refusing to hold a single face-to-face town hall meeting on health care during the Congressional recess. His failure to meet with his constituents in an open and unrestricted format shows that he is out of touch with New Hampshire traditions and values."

NH Speaker "Open" to Income Tax

After claiming New Hampshire's fiscal house "in order," NH House Speaker Terie Norelli told the Portsmouth Herald, "I'm open minded to taking a look at revenue structure in the state."

Pointing to a economic summit this fall, Norelli said state lawmakers will "'try to figure out whether the way we do things in New Hampshire is working' — and all revenue sources would be on the table."

The State legislature has already raised nearly than 40 taxes and fees across the Granite State in order to reach the current "balanced" budget, which still hinges on the court case involving the $110 million the State took from JUA malpractice fund.

Additionally:

Norelli was asked about state revenue reports released in August that were almost 16 percent lower than projected, in part because liquor and tobacco sales were not as robust as anticipated. The state's rooms and meals tax revenue was also off by $3.7 million, or 13 percent, despite the Legislature's move to increase that tax rate to 9 percent from 8 percent. Norelli said the figures represented "July money. And it rained all of July, so are we surprised?" When asked if she would be concerned if August revenue was also down, she said, "absolutely."

Of course, as the Union Leader reported yesterday, State revenues have come in significantly lower for August, even with an uptick in liquor and tobacco sales.

$300,000 Spent to “Beautify” New Hampshire

Reports this weekend from Foster’s Daily Democrat and the Laconia Citizen show that over $260,000 has been given to New Hampshire beauty schools as a part of the federal stimulus.

“The Empire Beauty School in Laconia was also the recipient of $250,000 in nonreimbursable direct financial aid,” while, “the Portsmouth Beauty School received $18,600 in ‘direct financial aid.”

These figures are coupled with almost $37,000 sent to the Bedford beauty school earlier in the week, as reported by NowHampshire.com.

Bud Fitch, the State’s stimulus czar, told NowHampshire.com his, “expectation is that these are federal student loan program payments.”

According to a progress report issued by the State stimulus office, only 96 new jobs have been created with the $330-plus million that state has received so far.