Arguing Terrorism, Taxes, and the Border

Here’s a quick roundup of political news from around the state.

Hemingway signs tax pledge

Republican gubernatorial candidate Andrew Hemingway, along with a number of lower race candidates, were in Manchester on July 30, to sign the New Hampshire Advantage pledge with Tom Thomson, the son of Gov. Meldrim Thomson, and American’s for Prosperity.

Signing the pledge means that the candidates make a commitment to cut taxes and fees and oppose increases; cut spending and the size of government; approve right-to-work legislation; oppose all forms of Obama; and uphold the state and federal constitutions.

Hemingway’s campaign took the opportunity to note that not only was he the only gubernatorial candidate to be in attendance to sign the pledge while adding that his main challenger for the nomination, Walt Havenstein, called it “puffery.”

“Maybe my opponent finds these core principals ‘puffery,’ or maybe he feels he had something better to do, but with no candidate and no representative from his campaign present it tells me these promises aren’t a priority for Mr. Havenstein,” Hemingway said.

Brown launches online petition

Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown launched an online petition today calling on Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and President Barack Obama to abandon “their pro-amnesty policies” which “are hurting this country.”

The petition is a follow-up by the campaign that also launched television and radio spots this week.

“We’re encouraging the people of New Hampshire to let Senator Shaheen know she is wrong on immigration and that her policies are hurting our state,” said Colin Reed, campaign manager for Scott Brown. “By voting with President Obama 99 percent of the time and supporting his pro-amnesty policies, Senator Shaheen has contributed to the crisis on the southern border, and now the people of New Hampshire have a chance to let her know she’s wrong.”

Dems: Brown’s really attacking Ayotte, too

In reaction to Brown’s comments about the border issues, the state Democratic Party launched its own attacks against Brown’s latest comments stating that his “struggling” campaign was “flailing” and ignoring the fact that immigration reform was also backed by U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican.

“Scott Brown is more interested in dishonest attacks than working to solve the challenges facing people in New Hampshire and across the country,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Communications Director Julie McClain. “Both he and NHGOP are flailing so wildly they’re even hitting their own – Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte. These misleading smears on Senator Shaheen’s support for bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform are dishonest and embarrassing.”

Democrats also took shots at the frontrunner after his conference call with Texas Gov. Rick Perry about the border, calling out the Texas firebrand for his previous comments about gays and lesbians, including remarks likening them to being alcoholics.

“This is the latest in a string of embarrassing and disastrous decisions made by a badly flailing Brown campaign,” said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley. “The fact that Brown has linked himself so closely with Governor Perry – especially following the incident in which one of his strong supporters sent the NHDP foul hate mail – should really spur families across the state to ask themselves whether this Beacon Hill politician has any sense of New Hampshire at all.”

Rubens rolls out vet support

Veterans have been on the minds of most candidates these days, including U.S. Senate candidate Jim Rubens, the only one to speak at the Disabled American Veterans convention in Gorham and the VFW convention in Bartlett.

The candidate today also unveiled a list of veterans who will serve on a steering committee to build support for his campaign. Included on the list are Josh Brothers of Concord, Frank Emiro of Londonderry, and Ray Hayes of Milford, as well as others from around New Hampshire.

Rubens has also received a big boost from the Mayday PAC, the SuperPAC that is working to end SuperPACs, which has committed $2 million to educate voters about Rubens’ effort. The org, founded by Larry Lessig, the Harvard professor who has been marching around the Granite State in support of campaign finance reform, picked Rubens because of his support for public financing of campaigns, a political position few Republicans openly embrace.

Garcia flack: Lambert skirted issues

Kenny Cunningham, communications director for Marilinda Garcia for Congress, issued the following statement in response to today’s radio debate between Marilinda Garcia and her primary opponents.

“Voters listening to today’s radio debate should have a clear understanding as to why Marilinda Garcia is the only Republican candidate who can defeat Rep. Ann Kuster and be an effective leader in Washington. Marilinda addressed the important issues of our day, including Obamacare, immigration, energy and local control of schools. In contrast, Gary Lambert continued his pattern of skirting many issues, failing to defend his vote in opposition to local control of schools and his support for federal education standards. Additionally, he once again struggled to defend his support for the big government, job-killing Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a local cap and trade scheme. New Hampshire deserves a legislator who is proud of their record and willing to discuss the issues that are important to the Granite State.”

Innis: ‘Guinta’s terrorism comments insulting’

During another radio debate this week, 1st Congressional District candidates former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta and Dan Innis went head-to-head about the NSA spying issue.

Innis said he wouldn’t have supported the Patriot Act, because it violated the U.S. Constitution. Guinta countered, “Well let me say, you either stand with the terrorists or you stand with freedom and protecting Americans,” according to a transcript. Innis called the comments ridiculous.

“Not only are Frank Guinta’s terrorism comments insulting to the millions of Americans with legitimate concerns about the Patriot Act and NSA surveillance, but they are also completely out of touch. Does Frank really think that having NSA bureaucrats snooping through our email and phone records keeps us safe from terrorists? Does he think Sen. Sununu was standing with the terrorists when he filibustered the Patriot Act to demand reform of National Security Letters? How about the 70% of Americans who think “they shouldn’t have to give up privacy and freedom in order to be safe from terrorism?”