On the other is this headline from the Nashua Telegraph (emphasis mine, reformatted) says “Oh no you can’t!”:
Brown only candidate not to confirm attendance at Merrimack forum
MERRIMACK – Former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown is the only major candidate who hasn’t accepted an invitation to a forum for candidates in the 2014 Republican primary for U.S. Senate hosted by the Merrimack Business Association. The debate, which is scheduled for June 18, has already confirmed former state Sen. Jim Rubens, former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith and former gubernatorial candidate Karen Testerman.
Dave McCray, of the Merrimack Business Association, said he heard from Brown’s staff as recently as Wednesday afternoon, but said Brown has yet to confirm the date. “All I kept hearing was how busy he was,” McCray said. McCray said Brown’s staff told him they needed to “check their calendars,” and said a campaign representative would contact the association. Candidates were given five days to reply to the invitation, which, according to the Merrimack Business Association, was sent to Brown on April 23.
Right. Check their calendars – got it. That is political speak for “oh crap – how do we get out of going??”. Just do the same to them like he did tonight to the Londonderry Fish & Game Club where he was supposed to talk to the members there – who all have to be NRA members. Rick Olson, President of the LFGC, let me know that Brown cancelled at the last moment (and yes, GraniteGrok had been invited to come to the event to livestream it). It usually is a sign of “oh crap, what did we just get into – and get out of it NOW!” or they got a better offer (or, at least, face a more docile crowd).
This post’s title was pulled from what he said this past Saturday at the NH GOP Annual Meeting. The full quote (and you can watch him say it here):
That’s what I love about NH, that I can go into your home, your business, and look in your eyes and ask any question you want and I’ll give you an honest answer.
Obviously, the LFGC members and the future attendees at the forum aren’t the right people to be asking the questions. Or GraniteGrok.
Oh, one last thought about Scott Brown from the NH GOP meeting:
Darn, I was so disappointed – not ONCE did he point at me like he did when he spoke at Mike’s house….
