The following piece is reprinted with permission of the author, Ron Tunning, who is the chair of the Laconia City Democrats. No, I have not gone over to his side, but he raises some very valid points that that Granite State Republicans would do well to ponder. Comments and rebuttals are encouraged. We will consider all worthy submissions on this for publication. (Hint: Psssst. Hey, Republicans– how about a response?)
Patience With GOP is Waning
by Ron Tunning
Yesterday marked the official opening on Main Street in downtown Laconia of an Obama08 campaign office. This unprecedented event marks the first time an African-American candidate for the U.S. presidency has committed to such a firm presence in Belknap County, which according to 2005 Census estimates counts fewer than one percent of its residents as black..Not only has the Obama campaign leased office space, it has also invested in four full-time staff members responsible for coordinating campaign events and get-out-the-vote efforts in the Lakes Region, and has attracted a solid base of local volunteers to help with the effort..Further down the street Hillary Clinton’s campaign has also leased office space, and like Obama has hired full-time staff members to promote her candidacy. And although women do make up a little over half of Belknap County’s population, Senator Clinton’s office is equally unprecedented, being the first ever opened in the county for a female candidate for the nation’s highest office..Located between Obama’s and Clinton’s offices is one opened by former U.S. Senator John Edwards’ campaign, giving all three of the top Democratic presidential contenders strong visibility in downtown Laconia, as well as the organizational strength to reach out to local voters..What’s most striking about this is that Belknap County has long been viewed as a Republican stronghold, where all a candidate had to do to win an election was to earn a place on the ballot as a Republican. That has clearly changed..In 2006, three of Laconia’s five N.H. House seats were won by Democrats Beth Arsenault, Judie Reever and Jane Wood in a tidal wave that saw Democrats take control of the state legislature’s lower house..And Republican incumbent Senator Rob Boyce was sent packing after being rejected by his party’s primary voters, and despite a spirited campaign by former Laconia football coach Jim Fitzgerald who had dispatched Boyce to secure the Republican nomination, Democrat Kathy Sgambati prevailed in the general election, helping to give Democrats control of the N.H. Senate..Stunned by the defeat, local Republicans were quick to blame the Bush administration and the Iraq War for their demise, confidently espousing the view that the setback was temporary, only a blip on the historic map. They assured each other that the 2008 election would return them to power..
The evidence suggests otherwise. Nary a Republican candidate for any office has created a footprint in downtown Laconia or elsewhere in Belknap County. Nor have any of the GOP presidential candidates based any full-time staffers in the county..Virtually all of the eight Democratic presidential contenders have actively campaigned in the Lakes Region, most on multiple occasions, and have been attracting impressive crowds. Regrettably for area residents, the Republican candidates have not been as active a presence, denying voters the opportunity to engage them in a discussion of the issues and their respective positions..This is not healthy for New Hampshire’s primary, nor for the democratic process. Government works best when there is vigorous debate, with all sides of the issues explored. This can’t happen if Republicans refuse to, or are unable to participate in the process..More than anything else, the 2006 election was a referendum on one-party rule. Republicans had controlled virtually all branches of government in New Hampshire and in Washington, D.C., succumbing to the arrogance of power and neglecting their obligation to govern. Consolidating and maintaining that power took precedence over sound policy..If Republicans are to regain relevancy, it’s essential that they begin at the grass roots, reaching out to their constituency and responding to its concerns. What voters want today is a real discussion of the issues, not a replay of the name calling and fear-mongering that for too long has dominated the political landscape..It’s clear that a majority of Americans, and Granite Staters, want the War in Iraq brought to a close. They’re also concerned about healthcare, education, the environment, social security, and the continued loss of jobs to foreign countries. They’re no longer confident that they’ll leave to their children and grandchildren a future more promising than their own..How candidates address these issues will determine the outcome of next year’s elections. And if Republicans hope to have a voice in framing policy, they had better begin convincing voters that they have something more to offer than an encore of their years in power or empty criticism of Democratic efforts..America’s greatness has been its willingness to rise to whatever challenge it faces, with optimism, determination and innovation. It’s time for the GOP to heed its own advice and pull itself up by the bootstraps and get to work. Voters are waiting, but their patience is not unlimited.