To the Editor,
The premise of an article in the Nashua Telegraph (“State GOP facing trouble in paradise” 7/25/2011), is that the New Hampshire GOP, despite overwhelming victories in the legislature and the Executive Council, is basically floundering in Concord, nearly out of cash and rife with “. . infighting and back-stabbing.” It also opines that Governor Lynch’s job-approval ratings should have diminished far more, given the “. . . huge political advantage in the House and Senate.” Really? Does the author think that the luster of NH’s premier ribbon cutter is a good metric for measuring results in the legislature and Executive Council? Or that Republicans forgot that they were sent to Concord to get results and restore fiscal sanity, not to merely polish or tarnish reputations?
A close reading of the article shows naked partisanship by the unidentified author. This collection of carefully tailored facts set among unsupported allegations and hearsay assertions; (i.e. no details on the polls, where taken, questions asked, etc.) are clearly chosen to put Republicans in a bad light.
Why else report on a State GOP account balance, from several months ago, when the current balances are much more substantial? Why play with the timelines, if the article is supposed to take the pulse and viability of the NH GOP now? Why hint and wink about “back-stabbing” without presenting any detail or juicy evidence? I invite voters to carefully review this rancid political suppository for themselves (it’s almost all innuendo) and to then consider the rest of the story.
For example:
The basic premises of the article are patently false. Having a charming, popular, and largely statist Governor Lynch is not ‘paradise’ for the GOP. On election day,…
…Republicans confronted Lynch’s structural budget deficit of $895 million dollars in a sinking economy with U3 unemployment standing at 5.7%. That’s not ‘paradise’ either, notwithstanding “huge majorities.” Their efforts produced a balanced budget, that was crafted after much research and debate in committee. It was neither quick nor easy to cut state spending 11% in a responsible way; but the GOP kept its promise to do this without raising any taxes or fees. In fact, in the first 8 months, the GOP legislature cut or reduced 12 taxes and fees; also passing 43 new laws that cut or reduced regulation and red tape for business, thus helping the business climate. A dramatic start and they aren’t done yet!
Of course, there were many other important bills passed, that were deliberated in committee and on the floor, concurrently with the lengthy budget deliberations. And yes, there are within the GOP differences of opinion that sometimes transcend our platform. But to label these sincere and spirited debates as mere infighting is a mischaracterization. The GOP can legislate and keep its promises to the voters at the same time. The author’s overexposure to Democrat situational ethics might explain his distain and surprise at seeing honest follow-through led by effective Republican leadership.
But what the author didn’t address were the economic results. The growing confidence in the NH business community reversed the slide into a deeper depression, added 5,600 new jobs in NH and lowered U3 unemployment nearly a full point to 4.8%. Today, Republicans are fully united in our commitment to the NH Advantage; to creating a great, family and business-friendly climate and watching good paying jobs flourish in New Hampshire. The GOP believes that liberty is the necessary precursor to prosperity. Our City on the Hill is future friendly and open for business.
Derek MacMillen Kittredge, Esq.
Justice of the Peace
Rochester NH
