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WMUR Lynch v. Stephen Debate Thread

by: Dean Barker

Wed Oct 27, 2010 at 18:58:43 PM EDT
As before, look for a link to a livestream here.

I think tonight I'll give the twitterings a rest and deposit my real-time reax here in the thread.
Dean Barker :: WMUR Lynch v. Stephen Debate Thread
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WMUR Lynch v. Stephen Debate Thread | 34 comments
There's a big gravitas imbalance here (0.00 / 0)
between Lynch and Stephen.

I think that plays into Stephen's lack of traction.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

Stephen answers the question about whether there's fearmongering (0.00 / 0)
by fearmongering.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
How does Kelly like Johnny's bashing (0.00 / 0)
of "leaders" on FRM?

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
Lynch goes straight to the heart of the arson pardon request. (0.00 / 0)
Good.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
AT THE END OF THE DAY! (4.00 / 1)


birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
Stephen has "stayed positive." (4.00 / 1)
OK, Cornerstone man.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
"Hang in there," North Country! (0.00 / 0)


birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
"Hang in there" state employees! (0.00 / 0)


birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
Johnny's got logorhea. (0.00 / 0)
But he doesn't really answer the questions.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
AT THE END OF THE DAY! (4.00 / 1)


birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
AT THE END OF THE DAY! (4.00 / 1)
That's three!

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
Stephen wants to cut everything, (0.00 / 0)
but then says the court cuts were bad.

What now?

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

Stephen will stop the out of control taxes!!! (0.00 / 0)
On scratch tickets.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
AT THE END OF..."my four years of gov't" (0.00 / 0)
What a tease!

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
Stephen: "I would sign" repeal of marriage equality. (0.00 / 0)
My discrimination has "integrity"!

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
John Lynch Was Great On That Issue... (4.00 / 1)
...strongly stating his support for marriage equality.  I loved his heartfelt story about his discussion with a soldier who fought for ALL of us.  
[ Parent ]
Stephen: Let's bring back pre-existing conditions! (4.00 / 1)
"I will make sure NH is the 23rd state" to file suit against covering people with pre-existing conditions!

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
AT THE END OF THE DAY! (4.00 / 1)
That's four.

And the livestream almost cut out at that moment!

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

Johnny's fight song: (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
at the end of the day (0.00 / 0)
At the end of the day on November 2, when the votes have all been cast, John Stephen will have lost yet another election.  If I am not mistaken, he has never won an election.

How does being Catholic make you a good officeholder? (0.00 / 0)
Sheesh.

No religion litmus test or anything.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

Say it...say it.... make it five... (4.00 / 1)


birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
Denied. (0.00 / 0)
Darn.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
Check out this insanely good rapid response (0.00 / 0)
from Team Lynch in my email inbox:

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
7:13pm (0.00 / 0)
Stephen Continues to Push for Repeal of Mandatory Supervision of Offenders

Supports Repealing a "Pro-Victim" Law Endorsed by Over One Thousand Members of Law Enforcement, NH Attorney General, Victims and Victims' Advocates and State Judges

GOFFSTOWN - In tonight's WMUR/Union Leader Granite State Debate, John Stephen again asserted his desire to disregard the victims of crime and said he would seek the repeal of a "pro-victim" law requiring all offenders to be supervised upon release from prison.

John Stephen continued with what have been called "false" and "shameless" attacks, and made a number of charges that were out-of-step reality, and out-of-step with the broad support from victim advocates, law enforcement, the judicial branch, the Republican leaders of the House and Senate, and the vast majority of lawmakers.

The facts:

   * The law requires all offenders to serve at least 100 to 120 percent of their minimum sentence. Non-violent offenders are eligible for release after they have served their minimum sentences.
   * The law is supported by former Republican House Speaker Donna Site, the author of New Hampshire's truth-in-sentencing law, who has clearly stated it does not change truth-in-sentencing.
   * The question is not if offenders are going to be released. Stephen is attacking on offenders who are about to complete their maximum sentence and be released from prison. The question is whether they will be released with or without supervision. (The state does not have any legal authority to supervise offenders who have completed their maximum sentence and been released from prison.)
   * The law was supported by law enforcement. The law is pro-victim, and the provisions that Stephen is attacking were developed by victims and their advocates.

The Concord Monitor called Stephen's claims about the prison reform law, "false" and "shameless demagoguery" and "unconscionable."

"The public should be insulted, not frightened, by Republican gubernatorial candidate John Stephen's shameless demagoguery. He is waging a campaign of fear in his zeal to unseat Gov. John Lynch that should not be rewarded." (Concord Monitor, 10/3/10)

The Portsmouth herald called the baseless attacks on the reform law a "cheap election year trick." (Portsmouth Herald, 10/17/10)

In endorsing Gov. Lynch for re-election, the Nashua Telegraph today stated that Stephen's cronies have tried to exploit the reform law "irresponsibly," and called recent attacks on the Gov. Lynch "troubling and shameful."

Gov. Lynch has been endorsed by the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, 2,000 members of the New Hampshire Police Association, and the nearly 300 members of the New Hampshire State Troopers' Association.

Stephen has been endorsed by the nine Republican, elected county sheriffs.

# # #



birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
[ Parent ]
7:15pm (0.00 / 0)
In Case You Missed It: Stephen defends backing pardon

By KEVIN LANDRIGAN Staff Writer

CONCORD - Republican nominee for governor John Stephen defended endorsing a pardon for a convicted arsonist who contributed to multiple Stephen campaigns.

State prosecutors accused Edward J. Socha of wanting legal forgiveness to get out of having to pay $1.6 million in restitution for his crimes.

Socha, 69, of Auburn, gave $1,000 to Stephen's campaign July 17.

In 2004, Stephen was the first name listed on seven pages of supporters to grant a pardon to Socha for 1991 convictions on one count of conspiracy to commit arson, one of theft by deception and two counts of witness tampering.

"In 2004, I knew the family, and he had served his time," Stephen said of the pardon endorsement during a telephone interview.



birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
[ Parent ]
7:17pm (0.00 / 0)
Stephen Continues to Hawk Discredited Medicaid Savings Claim;
Stephen's Plan Would Cut Health Care From

Tens of Thousands of Seniors, Children, People with Disabilities

GOFFSTOWN -- In tonight's debate, John Stephen continued to repeat his claim that New Hampshire will save $300 million - or 60 percent of the Medicaid budget by moving to managed care.

Although New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services is currently requesting proposals for managed programs for Medicaid, no one predicts that order of savings. In fact, the Concord Monitor in August debunked that claim, saying there is "no precedent" for that kind of savings (see attached story).

Based on his record, Stephen's actual plan will cut health care from tens of thousands of New Hampshire seniors, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.

As health and human services commissioner, John Stephen secretly proposed a plan to the federal government that would have kicked one-third of New Hampshire seniors out of nursing homes and forced families to pay more for care. In the same plan, Stephen also proposed dramatic cuts to health care for pregnant women and children (Concord Monitor, 11/5/04).

Stephen also proposed a plan to cut 1,200 children from Katie Beckett, a program that helps families with severely disabled children pay for health care (Associated Press, 3/11/05). And Stephen proposed requiring people to travel up to 95 miles to see a doctor (Concord Monitor, 7/25/07).

###



birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker
[ Parent ]
7:21pm (0.00 / 0)
Jane Had a Great Question, but John Stephen Didn't Answer It

John Stephen's Real Record on Taxes and Fees

GOFFSTOWN - Continuing his hypocritical attacks, John Stephen continued to attempt to mislead voters about his real record on taxes and fees during tonight's WMUR debate.

"John Stephen's hypocrisy is stunning. He attacks Gov. Lynch and then tries to deny his own record," said Pamela Walsh, campaign manager for New Hampshire for John Lynch.

"The truth is as a health and human services commissioner, John Stephen worked with then-Governor Craig Benson to create a new tax on nursing home residents. In just four of his 20 years in state government, John Stephen created or raised 162 fees; and as a consultant, he recommended South Carolina raise unemployment taxes on some small businesses by 700 percent," Walsh said.

"And now, the Nashua Telegraph says, John Stephen's plan to cut education aid will raise local property taxes, costing homeowners more." (Nashua Telegraph, 10/27/10)

As a consultant for the state of South Carolina, Stephen recommended that state increase unemployment taxes on some small businesses from $88 a worker per year to $645 a worker - a 700 percent increase (Associated Press, 2/25/10).

"John Stephen keeps bragging about how he consulted in South Carolina, but he is trying to mislead people about what he did there - propose a 700 percent increase in taxes on some struggling small businesses," Walsh said.

Stephen claimed he did not have the authority to raise or create fees, but the commissioner of health and human services has the specific legal authority to establish fees - without going to either the Governor or the full legislature.

In just four of his 20 years as a government bureaucrat, John Stephen helped raise or create at least 162 fees.  See attached.

RSA 126-A5, IV says:  "Pursuant to RSA 541-A, the commissioner shall have the authority to establish fees, copayments or any other charges for services or assistance provided by or on behalf of the department." Stephen submitted his fee increases to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules.

In addition, while assistant commissioner of Safety, Stephen helped created or raise more than 20 fees in just a two-year period; for example, publicly urging lawmakers to pass a bill increasing license plate fees by $1.50 and vehicle title fees by $5 (Associated Press, April 9, 2002).

# # #  

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

[ Parent ]
7:22 (0.00 / 0)
What the Tax Foundation Report Really Says

MANCHESTER - Despite John Stephen's misleading statements, the Tax Foundation actually says New Hampshire has the seventh-best business tax climate in the nation - a ranking it has held since 2007. New Hampshire also beats all of the other New England states.

In addition, according to the independent Federation of Tax Administrators, under Gov. Lynch, New Hampshire has the lowest taxes per capita of any state in the nation.

John Stephen is selectively using only one portion of the report, instead of looking at the state's overall business tax climate. Click here to view the Tax Foundation's State Business Tax Climate Index.

In addition, the rates of those taxes, the Business Enterprise and the Business Profits taxes, have not been changed during Gov. Lynch's tenure. They stand at the same levels they were set at by Republican legislatures.

You get the idea.  There are like 7,8 more of them!

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

[ Parent ]
is he boasting (4.00 / 1)
about his little pen??
Open Question About Gambling... (0.00 / 0)
...Why is it that this year especially, so many Republicans just aren't playing with a full deck?  
bingo! (4.00 / 1)
At Johnny Stephen's 4th  "end of the day", I nearly stood up and yelled "Bingo!" except I was at the debate and it would have gotten me thrown out.

The Governor did great. Don't know how it came across on tv but I thought Stephen seemed stiff, a little nervous, and lacking in sincerity.  



"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."  Franklin D. Roosevelt    

On the livestream, although the donut man (0.00 / 0)
tried really hard (I'll give him credit there), there was a clear gravitas imbalance among the two.

Stephen looked too young, too inexperienced, too full of rhetoric.  Lynch had three terms of experience on him and a full mastery of the policy detail.

birch paper; on Twitter @deanbarker

[ Parent ]
So what does Kevin Smith, Cornerstone and NOM... (0.00 / 0)
think of Johnny's support for gay couples being able to adopt?

I don't know since Kevin bolted from the debate so fast I wasn't able to ask.

Have you told a stranger today about Bill O'Brien and his Tea Party agenda? The people of NH deserve to hear about O'Brien  and his majority committed to destroying New Hampshire and remaking it into a armed survivalist preserve.  

WMUR Lynch v. Stephen Debate Thread | 34 comments

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