Sununu, Benson & Gov’t Dependency

By on December 11, 2012 in

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I’ve got a new op ed in the Union Leader today on the recent comments of former Republican governors Sununu, Merrill & Benson saying Barack Obama won because of those dependent on government; here are some excerpts:

In the world of Sununu, Merrill and Benson, it is wise policy when they want to take or give away government help to those who don’t need it. But when it is helping low-wage employees who aren’t paid enough to insure their kids, or middle-class families trying to save their homes or send their kids to college, well, that’s just us good-for-nothing Americans wanting stuff.

Compare those citizens to Sununu, who lost his government job as George H.W. Bush’s chief of staff over his use of government jets and limos, to attend political fundraisers and visit ski lodges, golf resorts and his dentist in Boston. One trip, to the Vail ski resort, cost taxpayers $86,330. Talk about government dependency!

Then there was Benson’s war on the business profits tax. In 1990, Cabletron threatened not to expand in New Hampshire if the state did not reform the BPT to Cabletron’s liking. Cabletron sued the state, claiming the tax was unconstitutional, refusing to pay $13 million in taxes until the law was changed. Merrill must remember Cabletron’s demands; in 1993, Benson said that Gov. Merrill had promised to do whatever Rhode Island was doing to get Cabletron to expand there, “times 10.” Times 10? Now that is giving away “stuff!”

 

It is time for Sununu, Merrill and Benson to stop trying to delegitimize Barack Obama’s election with this notion that somehow those who voted for Romney are pure of heart, while those who did not are greedy moochers. It isn’t true. We voted for President Obama because as patriotic Americans who want what is best for our country, we think he will do a better job than Mitt Romney.

When I was researching the piece, I came across the story of how Cabletron once laid off hundreds of workers, including over 100 here in New Hampshire, the week before Christmas. Benson’s company took millions in tax incentives from Ohio, then just a couple of years later closed its Ironton OH plant, laying off hundreds. I bet he considers unemployment benefits getting “stuff”. What a creep.

And Sununu? His racist dog whistles continue to be a disgrace to our state, and to the office of governor, because even though he was in office a long time ago, in what now seems a galaxy very far away, he still always is referred to as former New Hampshire governor.

And Merrill? He agreed with everything. Blech.

Anyway, if you are interested in reading the whole piece, here is a link:

http://www.unionleader.com/art…

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  • hannah

    one thing, our currency. The federal government is the only entity which produces our certified IOUs, which are, in a sense, little different from marriage certificates, just much more multitudinous, since every Tom, Dick and Harry uses them to signify their good faith.
    So, when Congress determines that dollars should be rationed, it serves to undermine our exchange and trade. Why they should want to do that is a puzzlement, unless there’s a strain of sadism that mainly affects Congressmen.
    Public officials are our agents. They are tasked with managing public assets and resources, not us. When public officials, like Sununu, take resources for their own purposes, instead of managing them for the public good, they are unjust stewards and being insubordinate and deserve to be dismissed, as Sununu was. That Sununu continues to expose his past bad behavior to public view suggests that his quota of discretion is virtually nil.
    The electorate in 2012 re-hired the good steward. If Republicans can’t see that, they’re simply not fit for public office.
    What Romney wanted people to believe was that his predation and deprivation would be applied selectively–that he would only punish people who wouldn’t vote for him. The bully attitude obviously got him lots of bucks, it didn’t buy him enough votes.
    Too many — we’ve got some educatin’ to do.

  • chrisv

    for doing this research, and writing the op-ed.  We can’t let people forget.

  • Rep. Jim Splaine

    …some of these greedy Republicans are pieces of work.  And from his seat on the House Labor Committee, he saw some of them up close whenever the so-called Right-To-Work bill came up in those days.

    Many of those who have “made it” did so on the backs and from the hard work of others.  Not always, of course.  Some inherited their wealth, and others did it by their own sweat and labor.  But a lot of others who are wealthy — especially in Corporate America — got their status by figuring out how to make money from other people.  And finding people who would work for short dollars to produce their product or sell their service.

    Nothing’s inherently wrong with that.  It’s our capitalistic concept, and it has made our economy vibrant and our nation strong.  BUT, paying fair livable wage instead of bottom dollar, and being fair and honest to the consumer as well as being good neighbors and supporting the community is important too.

    Thanks Kathy, for doing a good commentary piece and putting it in a newspaper that will be read by a lot of those who might disagree.  It gives them something to think about, even if it conflicts with their own mindset.  ”A Christmas Carol” has a lot of meaning at this time of year — and the other seasons too.  

    • Ray Buckley

      How can you be a former has-been?

      • JonnyBBad
        • Rep. Jim Splaine

          …is what all of us were once, and perhaps will always be again maybe.  Double-negatives are so much fun, or not.  

          • GreyMike

            Or give me something else.

      • FrankLloydMike

        Still-is, as far as I’m concerned, regardless of his electoral status.

        • Rep. Jim Splaine

          …I’ll rate that comment “excellent!”  Thanks.  

      • Rep. Jim Splaine

        …as to what I’ll do next.  Does that get your heart beat racing faster?!

        • Ray Buckley

          no doubt about that! Thankfully after being a vegetarian for 22 years I have a healthy heart.

          Twenty years from now Rick can join us sitting in the back row of the House where we can sit back and watch the young ones do the work.

          • Rep. Jim Splaine

            …I’m completing my Year #2 beginning next month.  

            But I don’t know if either of us have 20 years more of this!

            Gotta update your own tagline.  Just 23 months to the next election now.  Or 694 days.  Or just about 99 weeks!  

  • mevansnh

    are both embarrassing puppets and tools of the extremist right wing.  How wonderful it would be if they’d just disappear off the stage, and stop hurting this state and country with their ignorance and racism.

    • cblodg

      Let Ayotte keep doing what she’s doing.  Makes it easier to make her a ONE TERM senator.