Time to Get Back to Fiscal Issues
May 14, 2009For the past 6-8 weeks, all the headlines coming out of the legislature have dealt with social issues, specifically the bathroom bill and same-sex marriage. I think Republicans and Democrats in Concord have both made something of a political mistake in allowing themselves to get distracted and bogged down on these issues. No matter how much passion a relatively small number of activists on both sides may feel about them, these social issues are far secondary for most NH voters whose priorities are fiscal: jobs, taxes, the budget deficit, cost of health care. Focusing on these fiscal issues is the way to appeal to the broad middle of the electorate that decides elections in this state. Let’s get to it.
Grant Bosse
May 14, 2009
Fergus,
We haven’t been distracted. The Democrats set the agenda, and have decided to spend the Legislature’s time and energy on pushing a radical agenda instead of fixing the budget mess they created.
Engaging on those issues isn’t a mistake. It’s an opportunity. Failure to make Democrats pay a political price for their ridiculous priorities would be a mistake.
Brinck Slattery
May 14, 2009
Fergus is dead on here. Let’s get to work on making sure our state isn’t bled dry.
SteaknAle
May 15, 2009
The reason the legislature has been tied up in social issues is because our own party ignored them for far too long…
lildog
May 15, 2009
Fergus, you’re wrong in your claim that “Democrats in Concord have both made something of a political mistake in allowing themselves to get distracted”. Think about it, if you were a Democrat would you want to discuss the huge deficit created by your own party, the out of control spending of your party, the continual push for new taxes by your own party? Democrats are smart pushing mostly insignificant social issues because it takes the heat away from the real problems they’ve created.
Look at the UNH polls from the past few years, most citizens of NH aren’t even aware that NH is running a deficit.
FergusCullen
May 16, 2009
Good point lildog. But to get to Grant’s post, too, by falling for the Dems bait on social issues, the GOP has missed an opp to make this argument: The NH Dems are captives of the far left with an extreme agenda, while the GOP is focused on smaller government and keping taxes low. This is where we should be fighting. Instead we’re fighting on issues that are at best secondary priorities to most voters.
Grant Bosse
May 16, 2009
But isn’t every issue a secondary priority to most voters. Even taxes and spending, which I consider “the” core Republican issue, doesn’t motivate 51% of all voters. Maybe 51% of Republicans, but no single issue motivates a majority of voters. If we fail to engage when Democrats take New Hampshire over the edge, we’re telling a sizable part of the conservative coalition that we won’t be there for them if fighting for their issues is politically inconvenient.
And we can engage on the Democrats radical social agenda, while reminding voters that there are huge budget and pension problems facing the state.
I guess I don’t understand what alternative approach you’re advocating. Should we just stop talking about social issues? Ignore Lynch’s lack of any conviction when this highlights his lack of leadership? There have been plenty of folks taking about the budget while all this has been going on (jbartlett.org), but not a lot of people paying attention.
If we stop taking the bait, as you say, should Sherm Packard and Peter Bragdon hold a press conference on the Capital Gains Tax on the day of the gay marriage vote? I’m trying to picture what not engaging on these issues would mean.
Dave Jarvis
May 16, 2009
Fergus,
The real mistake of conservatives is not to use gay marriage as an opportunity to reintroduce parental consent as an issue. It’s relevant because of the extreme differences with which Lynch treated the two issues.
If the his position on the repeal of parental consent was effectively stuffed down his throat today, he would most assuredly choke on gay marriage.
The real mistake of conservatives is not playing hardball on abortion.
We don’t even have to go as extreme as I would like to to turn this thing around. The reintroduction of parental consent should be a political mantra. Lynch is giving us a great opportunity to jam him on it. If we do it and keep it up, 2010 will turn the tide.
If there’s anyone here who knows how to solve the economy, and boost jobs in this economy, please stand up. Otherwise, it should definitely be social issues that take conservatives back into office in 2010.
Race to the possible, not the impossible.