Walker Amps Up Delegates at State Convention
The Wisconsin governor gave the keynote address at Pinkerton Academy.
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker joked to New Hampshire Republicans on Saturday that he has to stand in at their state convention because the Granite State doesn't have a GOP governor to call its own.
But he told delegates in the audience that will change come November, when he said Republican gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne will be elected into office.
Walker went after Lamontagne's opponent Maggie Hassan, slamming what he thought was her involvement with 53 tax increases, until the crowd abruptly corrected him that it was 99.
"It is amazing to me that someone who was for an income tax before she was against it can somehow now say she's an anti-taxer in this state," Walker said.
Walker also drew ties to himself and GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, his fellow Wisconsin man who spoke at a rally in the Pinkerton Academy field house earlier in the morning.
"I figured it's appropriate you have two guys from America's dairy land in Derry here in New Hampshire," Walker said. "(Paul Ryan) was flying out literally when I flew in and I told him my plane is a little smaller than his is these days."
The two didn't stray far on their criticisms of President Obama either, as Walker echoed Ryan almost verbatim when he bashed the unemployment rate being above 8 percent.
"We need to send a message – a positive message – that there's something better," Walker said. "We have now seen the fourth consecutive budget with a deficit of more than a trillion dollars."
Walker called the Democratic agenda one that is measured by those who are dependent on the government.
"We define success by how many people are not dependent on the government," he said.
Walker took from a recent trip to Independence Hall in Philadelphia to close out his keynote, which he described as no bigger than the stage he was standing on.
He told the delegates that it was his first trip to the famous site despite his love for history.
"I grew up loving history so much I thought of our founders as superheroes – bigger than life," Walker said.
He called those of America's past "men and women of courage" who thought more about the future of their children and grandchildren more than their own political futures.
"Let this be a time when we can look back and tell our children and grandchildren someday that we were there, we were in the game," he said. "It's not just another election. This is about the future of our states and of our country. We need to act now."
Mike Healey
3:26 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
Mr. Crush the American Worker, meet Mr. Ovide "Crush the American Worker on Steriods" Lamontagne.
Hate worker rights? Wait til Ovi get a hold of them.
Jan Schmidt
4:14 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
We know Walker is in the pocket of the Koch brothers, even arraigning privatization of profitable government programs, direct to them.
Does that mean that Ovid is in another pocket?
Steve Coombes
8:37 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
I've become accustomed to seeing Mike & Jan's faithful left-wing attacks on virtually every politically-related article here on Patch. I fully support their right to continue making numerous statements with which I disagree.
Those who truly care about "worker rights" should understand leveling the playing field through free markets, not tilting it in governmental favor of one group over another such as through enforced unionization, is an important - and correct - policy for ensuring economic growth.
Speaking of both Scott Walker and Ovide Lamontagne, Maggie Hassan's website calls Ovide an "extremist" with a "mission to destroy middle class families and workers' rights." (http://www.maggiehassan.com/extremism-on-steroids/)
In fact, the same article reminds us how Ovide said he'd be "Scott Walker on steroids." In other words, willing to stand up to power-hungry unions willing to bankrupt the communities they "serve" and lock out perfectly capable prospective employees unwilling to hand over their hard-earned money to unions for the right to work in the same workplace.
I'll agree with the Hassan campaign on this one. Taking a strong stand IS politically divisive and radical. Particularly among the many politicians unwilling to stand up and be counted for a correct vote on these "divisive" issues.
Well, Mr. Lamontagne, it's your STAND that earned my vote in the primary and your continued STAND that will earn my vote in November. Thank you for it.
Sean O'Keeffe
10:31 pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012
The liberal politicians support the unions because the unions support the liberal politicians. It's a vicious cycle utilizing funds from tax payers on one side and union dues on the other, regardless of whether the tax payers or union members approve.
Jan Schmidt
6:12 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
I support the unions because they stand between the corporations that have one goal, to make more money, and the people who need safety and security in the workplace. Don't count on government regulations to do this, the new-right in Congress is chipping away at those protections as we speak.
Unions bring balance to our society, protect people, and helped to create and maintain a middle class, and that has been the major fuel for our economic engine.
If Ovide is funded by corporations that are out to destroy unions, and therefore our middle class, then he isn't interested in a democracy... What's it called when corporations control the government?
I think we're at a crossroads here, and we need to make a decision... are we a county of, by, and for the people.... A place in the middle, where government, business and citizens have a working partnership to make this a better place for all of us? Or will we let the destruction of our freedoms continue?
Kevin Kervick
7:41 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sean is correct. It is a money-laundering scheme. Why is it legal?
DLC
6:58 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
The unions care about one thing. Your dues. The power they get from running a union and the huge paycheck they earn from your dues. They care about power only.
Check to see what your union bosses make and spend on their junkets.
Do not be a sap. Fight for good people to elect into office to protect your rights and keep your union dues in your pocket.
Gary A. Gahan
7:14 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Jan I am sorry to advise you that our former government of the PEOPLE, by the PEOPLE, and for the PEOPLE disappeared some time ago........because we the PEOPLE in our infinite "wisdom" have allowed 435 "representatives", 100 senators, and one president through pure ignorance of what has been going on around us to become our saviors! We the PEOPLE are now being ruled and our lives ineffectively run by these 536 people who are sitting far from our every day lives and personal issues in the comforts of Washington! At the rate that this group has been allowed to now run the lives of "WE THE PEOPLE" their Washington location that we let this group live in has become a cesspool of graft, corruption, and a whole lot more. We have become mindless "Obots"......is that the life that you wish to live? I personally do not feel that the patriots of the American Revolution had that in mind and perhaps are now even turning over their graves at warp speed if they have any knowledge of the destruction "WE THE PEOPLE' have allowed to continue to remove bit by larger bit the liberties that they shed their blood for!
Jan Schmidt
10:30 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Gary, you stopped making sense when you used the fake word obots... If the system is broken, it broke long before President Obama was elected.
To fix our political system start by taking the money out of politics. No more PACs, no more fake non-profit organizations that produce propaganda, no more corporate money spent on elections.
There's an ad running now against one party that has the sponsor in tiny type with the word NH in it... This is actually a Koch sponsored group based in another state. This kind of manipulation of our politics is wrong... and it needs to stop.
News Flash
7:35 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Obama Deputy Campaign Manager: ‘Shameless Lying Liar’
http://nation.foxnews.com/stephanie-cutter/2012/09/27/hannity-and-michelle-malkin-tear-obama-deputy-campaign-manager-shameless-lying-liar
Jan Schmidt
10:32 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
And the man who wants to be VP?
http://www.upworthy.com/fact-check-five-blatant-lies-from-paul-ryans-convention-speech?g=2&c=la1
Charles Hatch
10:04 am on Sunday, September 30, 2012
Unions protect workers from discretionary and arbitrary acts of bad faith. Not having a Union is like standing in front of a Judge in court with out an attorney , oh sure you can represent yourself ( pro se ) the outcomes are self evident and usually advest. Living wage's - better working conditions - the list gos on & on. It's not a good time in 2012 to be a Republican.... Leave our collective bargaing
alone, Police,Fire, Teachers, We Vote, We care, We matter.
Steve Coombes
7:43 pm on Thursday, October 11, 2012
Saw a video tonight that reminded me of this article and reinforced why I do NOT support unions... or politicians who support them. Unions are FINING members who refuse to go out and support the candidate of the union's choice. Now how is THAT a good thing?
http://nation.foxnews.com/elizabeth-warren/2012/10/11/weekly-standard-unions-fine-members-who-dont-show-support-elizabeth-warren