NHDP - ICYMI Editorial: Baldasaro shows he can't serve all veterans

Past time for O'Brien, Bettencourt, and the NHGOP to remove Baldasaro as Chair of the Veterans Affiars Committee or state if his comments are the official position of New Hampshire Republicans

Concord, NH - In a scathing editorial today, the Derry News echoed the calls of New Hampshire veterans and more than 700 people disgusted by State Representative Al Baldasaro's recent comments about an American soldier serving in Iraq, asking for him to be removed as Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the State House.[10/5/2011; 10/6/2011; Petition].

Last week, Rep. Al Baldasaro remarked that a member of the military "disgusted" him and that he thought it was "great" when the audience boo-ed the soldier because of his question about the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy at the Republican Presidential Debate. [10/3/2011]

"Speaker William O'Brien needs to consider whether Baldasaro is the right person to lead the Veterans Affairs Committee. Clearly, he is not," wrote the Derry News. 

The editorial also repeatedly called Rep. Baldasaro's comments "disgusting," and added that, "It's disgusting that an elected representative would approve of the booing of a soldier - any soldier - serving in a combat zone. It's disgusting that Baldasaro, a Marine veteran, does not honor the military service of a fellow American. Tell us, Al, if - God forbid - Hill takes an al-Qaida bullet for his country, will you still be disgusted by him?"

The Derry News concluded, "It is truly appalling that someone in Baldasaro's position would support the booing of a soldier. Baldasaro should apologize for his ill-considered comments and step down from the chairmanship of the Veterans Affairs Committee."

The more than 700 petition signatures for Rep. Baldasaro's removal can be found here, and the full text of the editorial is below.

NHDP - Over 500 Call for NH House Speaker O'Brien to Remove Rep. Al Baldasaro

Over 500 Call for NH House Speaker O'Brien to Remove Rep. Al Baldasaro Concord, NH - Over 500 people have joined New Hampshire veterans in calling for Republican House Speaker Bill O'Brien to remove Rep. Al Baldasaro as Chair of the House Veterans Affairs Committee in just 24 hours.  Last week, Rep. Al Baldasaro remarked that a member of the military "disgusted" him and thought it was "great" when the audience boo-ed the soldier because of his question about the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy at the Republican Presidential Debate. [10/3/2011] The more than 500 individuals who have called for Rep. Baldasaro removal come on the heels of continued calls for Baldasaro's resignation from New Hampshire veterans [10/5/2011; 10/6/2011]. "If Republican House Speaker Bill O'Brien and Majority Leader DJ Bettencourt won't remove Rep. Baldasaro from his Republican leadership post as Chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee, then Senator Kelly Ayotte, Congressmen Charlie Bass and Frank Guinta, and candidate Ovide Lamontagne should make clear to voters if Rep. Baldasaro shameful comments are the official position of the New Hampshire Republican Party," said Harrell Kirstein, press secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "Sadly, the silence from Republican leadership isn't surprising.  In addition to the loss of over 1,500 jobs, their reckless and irresponsible tenure over the past 10 months has been marked by nationally embarrassing gaffs, from calling the Catholic Bishop a "pedophile pimp" to a member of the Republican caucus advocating for eugenics, all without an apology from Speaker O'Brien to the people of New Hampshire," continued Kirstein. The full text of the petition is below, and list of the more than 500 individuals who have signed it can be found here. Remove NH Rep. Al Baldasaro as chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee During a recent Republican presidential debate, the audience infamously boo-ed a gay soldier serving in Iraq, and not one candidate on stage rebuked the audience's inappropriate boo-ing. Now, one New Hampshire State Representative Al Baldasaro said the boo-ing of a man serving his country in Iraq was "great." Baldasaro told Think Progress, "I was so disgusted over that gay marine coming out...He doesn't realize it, but when the sh** hits the fan, you want your brothers covering your back, not looking at your back." Baldasaro's response is shameful and an insult to the constituency he is supposed to serve as chair of the Veterans Affairs Committee in the New Hampshire State House.  State Representative Al Baldasaro's public and egregious disdain for an American serving in Iraq makes Baldasaro unquestionably unfit to represent the state's veterans. Al Baldasaro is clearly incapable of serving as an advocate for all veterans and Speaker O'Brien must swiftly remove him from this position. Sincerely, Name ###

Statement from Former NHDP Chair Kathy Sullivan on Hateful Comments by Rep. Al Baldasaro

Republican Party leadership's silence amounts to a tacit endorsement of Rep. Baldasaro's shameful comments and despicable behavior.

 
Concord - Last Wednesday before the state's House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Al Baldasaro issued a hateful tirade against some of our New Hampshire families.  
 
He said "I wanted to make sure everyone understood here, that this legislature sold the rights of $10,000 per kid under title four, when they said that homosexual couples, not married, can adopt.  So we sold each kid to a homosexual couple that's not married for $10,000."  Click here for a link to the full story and a video of Rep. Baldasaro's remarks.
 
In response to these hateful remarks, Kathy Sullivan, Democratic National Committeewoman and former Chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, released the following statement:
 
"Rep. Baldasaro's comments were sad, hateful and outrageous, and an attack on hardworking New Hampshire families who are trying to raise their children to be good and productive members of our community.  He even reinforced his comments -- in response to calls to apologize he issued a statement full of despicable remarks about NHDP Chair Raymond Buckley."
 
"But equally disappointing is the Republican Party leadership's silence on this issue - silence that amounts to a tacit endorsement of Rep. Baldasaro's shameful comments and despicable behavior."
 
"All Republican candidates for higher office, Republican Chair John H. Sununu, House leadership, and Republican 16th District Senate candidate Rep. David Boutin should denounce these hateful, insulting remarks and demand Rep. Baldasaro apologize.  A failure to do so will speak volumes about their support for his statements and his leadership within the Republican Party."
 
"Anything short of a full-throated condemnation of his statements amounts to clear signal to Rep. Baldasaro and other Republicans that this type of behavior is not only acceptable, but supported by the Republican Party."