Shea-Porter the best ever?
With his customary hyperbole, state Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley today said this about Rep. Carol Shea-Porter:
“Carol Shea-Porter is the best to ever represent the first district in Congress. Since her election back in 2006, no one has fought harder to protect working families, veterans and our children. She is an independent leader, and has a long record of providing real results for her constituents.”
The best to ever represent the 1st District? Wow, she must be super-awesome. In just one term, in which she sponsored no major legislation and has remained little-known outside New Hampshire and DC-insider circles, she has eclipsed the 1st District’s most famous representative, Amos Tuck.
That would be the Tuck after whom Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business is named. It would be the Tuck who represented the 1st District from 1847 to 1853, first as an Independent Democrat, then as a Free Soiler, then as a Whig, and whose independence and leadership contributed to the creation of the Republican Party.
At the time, New Hampshire was dominated by Democrats. Tuck became disaffected by his party’s support for slavery and President James K. Polk’s war against Mexico. He broke from his party, ran on an anti-war, anti-slavery platform and became, it is said, the first independent elected to Congress.
Tuck was a pivotal vote in Congress and became a national anti-slavery leader. He helped draw Northern Democrats out of the Democratic Party and into what became the anti-slavery, or Republican, party. He was historically consequential.
Carol Shea-Porter? Not so much.
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The best ever? Hmm. Well, I don’t know a lot about Tuck, but I do know this: Shea-Porter voted against the first stimulus package under the Bush administration because she thought it was irresponsible to spend that sum of money. Presto-chango, she voted in favor of Obama’s stimulus package. Same amount of money, different party in power. Partisan or principle? Seems like she’s wearing her rose-colored partisan glasses.
Comment by Burch — March 16, 2009 @ 9:01 pm
The fact that Tuck helped create the party that inflicted George W. Bush on the country disqualifies him from consideration as the best.
Comment by Ray Buckley — March 17, 2009 @ 12:00 pm
But Ray, it’s the same party that saved the Union and freed the slaves. You’re saying that Shea-Porter has set in motion accomplishments more consequential, or more positive, than that?
Comment by Drew Cline — March 17, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
Best Ever? ….regarding Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley’s statement about rep Shea-Porter, WOW! Least effective ever, all talk no action, photo-op hungry, these statements would be far more true no matter who made them. As for the subjects he mentioned, wel what has she done for “families, veterans, and our children”?? She has merely shown up at every photo-op when either State or Federal government money or programs about to take place. As stated in the story by Mr.Cline in just one term, she has sponsored no major legislation and has remained little-known outside New Hampshire and DC-insider circles, now these statements are also very true! So how does State Dem.Chair. Buckley come up with that statement? Answer:…he went to the Cathy Sullivan School of “IF YOU CAN’T DAZZLE THEM WITH BRILLIANCE, BAFFLE THEM WITH BS”, located in Concord. I will say one thing Rep.Shea-Porter probably has the best record of appearing when cameras are within 500 ft. of her.
Comment by D. A. MacKay — March 17, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
Ray Buckley, I stubbed my toe this morning when I got out of bed. Does this mean I can blame Bush too? Typical broken record response from a Democrat. The best for district 1? Shea- Porter loaded farm subsidies into a war bill, and who puts on a faux act saying that she supports Vets….As a Vet I say BS.
Comment by Alex K. — March 17, 2009 @ 1:22 pm
Mr. Buckley,
I am amazed that you have been given a position of power and responsibility in the Democratic Party of New Hampshire. But as a Republican, that makes me happy. Looks like that seat to represent the First District will be back in competent hands in no time.
Mr. Cline, in a very informative post, attempts to educate you on what you should already know about the glorious history of your state. And you respond with a knee-jerk, idiotic non sequitur about Bush. It is about as relevant as saying Ms. Shea-Porter is “disqualified” from “best-ever” consideration because president James Buchanan was a Democrat.
I’ll be helpful and link to Buchanan’s Wikipedia entry … but also spoil the surprise a bit. Buchanan is universally considered among the very worst presidents in U.S. history.
Comment by Jlakely — March 17, 2009 @ 8:20 pm
I can’t believe Raymond would insult Norm D’Amours like that.
Comment by Fergus Cullen — March 18, 2009 @ 8:02 am
Fergus, it is no insult to Norm. I have high respect for Norm, he did a great job but Carol is outstanding. I could not be more proud of having her as my member of congress, and the folks of the first district agree - that’s why she won in 2006 and 2008.
Comment by Ray Buckley — March 18, 2009 @ 10:36 am