Concord – Former United States Senator John E. Sununu released the following statement today on Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s attempt to dodge debates with Scott Brown:

“Granite Staters expect to be represented by public officials who are not afraid of their own records. During my campaigns against Jeanne Shaheen, we participated in numerous head-to-head debates hosted by respected New Hampshire organizations including the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Debates at local Chambers are especially important during this campaign, given the ongoing economic challenges facing our state and country.

“Jeanne Shaheen is dodging debates with Scott Brown because she knows that she cannot defend her record of voting with President Obama 99 percent of the time. Her transparent attempt to avoid a serious discussion of the issues by declining invitations and refusing to appear on stage with Scott undermines our political process and is extremely disrespectful to New Hampshire voters.”

BACKGROUND:

John Sununu and Jeanne Shaheen squared off in a head-to-head debate hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce: (Shaheen, Sununu debate future of Social Security, Union Leader, 10/31/2002)

Jeanne Shaheen is now refusing to appear on stage with Scott Brown at a debate hosted by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and the Nashua Chamber of Commerce: (Shaheen refuses to be on stage with Brown at Chambers’ debate, NH Journal, 9/29/2014)

SHAHEEN REFUSES TO APPEAR ON STAGE WITH BROWN AT MANCHESTER AND NASHUA CHAMBER DEBATE

Desperate Senator Refusing To Participate In Debate Moderated By Respected Journalist Mark Halperin

Concord -Senator Jeanne Shaheen has informed the Manchester and Nashua Chambers of Commerce that she will not participate in a debate with U.S. Senate candidate Scott Brown. Shaheen’s staff told organizers that the senator is refusing to appear on stage with Brown to discuss the important issues facing New Hampshire and will only participate in a “forum” with separate appearances. The debate was to be co-sponsored moderated by respected journalist Mark Halperin of Bloomberg Media.

“Senator Shaheen is refusing to appear on stage on with Scott Brown at this criticaldebate because she is unable to defend her record of voting with President Obama 99% of the time. At a time when Senator Shaheen is on a phony ‘jobs tour,’ it is outrageous that she would try to skip a debate about jobs with two of New Hampshire’s largest and most respected chambers of commerce,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “Senator Shaheen has avoided town hall meetings in New Hampshire, skipped critical committee hearings about national security in Washington, and now she is trying to duck debates. Her disgraceful behaviorreminds Granite Staters that Washington has changed Jeanne Shaheen, and it’s time to change Senators in November.”

Nashua Chamber of Commerce President J. Christopher Williams told New Hampshire Journal that Shaheen’s arrogant campaign staff made it clear they do not believe that Granite Staters deserve any additional debates between the candidates.

“The Shaheen campaign made it clear to the Nashua and Manchester Chambers last week that they had already committed to three televised debates involving both candidates sharing a stage, and therefore felt adding a fourth debate involving a joint appearance would not be ideal,” said Williams.

Senator Shaheen has also declined to participate in debates hosted by WGIR-AM radio and Franklin Pierce University. Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Walt Havenstein and Governor Maggie Hassan have agreed to seven debates.

Concord – The Boston Herald reports today that Senator Jeanne Shaheen has skipped nearly half of the public hearings held by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Shaheen, who holds a coveted seat on the committee, missed a crucial hearing in April, 2013 that included one of the first warning about the rise of ISIS in Syria.

“Jeanne Shaheen is an absentee senator who won’t hold town hall meetings in New Hampshire and won’t attend critical Senate committee hearings on national security in Washington. She refuses to think for herself and blindly votes with President Obama 99 percent of the time,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “New Hampshire is an independent state, and it’s sad that Granite Staters are being poorly represented by an Obama puppet and a no-show senator like Jeanne Shaheen. It’s time to replace her with a responsible leader like Scott Brown who will stand up for his constituents and work tirelessly to restore America’s standing in the world.”

In March of 2013, Shaheen’s office issued a press release raising “grave concerns” over reports that Syria had used chemical weapons. On the same day, the Senate Foreign Committee held a hearing on “counterterrorism policies and priorities,” but Shaheen wasn’t “concerned” enough to bother showing up for it.

In July of 2013, Senator Shaheen was one of only two senators to skip a mandatory summit on filibuster reform. After refusing to explain her absence, Shaheen finally admitted that she missed the meeting to attend a Wall Street fundraiser for her campaign.

Additionally, it has been 757 days since Jeanne Shaheen held a town hall meeting with her constituents.

Marilinda Garcia, candidate for Congress in New Hampshire’s 2nd District, will travel to Newport Thursday morning to tour five local businesses and meet with Newport voters.

Who: Congressional candidate Marilinda Garcia
What: Newport Small Business Tour
When: Thursday, starting at 10am
Where: 10:00am: Lake Sunapee Bank
10:15am: Sugar River Bank
10:30am: Lance Jewelry Store
10:45am: Hubert’s Department Store
11:15am: LaValley Building Supply
12:00pm: Lunch at Newport Village Pizza

Members of the media who wish to interview Marilinda or follow her on a tour should contactkenny@marilindagarcia.com.

Absentee Senator Declines Invitation To Debate The Issues

Concord – New Hampshire Republican State Committee Chairman Jennifer Horn released the following statement today after Senator Jeanne Shaheen informed organizers at Franklin Pierce University that she will not participate in the first debate of the general election:

“New Hampshire voters deserve a robust debate about the issues and ample opportunity to compare Scott Brown’s record of independent leadership with Jeanne Shaheen’s record of voting with President Obama 99 percent of the time. It is unacceptable for Senator Shaheen to duck debates – especially since she has declined to hold any town hall meeting for over two years,” said NHGOP Chairman Jennifer Horn. “Jeanne Shaheen wants to limit a discussion about the issues in this campaign because she knows that she can’t defend her blind support for President Obama’s disastrous agenda. Shaheen’s unwillingness to participate in every debate insults voters and proves that New Hampshire needs a new senator in November.”

Scott Brown has challenged Senator Shaheen to participate in seven debates – the same number of debates that Walt Havenstein and Governor Maggie Hassan have agreed to hold in their race.