Portsmouth
Democratic Party
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The Tent Meeting of August 19th was a divisive and painful experience for the town of Portsmouth. Campaign ads for Portsmouth Republicans, and Peter McIntyre in particular, take the Democrats to task for attempting to halt the meeting by depriving it of a quorum. They imply the Democratic officials neglected their duties and that the Republicans “represent all the citizens”. They are certainly entitled to their opinions, however we believe a different perspective is in order.
First - The tent meeting was a meeting of citizens. It was not a council meeting or school committee meeting. The town council and the school committee had no power to take any votes or other action at that meeting. Every elected official was there solely in their capacity as a private citizen. Mr. McIntyre’s implication that a council or school committee decision could have been made at that meeting is untrue, and he knows it.
Second – The actions of Democratic officials ran the spectrum. Just like the Portsmouth voters they represent, some left the meeting, some stayed, and others were unable to attend at all due to family obligations. That is clear evidence that there is room for all voices in the Democratic party and it is the Democrats who truly represent the broad spectrum of Portsmouth voters. The Democrat “big tent” is larger, more tolerant and friendlier than one set up in Glen Farm on August 19th .
Third - Those officials made a personal decision to exercise their right to leave the meeting after every attempt at compromise had failed. It was a last ditch effort to prevent devastating cuts to the town and school budget. They knew it would be unpopular and they were subjected to jeers, catcalls and insults as they departed. Agree with it or not, it was an action of conscience and principle.
Fourth - Mr. McIntyre did stay at the meeting. He publicly stated he did not agree with the cut to the town side of the budget and was later so upset that he cursed the school system for being such large part of the overall budget, referring to them as the “god*amn schools”. Although he supported the school budget cut, no one disputes he was emotionally upset at the cut to the Town budget. Despite his alleged opposition, he sat silently when the motion was made to cut the town budget. When the time finally came to look the PCC supporters right in the eye and tell them he thought they were wrong and the town budget should not be cut, he failed us. Should voters be impressed that he didn’t walk out if he also didn’t stand up for the budget he believed best served the town? Will he ever stand up to the PCC? Will his running mates? Regardless of your position on the budget, in the long run we are always better served by having public officials who act honestly, on principle and conscience. We submit that on August 19th those officials were the Democrats.
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