I wish Buddy Roemer was allowed in the debate tomorrow. He's a republican that impresses me, he wants fair elections without PAC money.
Rachel Maddow had him on again tonight. He's polling like Huntsman, in the low single digets. So why can't he be a part of the debate? clo
'We Need a Change of Direction'
Republicans gather in Salem for GOP Labor Day Picnic.
By Jake O'Donnell
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September 5, 2011
Republican pride was in the air Monday at the Salem/Windham GOP Labor Day Picnic at Salem-Derry Elks, an event that featured two presidential candidates and the wife of another.
Nearly every 2012 GOP presidential candidate was represented at the picnic by supporters and booths, but former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman were in attendance as well as Ann Romney, wife of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
The chair of the Salem GOP Committee, David Garcia, stressed party unity before the candidates spoke.
"Whoever the eventual nominee is I hope we all pull together behind them," Garcia said. "We really need to make a change at the top. I hope everyone works as hard as they can to make that happen."
"It starts at the local level," N.H. State Senator Chuck Morse said. "No one wants to spend anymore money on taxes. We need your support to get our message out there."
Roemer has been living in Manchester since he started campaigning and joked that his accent is a giveaway that he's from "southern New Hampshire."
Roemer has centered his campaign on only accepting $100 campaign contributions and publicly discloses each donation.
"Somebody running for president ought to tell you the truth," Roemer said. "The truth is we've lost most of our jobs because of unfair trade with a few nations."
Ann Romney said she went back on her public pledge to not go through another presidential campaign because of the direction of the country.
"We have to do this again," she said. "I'm 100 percent committed to working as hard as I can for everything my husband wants to do."
Romney called her husband "a business guy" and said it was time for him to turn around the country.
"We need him desperately," she said.
Huntsman, who has staked his entire candidacy on winning the N.H. primary, said "it's time to get America producing again," and wants to see the country acheive greatness.
"We're about to pass down our nation to the next generation less good, less competitive, less productive than the country we got," Huntsman said. "We're not passing upwards, we're passing downwards. I don't know about you but that upsets me."
Huntsman said Barack Obama won the White House in 2008 based on hope, and wants to win based on solutions.
Before departing the picnic, Huntsman, an avid motorcycle rider, took a ride around the Elks Club parking lot on an attendee's motorcycle.
A number of local and state officials also spoke at the Monday picnic, including N.H. House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt, who recently endorsed Romney.
"We need a change of direction in this country," Bettencourt said, while thanking those who've supported Republican efforts in the state legislature.
"We need to create a business environment where people hire people to do real jobs," said a fired-up U.S. Rep. Charles Bass. "That will be our theme during the fall...We need a strong Republican Party in Salem and the adjoining towns...We will have a new president in the White House."
Former N.H. gubernatorial candidate John Stephen, who recently endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry for president, said entitlement reform and jobs are of major importance.
"Let's make sure we bring a Republican to the White House in 2012 and send Barack Obama packing," Stephen said.
http://windham.patch.com/articles/we-need-a-change-of-direction
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