ANNOUNCER: THIS IS A COMMITMENT
2020 SPECIAL: THE GRANITE STATE
DEBATES.
>> MILITARY VETERANS, BUT
POLITICAL NEWCOMERS, BOTH MEN
VYING IN THE GOP SENATE PRIMARY
SAY IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE IN
WASHINGTON.
WHEN THESE REPUBLICANS JUMPED
INTO THE PRIMARY, TALK OF
IMPEACHMENT DOMINATED HEADLINES.
A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN,
BUT THEY SAY THE CURRENT CRISES,
FROM COVID-19 TO POLICE REFORM,
MAKE IT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO
REFOCUS ON THE FLEXIBILITY OF
SMALLER GOVERNMENT.
MR. MESSNER: I AM RUNNING TO
PRESERVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
GEN. BOLDUC: I THINK CAREER
POLITICIANS ARE THE BANE OF OUR
EXISTENCE.
MR. MESSNER: I AM RUNNING TO
RETURN EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP TO
WASHINGTON DC.
ADAM: GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO
THE SECOND OF OUR GRANITE STATE
DEBATES.
I’M WMUR POLITICAL DIRECTOR ADAM
SEXTON.
TONIGHT, WE’RE JOINED BY TWO MEN
WHO COME FROM SIMILAR
BACKGROUNDS.
BOTH GREW UP IN WORKING-CLASS
FAMILIES.
CORKY MESSNER SERVED IN THE
MILITARY BEFORE MAKING HIS
CAREER IN LAW, DON BOLDUC
STARTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
BEFORE BECOMING A HIGHLY
DECORATED GENERAL IN THE U.S.
ARMY.
WMUR NEWS 9 EVALUATED ALL
LEGALLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND
SELECTED THOSE CONSIDERED MOST
NEWSWORTHY, ACCORDING TO ITS
OBJECTIVE CRITERIA TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS DEBATE.
THE CANDIDATES WILL GET ONE
MINUTE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
TONIGHT.
30-SECOND REBUTTALS WILL BE
ALLOWED AT THE MODERATOR’S
DISCRETION.
HELPING WITH THOSE QUESTIONS ARE
OUR PANELISTS, WMUR ANCHOR
MONICA HERNANDEZ AND WMUR
POLITICAL REPORTER JOHN DISTASO.
WE’RE ALL KEEPING A SAFE
DISTANCE HERE IN THE STUDIO, AND
THE CANDIDATES ARE KEEPING THEIR
DISTANCE IN SEPARATE ROOMS AT
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE INSTITUTE OF
POLITICS AT SAINT ANSELM
COLLEGE.
AND WE WANT TO NOTE, WE ARE
RECORDING THIS DEBATE, INSTEAD
OF BROADCASTING LIVE.
TO START THINGS OFF TONIGHT, WE
HAVE ASKED EACH CANDIDATE TO
TELL US HOW THEY WOULD MAKE NEW
HAMPSHIRE A BETTER PLACE.
WE BEGIN WITH MR. MESSNER.
MR. MESSNER: THANK YOU.
I WANT TO THANK THE VIEWERS FOR
WATCHING TONIGHT.
NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A BEAUTIFUL
STATE.
GRANITE STATERS ARE INDEPENDENT,
HARD-WORKING, WELCOMING, KIND,
AND CARING.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH AN
ECONOMIC CRISIS CAUSED BY A
COVID-19.
WE MUST GET JOBS BACK.
WE MUST HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.
I KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.
I AM A POLITICAL OUTSIDER.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSED ME
BECAUSE HE KNOWS I CAN HELP HIM
GET THE ECONOMY BACK.
CAREER POLITICIANS LIKE JEANNE
SHAHEEN DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWERS.
LIBERTY AND FREEDOM, EMPOWERING
GRANITE STATERS TO BRING BACK
THE ECONOMY IS WHAT WILL MAKE
NEW HAMPSHIRE BETTER.
ADAM: GENERAL BOLDUC?
GEN. BOLDUC: THANK YOU AND GOOD
EVENING.
I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A JOB
INTERVIEW TO BE YOUR UNITED
STATES SENATOR.
THAT IS THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE
THAT NEEDS TO BE MADE IN
WASHINGTON DC.
SOMEONE THAT TAKES THE POLITICS
OF SERVICE AND BRINGS IT TO
WASHINGTON DC, WHO PLACES
FINGER-POINTING.
THIS IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE
HAVE.
PEOPLE ARE NOT WORKING TOGETHER
TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS.
I WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU.
I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO YOU.
I WILL BE TRANSPARENT AND I WILL
BUILD YOUR TRUST BY LISTENING
AND LEARNING FROM YOU.
YOU WILL BE A PARTICIPANT IN THE
PROCESS, WHICH IS NOT DONE NOW.
I WILL STAY TRUE TO THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND
OUR RIGHTS AND VALUES, AS WELL
AS OUR CONSTITUTION AS WRITTEN.
THANK YOU.
ADAM: THANK YOU.
WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH THE
COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE MANY
QUESTIONS IT RAISES.
JOHN DISTASO HAS THE FIRST
QUESTION.
JOHN: GOOD EVENING.
PEOPLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE
WORRIED ABOUT WHAT MAY COME
NEXT.
A SURGE IN COVID CASES, A JOB
LOSS, LOSING THEIR HEALTH CARE,
THEIR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION.
HOW AS A U.S. SENATOR CAN YOU
GUIDE GRANITE STATERS THROUGH
THESE TIMES?
LET’S START WITH GENERAL BOLDUC.
GEN. BOLDUC: FIRST AND FOREMOST,
WE HAVE TO LEAD.
YOU HAVE TO BE PRESENT.
YOU HAVE TO BE OUT TAKING THE
CHANCES LEADERS ARE SUPPOSED TO
TAKE.
IF YOU DO NOT DO THAT, YOU ARE
NOT GOING TO BUY DOWN THE FEAR.
I BELIEVE IN PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY, TRUSTING PEOPLE.
I THINK THE COVID CRISIS CAN BE
HANDLED THAT WAY AND I THINK WE
WOULD AVOID AN ECONOMIC CRISIS.
WE HAVE TO DO OUR JOBS IN
WASHINGTON DC, PASSED TEMPORARY
LEGISLATION THAT IS NOT FULL OF
PORK AND DOES NOT HAVE A LOT OF
EXTRAS THAT INCREASE DEBT AND
CAUSE HARDSHIP.
WE NEED TO STREAMLINE THE
SYSTEMS WE WILL USE GET PEOPLE
HELP.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE TO
PUT MILLIONAIRES AND PUBLIC
SERVANTS AT THE END OF THE LINE
WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING HELP.
WE HAVE TO PUT THE PEOPLE WHO
NEED IT THE MOST UPFRONT.
JOHN: MR. MESSNER?
MR. MESSNER: I HAVE BEEN
VISITING GRANITE STATERS FOR THE
PAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND EVEN
TODAY I WAS VISITING A BUSINESS
AND IT WAS UPLIFTING TO HEAR THE
BUSINESS OWNER TALK ABOUT HOW
SHE WAS ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THE
COVID CRISIS WITH HER BUSINESS.
HOW THE PPP LOANS HELPED HER AND
THE MAINSTREAM GRANT HELPED HER.
GRANITE STATERS ARE BEING
INNOVATIVE AND WE IN WASHINGTON
DC MUST DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
TO PROVIDE HELP FOR SMALL
BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE WITHOUT
JOBS ON A VERY SPECIFIC,
TARGETED BASIS.
WE NEED TO EMPOWER GRANITE
STATERS AND MAKE SURE INDIVIDUAL
LIBERTY IS PROTECTED.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE CAREER
POLITICIANS DO NOT BOG DOWN THE
HELP THAT IS NEEDED.
THAT IS WHY WE AS A POLITICAL
OUTSIDER WILL GO AND GET THINGS
DONE, AND THAT IS WHY PRESIDENT
TRUMP ENDORSED ME.
ADAM: STAYING WITH THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC, THE NEXT QUESTION
COMES FROM MONICA HERNANDEZ.
MONICA: WITH ALL OF THE
INFORMATION BOMBARDING GRANITE
STATERS ABOUT COVID-19 RIGHT
NOW, WHAT SPECIFICALLY, DO YOU
THINK IS THE BEST SOURCE OF
INFORMATION?
WHO SHOULD GRANITE STATERS
LISTEN TO, AND WHY?
MR. MESSNER?
MR. MESSNER: THAT’S A GREAT
QUESTION.
THE SITUATION WITH COVID-19 HAS
BECOME SO POLITICIZED AND IT IS
VERY DIFFICULT TO ASSESS WHAT
INFORMATION IS THE BEST.
I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE LISTEN TO THE STATE
INFORMATION, THAT LOCAL
INFORMATION IS MOST GERMANE TO
GRANITE STATER’S AND THE PEOPLE
AND MOTHERS WHO ARE WORRIED
ABOUT THEIR KIDS GOING BACK TO
SCHOOL.
SO I THINK THE FIRST PLACE I
WOULD LOOK TO IS NEW HAMPSHIRE
AND THE PEOPLE AND THE GOVERNOR.
I THINK THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD
JOB OF PROVIDING A PATIENT TO
US.
I THINK ALSO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S
ADMINISTRATION -- PROVIDING
INFORMATION TO WES.
I ALSO THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP’S
ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE A GOOD
JOB AT PROVIDING INFORMATION TO
US.
THE INFORMATION HAS BEEN HELPFUL
TO BUSINESSES.
I HAVE HEARD THAT FROM BUSINESS
OWNERS AS I HAVE BEEN OUT
VISITING THEM.
MONICA: GENERAL BOLDUC?
GEN. BOLDUC: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
BEST SOLUTION TO ALL OF OUR
PROBLEMS ARE BOTTOM UP
SOLUTIONS.
SECURITY, GOVERNANCE, PUBLIC
SAFETY.
WE NEEDED TO START THERE, AND WE
DIDN’T.
WE STARTED AT THE TOP AND WE
ALLOWED THE MEDIA TO CONVOLUTE
THE MESSAGE.
THEN WE WENT ON FOR MONTHS AND
IT WAS CONFUSING.
THE BIGGEST MESSAGE I HEAR, I
HEARD IT TODAY AT A MEET AND
GREET WAS, WHO DO WE BELIEVE?
THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO
BELIEVE LEADERS AND THAT IS
WHERE JEANNE SHAHEEN HAS MADE
THE BIGGEST MISTAKE.
SHE HAS NOT BEEN A LEADER OR
WORK THROUGH CONFUSION OR ANY
SOLUTION THAT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE
CONFIDENCE SO THAT THEY CAN GO
BACK TO WORK AND GET KIDS BACK
TO SCHOOL, SO THEY CAN DO THE
NORMAL THINGS WE ARE SUPPOSED TO
DO.
ADAM: OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
JOHN.
JOHN: RIGHT NOW, THE US SENATE
-- THE U.S. SENATE IS STILL
HAGGLING OVER A STIMULUS BILL
THAT COULD EXTEND CERTAIN
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, SEND
DIRECT PAYMENTS TO AMERICANS AND
PROVIDE MONEY TO SCHOOLS AND
MUNICIPALITIES.
WHAT SPECIFIC PARTS OF THIS BILL
DO YOU SUPPORT, AND KNOWING
THERE ARE PARTS YOU WOULD NOT
SUPPORT, WHICH WOULD YOU BE
WILLING TO LIVE WITH TO GET A
DEAL DONE?
GENERAL BOLDUC
GEN. BOLDUC: THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR THAT QUESTION.
I AM NOT SURE ANOTHER STIMULUS
BILL IS REQUIRED.
WE STILL HAVE $1 TRILLION LEFT
IN THE OTHER ONE.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT
BOTTOM UP SOLUTIONS.
WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITIES SAYING
THEY NEED?
AND WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO
BE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT
SOLVES EVERYONE’S PROBLEMS?
THAT IS WHY WE ARE IN THIS MESS.
WE HAVE UNLIMITED GOVERNMENTS
NOW.
WE HAVE FISCAL IRRESPONSIBILITY.
THAT IS WHY THE SAFETY AND
SECURITY OF AMERICANS IS IN THE
CONDITION IT IS IN, BECAUSE
PEOPLE ARE NOT SOLVING THEIR OWN
PROBLEMS AT THEIR OWN LEVELS
BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT OVERREACH.
I DO NOT LIKE THE WHOLE THING.
I THINK CONGRESS HAS FAILED US.
FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE
STIMULUS PACKAGE, ALL THE WAY
UP, THEY HAVE LEFT PEOPLE TO GET
MONEY SO THEY CAN STAY HOME AND
NOT GO TO WORK.
THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION.
THEY HAVE INCREASED OUR DEFICIT
AND DEBT ON THE WAY TO FINANCIAL
DEBT CRISIS.
THIS IS ALL WRONG AND WE NEED TO
EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES TO SOLVE
THE PROBLEMS, NOT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO SOLVE IT FOR THEM.
JOHN: MR. MESSNER?
PLEASE TAKE THE SAME QUESTION.
MR. MESSNER: THANK YOU.
I VISITED MANY BUSINESSES AROUND
THE STATE AND TALKED WITH SOME
EXECUTIVES AT HOSPITALS AROUND
THE STATE.
IT IS REALLY INTERESTING, THE
HOSPITAL EXECUTIVES I SPOKE WITH
SAID THEY ARE DOING OK AND THAT
THEY DO NOT NEED MORE GOVERNMENT
MONEY.
I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER
HOSPITALS THAT MAY NEED MORE
GOVERNMENT MONEY.
THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT THAT
ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS BE VERY
TARGETED TO THE PEOPLE,
BUSINESSES, FIRST RESPONDERS,
COMMUNITIES THAT MAY NEED IT.
THE CAREER POLITICIANS LIKE
JEANNE SHAHEEN WHAT TO SPEND $3
TRILLION AND RUN UP DEBT.
WE HAVE TO BE MORE RESPONSIBLE
AND FIND THE PEOPLE AND ENTITIES
THAT NEED THE HELP, AND TO GO
AHEAD AND GET OUT THE $1
TRILLION LEFT IN THE EXISTING
CARES ACT.
JOHN: AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE
A COMMENT ABOUT PEOPLE INJECTING
DISINFECTANTS TO KILL THE
CORONAVIRUS, YOU SAID HE WAS
TRYING TO BE "INSPIRATIONAL."
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEANT
BY THAT?
GEN. BOLDUC: THAT IS NOT WHAT I
SAID, AND AS I HAVE LEARNED ON
THIS CAMPAIGN, WHAT SOMEONE SAYS
IS NOT ALWAYS REPORTED
ACCURATELY AND I AM STARTING TO
UNDERSTAND WHY PRESIDENT TRUMP
CALLS IT FAKE NEWS.
THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME A LOT.
WHEN I WAS ASKED THE QUESTION, I
ACTUALLY DID NOT ADDRESS THAT
PART OF THE QUESTION.
I WENT ON TO TALK ABOUT WHAT
PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DOING AND I
WENT ON TO SAY THAT SOMETIMES,
GENERALLY, PRESIDENT TRUMP TALKS
IN ASPIRATIONAL TERMS.
IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO
SPECIFICALLY REFER TO ANY THING
HE SAID.
SO PRESIDENT TRUMP, HE LIKES
TALKING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
I LIKE TALKING TO GRANITE
STATERS.
I HAVE DONE ALMOST 400 EVENTS IN
THE LAST YEAR AND TALKED WITH A
LOT OF GRANITE STATERS, AND TO
LISTEN TO.
SO I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON AND I
KNOW WHAT HELP THEY NEED, AND I
WILL GO TO WASHINGTON DC AS A
POLITICAL OUTSIDER AND PROVIDE
THAT HELP.
JOHN: GENERAL BOLDUC, YOU’VE
SAID WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE
COUNTRY AND TRUST OUR BUSINESSES
AND TRUST PEOPLE TO SOCIAL
DISTANCE AND WASH THEIR HANDS.
YET IN VARIOUS PLACES THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING RECENTLY
ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, THINGS HAVE
OPENED UP, AND THAT HAS NOT
WORKED.
WHAT SHOULD THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DO RIGHT NOW TO SLOW
THE SPREAD?
GEN. BOLDUC: THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DOES NOT NEED TO DO
ANYTHING TO SLOW THE SPREAD.
IT MUST BE LOCALLY CONTROLLED
AND HANDLED.
THE BOTTOM UP APPROACH,
COMMUNITIES, COLLEGES,
BUSINESSES, HOSPITALS, DOING THE
RIGHT THING.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY,
INTERESTING PEOPLE.
IT IS NONEXISTENT.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE PROBLEMS
THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
AND WE NEED TO BE BETTER THAN
THAT.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT
GOING TO SOLVE YOUR PROBLEMS.
IT IS ONLY GOING TO GET IN YOUR
WAY.
AND YOU WANT IT OUT OF THE WAY.
THAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT
ACTUALLY RUN BY THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS, MOST OF THE TIME, IT
IS RUN BY BUREAUCRATS AND EVERY
TIME SOMETHING IS PASSED, A
BARAKAT GETS PUT IN CHARGE OF X
-- A BUREAUCRAT GETS PUT IN
CHARGE OF EXECUTING AND IT DOES
NOT HELP THE PEOPLE IT IS
INTENDED TO HELP.
I HAVE A SON IN COLLEGE AT
PURDUE UNIVERSITY.
HE IS DOING FINE.
FOLLOW THE RULES.
USE PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND
BE RESPONSIBLE.
MONICA: GENERAL BOLDUC, IN
MARCH, YOU SAID COVID-19
PROBABLY BEGAN AS A CHINESE
BIOLOGICAL WARFARE EXPERIMENT
GONE AWRY.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH SAID A
SCIENTIFIC STUDY MAKES IT ALMOST
CERTAIN THAT COVID-19 CAME FROM
NATURE.
DO YOU STILL BELIEVE IT WAS MADE
IN A LAB, AND IF SO, WHAT
EVIDENCE HAVE YOU FOUND?
GEN. BOLDU I BELIEVE IT IS IN
A LAB AND I HAVE 18 TO 21 U.S.
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES THAT
CONFIRMED THAT.
IT WAS MADE BY CHINA.
IT WAS IN A LAB.
IT WAS EITHER ACCIDENTALLY
RELEASED, WHICH IS THE BEST CASE
, AND IN THE WORST CASE, IT WAS
INTENTIONALLY RELEASED.
CHINA IS A PROBLEM.
IT IS CHINA’S FAULT THIS HAS
TURNED INTO A PANDEMIC AND THE
VIRUS HAS SPREAD ACROSS THE
WORLD.
WE CANNOT SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM
ANY LONGER.
WE HAVE TO DRAW A HARD LINE ON
CHINA.
THEY ARE AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT
TO THE COUNTRY POLITICALLY,
DIPLOMATICALLY, MILITARILY,
INFORMATIONALLY, THEY ARE DOING
EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO SPREAD
ACROSS THE WORLD AND INTERFERE
WITH AMERICAN SAFETY AND
SECURITY, AND WE NEED TO BE ON
GUARD.
AND WE HAVE TO HOLD THEM
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
MONICA: MR. MESSNER, DO YOU
THINK COVID-19 WAS CREATED IN A
LAB?
AND NO MATTER YOUR ANSWER, IT
ORIGINATED IN CHINA, SO DO YOU
THINK THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE
ACTION AGAINST THAT COUNTRY?
WHAT WOULD THAT ENTAIL?
MR. MESSNE YES, THIS VIRUS
CAME FROM CHINA.
HOW IT GOT OUT OF CHINA AT THIS
POINT DOES NOT MATTER.
WE MUST HOLD THE CHINESE
COMMUNIST PARTY ACCOUNTABLE FOR
WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE.
AND PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL HOLD
THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY
ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT HAPPENED.
AND WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
HAS THE STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP
TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
WE NEED TO BRING BACK JOBS FROM
OVERSEAS, FROM CHINA.
WE NEED TO BRING BACK
MANUFACTURING JOBS TO THE UNITED
STATES FROM CHINA.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE
LEARNED IN THIS CRISIS IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING
GOODS IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES
FOR COMPANIES TO DO THAT.
MY USA PLAN, WE OUTLINE HOW TO
DO THAT AND HOW TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES HERE IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE, AND GET SOME OF THE
MANUFACTURING JOBS HERE.
ADAM: OUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM
JOHN.
JOHN: MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT
LIFE WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL
WHEN THERE IS A VACCINE.
HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU THAT A
VACCINE WILL BE DEVELOPED BY
2021, AND WILL YOU TRUST ONE
THAT IS BROUGHT TO MARKET THAT
QUICKLY?
MR. MESSNER?
MR. MESSNER: IT IS NOT CLEAR
EXACTLY WHEN A VACCINE WILL BE
DONE.
I KNOW THERE IS SOME TALK IT
MIGHT BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR, IF
NOT THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR.
I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE
GOVERNMENT TO FULLY DISCLOSE
ONCE A VACCINE IS DEVELOPED, HOW
IT WAS DEVELOPED, WHAT TESTING
HAS BEEN DONE, WHAT ARE THE
IMPLICATIONS OF THE VACCINE ON
INDIVIDUALS, AND SO THERE IS A
CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT DISCLOSURE
ABOUT ALL OF THE DETAILS WITH
RESPECT TO THAT VACCINE.
I THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH
IN THIS CRISIS, I THINK ANY
VACCINE DEVELOPED REQUIRES THE
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE FULL
TRANSPARENCY TO EVERY AMERICAN
BEFORE ANY AMERICAN DECIDES
WHETHER THEY WANT THE VACCINE
ARE NOT.
JOHN: GENERAL BOLDUC?
GEN. BOLDUC: THANK YOU.
VACCINES ARE A VERY SENSITIVE
SUBJECT AND I BELIEVE WHERE
THERE IS RISK, THERE SHOULD BE
CHOICE.
IN THIS CASE, I DO NOT THINK WE
FULLY UNDERSTAND THE VIRUS
ITSELF.
AND SO, HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DEVELOP A VACCINE WE CAN
ACTUALLY TRUST?
I DO NOT BELIEVE THE CURRENT CDC
AND NIH AND ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT
MEDICAL FACILITY WHICH STANDARDS
ON THIS IS BEING HELD TO THE
PROPER STANDARD FOR ANY VACCINE.
I THINK THOSE NEED TO BE
IMPROVED, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN MANDATORY
VACCINATIONS.
I WANT TO GET THAT POINT OUT
RIGHT HERE.
IT IS NOT THAT I AM AN
ANTI-BOXER, AS I HAVE BEEN --
ANTI- VAXXER, AS I HAVE BEEN
DESCRIBED, BUT I AM ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY IN PEOPLE’S RIGHTS AND
PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE CHOICE.
ADAM: JUST TO CLARIFY, WILL YOU
TAKE THE COVID-19 VACCINE
YOURSELF?
GEN. BOLDUC: I WOULD NOT TAKE IT
AT THIS TIME.
I AM GOING TO HAVE TO BE ASSURED
THAT IT IS SAFE AND DOES WHAT IT
IS INTENDED TO DO WITHOUT ANY
OTHER SIDE EFFECTS BEFORE I
DECIDE TO TAKE IT AND BEFORE I
RECOMMEND ANYONE ELSE TAKE IT.
I STILL BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE
AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.
ADAM: MR. MESSNER?
MR. MESSNER: YOU ASKED ME THE
SAME QUESTION THE OTHER DAY.
I DON’T KNOW.
THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO FULLY
DISCLOSE ALL INFORMATION ABOUT
THE VACCINE SO THAT EVERY
AMERICAN HAS THE NATION -- HAS
THE INFORMATION SO THEY CAN MAKE
AN INFORMED CHOICE WHETHER TO
TAKE IT OR NOT.
I DO NOT BELIEVE IN MANDATORY
VACCINES.
I BELIEVE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE
CHOICE.
IN ADDITION, I BELIEVE IF PEOPLE
DECIDE NOT TO TAKE THE VACCINE,
THERE SHOULD NOT BE A PENALTY
FOR TAKING -- FOR NOT TAKING THE
VACCINE.
ADAM: WE ARE GOING TO SHAKE
THINGS UP WITH A LIGHTNING
ROUND.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO 15
SECONDS OR LESS.
MR. MESMER, TWO POLICE UNIONS
HAVE TOO MUCH POWER -- DO POLICE
UNIONS HAVE TOO MUCH POWER?
MR. MESSNER: I DO NOT THINK SO.
I THINK THE POLITICIANS NEED TO
EMPOWER THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SO
THEY CAN DO THEIR JOBS WELL AND
PROVIDE THEM PROPER TRAINING.
I SUPPORT THE BLUE.
ADAM: GENERAL BOLDUC?
GEN. BOLDUC: I SUPPORT THE
POLICE.
I SUPPORT ANY ORGANIZATION THAT
FIGHTS FOR THEIR BUDGET,
CONTRACTS, AND BENEFITS.
ADAM: WHAT ABOUT TEACHERS’
UNIONS?
DO THEY HAVE TOO MUCH POWER?
GEN. BOLDUC: SAME THING.
I AM A TEACHER.
AND I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE
STANDARDS FOR TEACHERS.
BAD TEACHERS SHOULD BE FIRED.
GOOD TEACHERS SHOULD CONTINUE.
EVERYTHING SHOULD HAVE A
STANDARD.
AND I BELIEVE IN ANYONE THAT
SUPPORTS THE BUDGET, BENEFITS,
AND OUR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION.
ADAM: MR. MESSNER, DO TEACHERS
UNIONS HAVE TOO MUCH POWER?
MR. MESSNER: I BELIEVE THEY DO.
AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE
INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS, AND I
BELIEVE IN SCHOOL CHOICE.
I BELIEVE IN CHARTER SCHOOLS,
HOME SCHOOLING, ADVENTURES.
-- AND VOUCHERS.
SCHOOL CHOICE IS IMPORTANT.
ADAM: SHOULD THE FEDERAL MINIMUM
WAGE BE HIGHER?
MR. MESSNER: NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THIS IS A STATE ISSUE.
THERE SHOULD BE NO FEDERAL
MINIMUM WAGE.
IT IS A STATE ISSUE.
I THINK THE IMPACT OF MINIMUM
WAGE ON BUSINESS NEEDS TO BE
CONSIDERED CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY
STATE INCREASES IT.
ADAM: GENERAL BOLDUC?
GEN. BOLDUC: NO.
ADAM: DURING THE STAY AT HOME
ORDER, DID YOU BINGE WATCH ANY
GOOD TV SHOWS?
GEN. BOLDUC: I WATCHED "HOGAN’S
HEROES."
I LOVE THE WHOLE IDEA OF IT.
THE WHOLE CAST OF CHARACTERS.
IT IS FUNNY, ENTERTAINING, AND
IT ALLOWED ME TO RELAX.
AND I WATCHED IT GROWING UP.
ADAM: MR. MESSNER?
MR. MESSNER: I DID NOT.
I WAS BUSY STUDYING ISSUES,
TALKING TO GRANITE STATERS ON
THE PHONE, DOING ZOOM CALLS AND
TELEPHONE TOWN HALLS.
I GREW UP IN A BLUE-COLLAR
FAMILY.
I WORK A LOT AND I AM HAPPIEST
WHEN I AM WORKING.
THAT IS WHAT I WAS DOING DURING
THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER.
ADAM: AS A RULE, WHEN DO YOU
WEAR A MASK?
MR. MESSNER: FIRST OF ALL, I
THINK WE ALL NEED TO EXERCISE
GOOD JUDGMENT.
I WEAR A MASK WHEN I AM INSIDE
AROUND PEOPLE, WHEN I AM OUTSIDE
CLOSE TO PEOPLE, I DO NOT WEAR
ONE WHEN I AM OUTSIDE AND YOU
CAN SOCIALLY DISTANCE.
IT JUST REQUIRES GOOD JUDGMENT.
GEN. BOLDUC:ADAM: AS A RULE, WHE
WEAR A MASK?
GENERAL BOLDUC: I WEAR A MASK
WHEN REQUIRED AND I’M RESPECTFUL
OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WORRIED.
I JUST RESPECT OTHERS AND TAKE
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND USE
MY JUDGMENT WHEN I WEAR A MASK.
ADAM: LAST LIGHTNING ROUND
QUESTION -- DO YOU SUPPORT THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
BEING HELD AT THE WHITE HOUSE?
GENERAL BOLDUC: ABSOLUTELY.
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN USED BY
MANY PRESIDENTS TO COMMUNICATE
THEIR MESSAGE.
I DON’T SEE THAT AS A PROBLEM AT
ALL.
IT IS ON LOAN TO THE PRESIDENT
AND I THINK HE USED IT
APPROPRIATELY AND I THINK USED
IT RESPECTFULLY AND I THINK THAT
IS THE PRESIDENT’S CHOICE.
ADAM: MR. MESSNER DO YOU SUPPORT
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION HAVING BEEN HELD AT
THE WHITE HOUSE?
MR. MESSNER: IT WAS APPROPRIATE
FOR THE PRESIDENT TO GIVE THE
SPEECH ON THE LAST NIGHT OF THE
CONVENTION FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
AND I THINK IT WAS WONDERFUL.
PRESIDENT TRUMP DID A WONDERFUL
JOB.
IT WAS INSPIRING, IT WAS
UPLIFTING, IT WAS A GOOD THING
FOR AMERICA TO SEE THAT.
AFTER THAT, THEY WERE HARASSED
AND ATTACKED ON THE STREETS,
EVEN SOME GRANITE STATER’S WERE
HARASSED BY SOME ANTIFA AND THE
PEOPLE THERE.
MONICA: THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER
POLICE SHOOTING OF AN AFRICAN
AMERICAN MAN THIS ONE IN
WISCONSIN, AGAIN LEADING TO
PROTESTS, AND THIS TIME EVEN
PROMPTING PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES
-- WHY DO YOU THINK POLICE KEEP
A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF
BLACK MEN IN AMERICA?
GENERAL BOLDUC: THE STATISTICS
DON’T BEAR THAT OUT AT ALL.
MONICA: GENERAL, THE STATISTICS
ACTUALLY SHOW THAT BLACK MEN ARE
SHOT BY POLICE AT MORE THAN
TWICE THE RATE OF WHITE MEN.
GENERAL BOLDUC: I THINK THEY’RE
FACTS NEED TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE
IF YOU LOOK OVER TIME, THERE
ISN’T A DISPROPORTIONATE RATE OF
POLICE SHOOTING BLACKS, SHOOTING
WHITES, THE POLICE DO THEIR JOB
IF -- THE QUESTION IS IS IT
LAWFUL?
IS IT NECESSARY TO USE FORCE AND
DO THEY USE IT CONSISTENT WITH
THE LAW?
IT’S NOT ABOUT WHO GETS SHOT.
IF YOU ARE BREAKING THE LAW AND
ARE USING VIOLENCE AND THE
POLICE ARE WITHIN THE LAW,
WITHIN THEIR MEANS TO USE THAT
FORCE, THEN THAT IS THE
QUESTION.
EVERYBODY IS CONVOLUTED AND
THIS.
STATISTICS ASIDE, THE POLICE
HAVE A JOB TO DO.
WE NEED TO SUPPORT THEM.
SOME POLICE MAKE MISTAKES, SOME
POLICE DO IT WRONG, THEY NEED TO
BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THEIR
LEADERSHIP.
WE ARE PAINTING EVERYBODY WITH
THE SAME COLOR BRUSH.
WE CAN NO LONGER DO THAT.
THAT’S WHAT’S CAUSING THE
DIVISIVENESS.
WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND
WORK TOGETHER.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY PROBLEM AND
WE NEED TO FIX IT AT THE
COMMUNITY LEVEL.
MR. MESSNER: YES.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATISTICS ON
A PER CAPITA BASIS, YOU ARE
CORRECT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBERS ON A
GROSS BASIS, THERE ARE MORE
WHITE MEN SHOT I POLICE.
SO JUST TO CLEAR THAT UP.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS
IN CONTEXT AND THE CONTEXT HERE
IS LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS OVER 300
MILLION INTERACTIONS A YEAR, 300
MILLION INTERACTIONS A YEAR.
AND THERE ARE CIRCUMSTANCES
WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
MAKE MISTAKES THERE ARE
CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO THE
WRONG THING, DO THE BAD THING,
BUT THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE
VERY, VERY, VERY SMALL ON A
PERCENTAGE BASIS WHEN YOU
CONSIDER THE 300 MILLION
INTERACTIONS LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICERS HAVE A YEAR.
MONICA THE NEXT QUESTION ALSO
HAS TO DO WITH RACE AND JUSTICE.
DO YOU BELIEVE THERE IS SYSTEMIC
RACISM IN AMERICA?
REGARDLESS OF YOUR RESPONSE, WHY
DO YOU THINK THERE’S A
FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE IN THE
WAY AMERICANS ANSWER THAT
QUESTION?
MR. MESSNER: I DO NOT BELIEVE
THERE IS SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THE
UNITED STATES.
I THINK THE SITUATION REQUIRES
EVERYBODY TO MUSTER THE COURAGE
TO COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT
THIS ISSUE.
TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES
EFFECTING PEOPLE OF COLOR, ALL
THE ISSUES AFFECTING OUR
COUNTRY.
THERE ARE ISSUES AFFECTING
PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE
INNER-CITY THAT NEED TO BE DEALT
WITH.
THE CARNAGE THAT GOES ON IN
CHICAGO EVERY WEEKEND WITH
PEOPLE OF COLOR GETTING SHOT AND
SHOT BY OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR.
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER TO
SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AND THE
POLITICS AROUND THIS MUST STOP.
WE KNOW CAREER POLITICIANS LIKE
JEANNE SHAHEEN USE THIS ISSUE TO
TRY TO GET VOTES.
WE HAVE TO STOP DOING THAT IF WE
WANT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
BUT THERE IS NOT SYSTEMIC RACISM
.
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER, WE
NEED TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO HAVE
OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS AND
NOT HAVE CAREER POLITICIANS TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THIS ISSUE.
MONICA: GENERAL BOLDUC?
GENERAL BOLDUC: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
I ALSO AGREE THERE IS NO
SYSTEMIC RACISM.
THERE IS SYSTEMIC DIVISIVENESS.
THAT SYSTEMIC DIVISIVENESS IS A
RESULT OF POLITICS OF POWER AND
MONEY AND SELFLESS SERVICE AND
HOW CAN I GET REELECTED AND HOW
CAN I USE SOCIAL SITUATIONS TO
MY ADVANTAGE?
HOW CAN I KEEP PEOPLE IN BINS
AND SECLUDED AND THEN USE
DIVISIVE MESSAGING TO GET THEM
TO GO AGAINST EACH OTHER?
THIS IS NOT SYSTEMIC RACISM, IT
IS SYSTEMIC DIVISIVENESS.
IT’S A PROBLEM OF COMING
OCCASION, IT’S A PROBLEM OF
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP, IT’S A
PROBLEM OF FINGER POINTED --
FINGER-POINTING, A PROBLEM OF
BLAMING, A PROBLEM OF NOT
SOLVING PROBLEMS AND THAT’S THE
ESSENCE OF THE ISSUE AND THAT IS
WHY I WANT TO GO TO WASHINGTON
DC, TO REPLACE THAT AND BRING
EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP WHERE WE
WILL SOLVE PROBLEMS AND WE WON’T
CREATE VICE OF MISS WHICH LEADS
TO VIOLENCE.
JOHN: GENERAL BOLDUC, AS A
FORMER POLICE OFFICER, WHAT
WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF YOU WERE
THERE WHEN MINNEAPOLIS POLICE
OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN WAS
KNEELING ON GEORGE FLOYD’S NECK
FOR NEARLY 9 MINUTES
GENERAL BOLDUC: I WOULD HAVE
GONE OVER TO HIM AND TOLD HIM TO
GET A HALF IS NET.
WE ARE POLICE OFFICER AND WE
HAVE TWO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER
BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING -- WHEN YOU ARE IN A
ROOM AND YOU’VE GOT SIX PEOPLE
AROUND YOU AND YOU ARE ABOUT
READY TO GET YOUR BUT KICKED,
RIGHT?
IT GETS TENSE.
YOU ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE.
YOU ARE TRYING NOW NOT TO GET
PUT IN THE HOSPITAL AND I AND IN
THOSE SITUATIONS AND I KNOW THAT
WE ARE AROUND EACH OTHER TO HELP
EACH OTHER TO DE-ESCALATE.
THAT IS WHAT WE DO AND THAT’S
WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AND
IT WAS CLEAR TO ME.
NOW, WE HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE
THAT WASN’T DONE.
NOW WE NEED LEADERSHIP TO KICK
IN AND WE NEED READERSHIP TO
TAKE OVER AND WE NEED TO HOLD
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
ACTIONS.
JOHN: MR. MESSNER THERE IS A
MOVEMENT TO END QUALIFIED
IMMUNITYWHICH SHIELDS INDIVIDUAL
POLICE OFFICERS FROM BEING SUED
WHILE DOING THEIR JOBS.
DO YOU THINK QUALIFIED IMMUNITY
SHOULD BE SCALED BACK OR
SCRAPPED?
DOES MORE NEED TO BE DONE TO
HOLD POLICE OFFICERS
ACCOUNTABL
MR. MESSNER: THE FIRST THING
THAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS TO HELP
LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY.
SENATOR TIM SCOTT IN THE SENATE
PROPOSED A REASONABLE BILL TO
HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO GIVE
MORE MONEY FOR TRAINING, TO HAVE
A SYSTEM WHERE THERE’S BETTER
REPORTING AND THE CAREER
POLITICIANS IN THE U.S. SENATE,
THE DEMOCRATS WOULD NOT EVEN
VOTE TO ALLOW THAT VOTE TO COME
TO DEBATE.
IT WASN’T A VOTE TO APPROVE IT
OR NOT, IT WAS A VOTE TO DEBATE
IT AND THE CAREER POLITICIANS,
INCLUDING JEANNE SHAHEEN WOULD
NOT EVEN VOTE TO DEBATE THAT
BILL.
SO, I THINK TO HELP LAW
ENFORCEMENT TO DEAL WITH ISSUES
LIKE QUALIFIED IN UNITY, WE NEED
TO GET LYRICAL OUTSIDERS LIKE ME
IN THE U.S. SENATE WHO CAN SOLVE
THESE PROBLEMS AND DO THE RIGHT
THING, DO THE HARDER RIGHT
RATHER THAN THE EASIER WRONG AND
PLAYING POLITICAL GAMES.
MONICA: THE NATION’S LARGEST
LGBT GROUP SAYS YOU USED A
HOMOPHOBIC SLUR IN YOUR AD,
SAYING YOU DID NOT -- DO YOU
REGRET USING THAT WORD AND SINCE
A LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS SAY
THEY ARE LOOKING FOR
BIPARTISANSHIP IN WASHINGTON,
HOW DOES THAT PROMOTE TONING
DOWN POLITICAL RHETORIC?
GENERAL BOLDUC: FIRST OF ALL, WE
NEED MEN OF ACTION IN WASHINGTON
DC AND NOT MEN WITH THE BUNCH OF
PLANS AND WE HAVE TO STAND UP TO
PEOPLE.
THAT’S A MESSAGE TO THOSE
SUPPORTING AMERICAN SOCIALISM AT
THE EXPENSE OF OUR CONSTITUTION
AND AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR LAW &
ORDER AND AT THE EXPENSE OF OUR
RIGHTS AND DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
WEAK PEOPLE NOT STANDING UP FOR
AMERICA.
WE HAVE ANARCHY ON ONE SIDE AND
WE HAVE AMERICAN SOCIALISM ON
THE OTHER.
TOTAL CONTROL AND OUT OF CONTROL
AND WHAT SITS IN THE MIDDLE IS
OUR CONSTITUTION AND OUR
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND
THAT IS WHAT THAT WAS MEANT TO
CALL THEM OUT.
IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH
ANYTHING ELSE EXCEPT CALLING
PEOPLE OUT TO STAND UP FOR WHAT
IS RIGHT, TO STAND UP FOR OUR
CONSTITUTION, TO STAND UP FOR
THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF
AMERICANS.
PUT AMERICANS FIRST AND I WILL
PUT GRANITE STATER’S FIRST.
MONICA: TO BE CLEAR, DO YOU
REGRET USING THAT WORD IN YOUR
ADS THAT ONE OF THE NATION’S
LARGEST LGBT ADVOCACY GROUP
CALLED A SLUR?
GENERAL BOLDUC: NO, I DON’T.
AND TO BE HONEST, I CHECKED WITH
MY FRIENDS, MY SAME-SEX FRIENDS,
AND THEY DID NOT FIND IT
OFFENSIVE AT ALL.
IT WAS USED AS IT WAS INTENDED.
WEAK, WEAK PEOPLE, NOT STANDING
UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
MONICA: MR. MESSNER YOU HAVE
BEEN CRITICIZED FOR BEING A
CARPETBAGGER AND USING NEW
HAMPSHIRE AS A WAY TO GET
ELECTED TO THE U.S. SENATE.
YOU HAVE LIVED IN WOLFEBORO FOR
YEARS BUT JUST REGISTERED TO
VOTE THERE IN 2018.
AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE WAS SET
UP IN COLORADO AND THAT IS WHERE
YOUR LONGTIME HOME WAS AND YOUR
BUSINESS IS.
WHY NOT RUN THERE?
MR. MESSNER: I LOVE NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
I CHOOSE TO LIVE HERE BECAUSE I
LOVE NEW HAMPSHIRE.
I WILL DIE HERE.
MY KIDS KNOW TO PUT MY ASHES ON
THE SHORE OF LAKE WENTWORTH.
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, I HAVE
HELPED CONSERVE OVER 250 ACRES
IN MY COMMUNITY.
I’M ENGAGED IN MY COMMUNITY.
I KNOW ALL THE SMALL BUSINESS
OWNERS.
I’M ONE OF THE 60% OF GRANITE
STATER’S WHO MOVED HERE FROM
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
AND I’M PROUD TO BE A GRANITE
STATER.
I WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD TO BE A
GRANITE STATER AND I CHOSE TO
RUN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BECAUSE I
LIVE HERE.
AND I LOVE THE VALUES OF THE
GRANITE STATE, THE LIVE FREE OR
DIE VALUES.
AND I WILL FIGHT FOR THOSE
VALUES.
I WILL FIGHT FOR EVERY GRANITE
STATER, I WILL FIGHT FOR
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY AND ECONOMIC
FREEDOM, I WILL FIGHT SO EVERY
GRANITE STATER FOR DURATIONS
BEYOND HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
JOHN: GENERAL BOLDUC SAYS HE’S
KNOWN YOU FOR A YEAR BUT DOESN’T
TRUST YOU.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
MR. MESSNER: THAT KIND OF
COMMENT IS BELOW THE DIGNITY OF
THE VOTERS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
IT’S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT THE
ISSUES HERE.
IT’S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT
BRINGING THIS ECONOMY BACK,
CREATING JOBS, HOPING SMALL
BUSINESSES.
IT’S IMPORTANT WE TALK ABOUT
SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S
AGENDA.
THAT’S WHY HE ENDORSED ME.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSED ME
BECAUSE HE KNOWS I CAN BEAT
JEANNE SHAHEEN.
HE KNOWS I WILL HELP HIM GET
THINGS DONE IN WASHINGTON.
HE KNOWS AS A SELF-MADE
BUSINESSMAN I CAN HELP HIM CLEAN
OUT THE SWAMP AND I WILL BEAT
JEANNE SHAHEEN AND THAT’S WHAT
WE OUGHT TO BE FOCUSED ON.
WE OUGHT TO BE FOCUSED ON
GETTING THINGS DONE FOR GRANITE
STATER’S AND TALKING ABOUT THE
ISSUES AND THAT’S WHAT I’M GOING
TO DO.
JOHN: GENERAL BOLDUC, SINCE YOU
DON’T TRUST MR. MESSNER, IF HE
HAPPENS TO BECOME THE REPUBLICAN
NOMINEE, WILL YOU STILL VOTE FOR
HIM?
GENERAL BOLDUC: I WILL DO MY
UTMOST TO SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY AND THE REPUBLICAN TICKET.
YOU ARE ASKING ME A HYPOTHETICAL
THAT I DON’T THINK WILL COME
TRUE.
I BELIEVE I WILL WIN THE
PRIMARY, SO IT IS KIND OF A MUTE
POINT IN MY MIND.
BUT BOTTOM LINE IS I WILL
SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND
I WILL SUPPORT THE TICKET AND HE
IS GOING TO HAVE TO EARN MY VOTE
JUST LIKE HE’S GOING TO HAVE TO
EARN EVERY OTHER NEW HAMPSHIRE
GRANITE STATER’S VOTE.
MONICA: MR. MESSNER, YOU HAVE
BEEN OPEN ABOUT THE STRUGGLE
YOUR FATHER FACED WITH
PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS.
CAN YOU TELL US HOW THAT SHAPED
YOUR HANDLING OF THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC?
MR. MESSNER: IT WAS A DIFFICULT
THING.
IT WAS PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
THERE’S MUCH MORE TO THE STORY,
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO PROVIDE
PREVENTION, TREATMENT, RECOVERY
FOR EVERYBODY.
I THINK OUR MEDICAL COMMUNITY
NEEDS TO DO A BETTER JOB BEFORE
THEY DESCRIBE -- BEFORE THEY
PRESCRIBE THESE OPIOIDS.
I HAVE TWO SONS THAT ARE WEST
POINTERS AND MY YOUNGEST SON
LAST YEAR HAD A SHOULDER
OPERATION AND THEY ADDED AT WEST
POINT AND I WENT THERE TO BE
WITH HIM AND I SAID TO HIM, I
SAID THOMAS, ONLY TAKE ADVIL
AFTER THE OPERATION.
DON’T TAKE ANY OPIOIDS.
ADVIL IS GOOD ENOUGH, YOU CAN
GET THROUGH IT TAKING ADVIL.
MONICA: GENERAL BOLDUC, DO YOU
BELIEVE THOSE CONVICTED OF DRUG
OFFENSES BELONG BEHIND BARS AND
WHAT ADDITIONAL TOOLS SHOULD LAW
ENFORCEMENT HAVE AT THEIR
DISPOSAL TO COMBAT THE OPIOID
EPIDEMIC HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE?
GENERAL BOLDUC: FIRST OF ALL, I
THINK THERE SHOULD BE THAT ARE
SUPPORT SERVICES SO POLICE AND
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL
SERVICES PERSONNEL ARE GIVING UP
NARCAN TO OVER AND OVER AGAIN
CAN GO TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN
ACTUALLY GET ENROLLED IN A
PROGRAM THAT LEADS TO RECOVERY.
THAT’S A BIG PROBLEM THAT WE
HAVE.
RHODE ISLAND HAS A GREAT SYSTEM,
CONNECTICUT HAS A GREAT SYSTEM.
THERE’S A LOT OF GREAT TEMPLATES
OUT THERE FOR PEOPLE.
THROWING SOMEONE IN JAIL WHO IS
ADDICTED TO DRUGS WITHOUT ANY
TREATMENT IS NOT THE SOLUTION.
WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT.
THIS IS 2020.
WE HAVE TO SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT
ARE ON DRUG ADDICTIONS AND WE
HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEIR STORY.
THERE’S A STORY TO ALL OF THESE.
THERE’S VETERANS, PEOPLE THAT
WERE ADDICTED BECAUSE OF DOCTORS
CARELESSNESS AND SO WE NEED TO
UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM BETTER
AND WE NEED TO DO BETTER IN
RECOVERY AND PREVENTATIVE
PRACTICES, NOT JUST
INTERVENTION.
JOHN: MORE THAN 100,000 VETERANS
LIVE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE FIFTH
LARGEST VETS POPULATION PER
CAPITA IN THE US.
MORE THAN 100 ARE HOMELESS IN
THE STATE, AND MORE THAN 40,000
NATIONALLY.
THE CARES ACT PROVIDED BILLIONS
FOR VETERANS SERVICES INCLUDING
FOR HOMELESS VETS, BUT ADVOCATES
SAY THEY NEED AN ADDITIONAL $500
MILLION TO $1 BILLION TO HELP.
AS A VETERAN, WOULD YOU SUPPORT
ADDITIONAL HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS FOR HOMELESS
VETERANS, AND MORE GENERALLY,
PLEASE LIST PRIORITY SERVICES
FOR VETS THAT YOU SUPPORT.
GENERAL BOLDUC: I GET MY MEDICAL
CARE FROM THE VETERANS
ADMINISTRATION HERE IN
MANCHESTER.
I AM A100 PERCENT DISABLED
VETERAN AND THAT’S WHERE I GET
MY CARE AND I WILL KEEP THAT
CARE WHEN I GO TO CONGRESS UNTIL
WE FIX THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
THE BUREAUCRACY IN WASHINGTON DC
IS BROKEN AND IT NEEDS TO BE
FIXED, BUT MORE PORTLY, WE NEED
TO GET THE V.A. OUT OF THE
PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MANAGE IT
PROPERLY.
WE NEED TO PRIVATIZE ALL OF THAT
FOR OUR VETERANS AND THAT WILL
INCREASE THE CARE, IT WILL
DECREASE WAIT TIMES, AND IT WILL
GET AT THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE
EXTREMELY HIGH SUICIDE RATE FROM
2008 TWO 2018, THE ENTIRE TIME
JEANNE SHAHEEN HAS BEEN A
SENATOR, WE’VE LOST OVER 60,000
VETERANS.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A
VETERANS ADVOCATE FOR 34 MONTHS
FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE, CROSS NEW
ENGLAND AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I’M A NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON.
I WILL GO TO WASHINGTON DC AND
MAKE THE RIGHT CHANGES TO HELP
OUR VETERANS AND OUR FAMILIES.
MR. MESSNER?
ALSO A VETERAN, HOW DO YOU
RESPOND TO THAT?
MR. MESSNER: FIRST OF ALL, I
THINK MORE CHOICE FOR VETERANS
IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I DON’T THINK WE SHOULD
PRIVATIZE THE ENTIRE V.A.
MEDICAL SYSTEM, BUT I DO THINK
VETERANS SHOULD HAVE MORE
CHOICE.
MANY VETERANS I SPOKE WITH
AROUND THE STATE LIKE GETTING
THEIR MEDICAL CARE FROM THE V.A.
SYSTEM.
THEY DO.
SO I THINK THAT’S THE FIRST
THING.
SECONDLY, I VISITED SOME VERY,
VERY GOOD NONGOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP HOMELESS
VETERANS, THE BRIDGE HOUSE UP IN
PLYMOUTH, THEY DO A WONDERFUL
JOB, IT’S ENTIRELY SELF-FUNDED.
I WAS AT THE LIBERTY HOUSE LAST
WEEKEND I FOUND OUT FROM THEM
THEY CANNOT GET ANY FEDERAL
DOLLARS TO HELP THEM.
SO, THE BUREAUCRACY IS MAKING IT
TOO DIFFICULT TO HELP THESE
NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS WHO
ARE HELPING VETERANS AND WE NEED
TO CUT THROUGH THE RED TAPE.
AS A POLITICAL OUTSIDER, I WILL
GET THAT DONE.
I’M A VETERAN AND HAVE TWO SONS
SERVING AND I WILL GET IT DONE
FOR THE VETERANS.
ADAM: YOU ARE HAVING A BIT OF A
REACTION.
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
MR. MESSNER: I DON’T -- GENERAL
BOLDUC: I DON’T KNOW HOW HE CAN
UNDERSTAND WHAT HE -- WHAT
VETERANS GO THROUGH FROM THE
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION WHEN HE
DOESN’T GO THERE.
I’VE HAD FOR PRIMARY CARE
PROVIDERS AND 34 MONTHS.
I’VE HELPED LITERALLY 50 TO 60
VETERANS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GET
HEALTH CARE.
I CANNOT GET AN APPOINTMENT ON
TIME ON SCHEDULED TIME.
MY YEARLY APPOINTMENT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE IN MAY, BUT I
CAN’T EDIT UNTIL NOVEMBER.
THIS IS THE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT THINK THEY
UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUE IS AND
THEY HAVE CIRCULAR ARGUMENTS OR
CIRCULAR CONCERNS AND GOD BLESS
AMERICA, WE NEED TO HELP OUR
VETERANS AND WE NEED BETTER
SOLUTIONS THAN WHAT I JUST
HEARD.
ADAM: YOU GET A LITTLE EXTRA
TIME TO RESPOND THERE.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?
MR. MESSNER: I TALK TO VETERANS.
I TALKED TO VETERANS IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
I’VE HEARD FROM VETERANS FROM
THEIR MOUTH THAT THEY LIKE THE
CARE THEY GET AT THE V.A.
I’VE ALSO HEARD FROM VETERANS
THAT THEY LIKE CHOICE.
I’VE HEARD FROM VETERANS THEY
DON’T LIKE THE CARE THEY GET
FROM THE V.A.
WHAT I AM SAYING IS PROVIDE MORE
CHOICE FOR THOSE WHO DON’T LIKE
THE CARE AND THOSE WHO LIKE IT
CAN CONTINUE TO GET THE CARE
THERE.
IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE
OTHER.
WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM VETERANS
MANY, MANY TIMES IS THERE ARE
SOME VETERANS WHO LIKE THE CARE
THEY RECEIVE AT THE V.A. AND
COME A QUITE FRANKLY, WOULD BE
-- WOULD NOT BEFORE PRIVATIZING.
OTHERS WANT MORE CHOICE AND WANT
TO GO TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
WE CAN DO BOTH.
ADAM: THE NEXT QUESTION COMES
FROM MONICA HERNANDEZ.
MONICA: PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS
ORDERED THE PENTAGON TO MOVE
12,000 TROOPS OUT OF GERMANY.
THE DEFENSE SECRETARY ORIGINALLY
SAID IT WAS STRATEGIC, BUT THEN
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IT WAS
BECAUSE GERMANY IS NOT PAYING
ENOUGH TOWARDS FUNDING NATO.
THIS MOVE WILL COST AMERICA
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COMPLETE.
DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD
IDEA?
WILL IT MAKE AMERICA SAFER AND
IS IT WORTH THE MONEY?
MR. MESSNER?
MR. MESSNER: THAT FOR ME HITS AT
HOME.
MY SON, SECOND LIEUTENANT MAX
MESSNER IS AT THE INFANTRY
SCHOOL IN FORT BENNING, AFTER
WHICH HE WILL GO TO RANGER
SCHOOL AND HE IS SCHEDULED TO BE
DEPLOYED TO GERMANY.
I THINK WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS
DONE IS BASED ON WHAT I HAVE
READ, IS SOME OF THOSE TROOPS
ARE GOING TO BE FORWARD EMPLOYED
TO I’VE BELIEVE POLAND?
THEN I BELIEVE THE REMAINDER OF
THOSE TROOPS WILL BE ROTATED
BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.
I THINK IT IS REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT THAT MEMBER COUNTRIES
OF NATO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AND
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS DONE A GOOD
JOB REQUIRING THEM TO PAY THEIR
FAIR SHARE.
IN FACT, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
OF NATO IS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S APPROACH TO
NATO AND THE COUNTRIES NEED TO
START PAYING UP.
WE SHOULD NOT BE PAYING THE
BILLS FOR EVERYBODY.
THEY NEED TO PAY THEIR FAIR
SHARE.
MONICA: GENERAL, YOUR THOUGHTS?
GENERAL BOLDUC: I HAVE PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH NATO --
10 TOURS IN AFGHANISTAN AND IN
THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
I BELIEVE IN OUR ALLIANCES, BUT
I ALSO BELIEVE EVERYBODY SHOULD
PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE JUST LIKE
THE PRESIDENT DOES.
THAT IS A NO RAIN OR.
IT IS SOMETHING ADMINISTRATIONS
BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAVE NOT
FOCUSED ON.
BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IN
RETURNING ANY FOR STRUCTURE FROM
EUROPE BACK HOME TO THE GUIDED
STATES.
REPOSITIONING IS ONE THING, BUT
KEEPING THE FORCES WE HAVE
THERE, WE HAVE REDUCED FROM
300,000 DOWN TO THE NUMBER WE
HAVE TODAY AND THAT NUMBER WE
HAVE TODAY DOES A VARIETY OF
THINGS, NOT ONLY IN EUROPE BUT
IN AFRICA AND WE NEED THAT
FLEXIBILITY AND WE NEED THAT
STRUCTURE IN PLACE SO THAT IF
SOMETHING HAPPENS, WE HAVE
SOMETHING TO FALL IN ON.
I HAVE STUDIED THIS, I’VE WORKED
WITH THAT, I’VE LIVED IT, I KNOW
EXACTLY THE FOOTPRINT WE NEED.
WE HAVE IT JUST ABOUT RIGHT.
REPOSITIONING IS ONE THING.
RETURNING IS COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT.
JOHN: TURNING NOW TO HEALTH
CARE, GENERAL BOLDUC, WHEN IT
COMES TO HEALTH CARE YOU HAVE
SAID YOU IT’S TIME FOR A NEW
HEALTH MANAGEMENT MODEL FOR
AMERICANS INSTEAD OF DISEASE
MANAGEMENT.
THAT WOULD INCLUDE REWARDS FOR
HEALTHY BEHAVIOR.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT WOULD
WORK?
GENERAL BOLDUC: I THINK THAT
WE’VE GOT IT ALL WRONG.
I’M NOT AN ANTI-MEDICINE GUY.
EDISON HAS ITS ROLE, WE JUST
NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND
THAT’S BOTH ON THE DOCTOR SIDE
AND INDIVIDUAL SIDE, BUT I DO
BELIEVE WE BE HAVE -- WE HAVE
BECOME HOLY PENDANT ON A DISEASE
MANAGEMENT MODEL THAT IS FOCUSED
ON BIG PHARMA AND BIG MONEY AND
BIG MEDICAL MONEY AND IT HAS
INCREASED THE PRICES OF
EVERYTHING.
I BELIEVE IF WE GO TO A HEALTH
CARE MODEL INSERT TEACHING OUR
CHILDREN TO BE HEALTHY FROM DAY
ONE AND DO IT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND
WE DO IT IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND
WE DO IT EVERYWHERE ELSE AND WE
HAVEN’T LIKE AUTO INSURANCE LIKE
CHOICE, MY 30-YEAR-OLD SON
DOESN’T NEED THE SAME INSURANCE
AS AN 80-YEAR-OLD AND THEY CAN
MAKE THEIR CHOICES AND IT CAN BE
FLEXIBLE.
THESE KIND OF IDEAS WILL SAVE US
MONEY.
GETTING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OUT OF HEALTH CARE IS THE BEST
THING WE CAN DO AND THAT
INCLUDES VETERAN CARE.
YOU CAN’T HAVE IT OATH WAYS.
IT BECOMES WAY TOO EXPENSIVE.
IT BECOMES INEFFICIENT AND IT
BECOMES RUN BY BUREAUCRATS.
IT JUST DOESN’T WORK.
WE HAVE IT OATH WAYS NOW AND
IT’S NOT WORKING, SO WE CAN’T
CONCEIVABLY DO THAT AND CONTINUE
TO DO THAT.
BUT A HEALTH CARE MODEL BASED ON
HEALTH MANAGEMENT IS WHAT I HAVE
BEEN TALKING TO ABOUT PEOPLE WHO
RUN HOSPITAL HERE IN THE STATE.
JOHN: MR. MESSNER, YOU’VE SAID
SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES
CAN’T AFFORD HEALTH CARE COSTS
TODAY.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR PROPOSAL
FOR A FREE MARKET SYSTEM AND HOW
PEOPLE WITH PRE-EXISTING
CONDITIONS WOULD BE PROTECTED?
MR. MESSNER: FIRST OF ALL, IN
ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, IN ALL
CIRCUMSTANCES, PEOPLE WITH
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS SHOULD
BE ABLE TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE
AND SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH
CARE.
SO I WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE CAN DO
TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF HEALTH
CARE, THE ACCESSIBILITY OF
HEALTH CARE AND REDUCE THE COST
OF HEALTH CARE.
ONE IS TRANSPARENCY IN THE
SYSTEM.
ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT THIS
STUFF COSTS AND MAKE INFORMED
DECISIONS.
IN FACT, WHEN I WAS SPEAKING
WITH THE HOSPITAL EXECUTIVE,
THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR TOP
RECOMMENDATIONS, TO REDUCE THE
COST OF HEALTH CARE.
SECONDLY, TORT REFORM -- WE MUST
STOP THE FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS
AGAINST THE MEDICAL COMMITTEE.
THIRDLY, REDUCE THE COST OF
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS MADE A HUGE
STEP TO DO THAT WITH THE
EXECUTIVE ORDER HE SIGNED.
EARLY, ALLOW THE SALE OF
INSURANCE ACROSS STATE LINES,
INCREASE THE COMPETITION IN THE
INSURANCE MARKET, AND ALLOW
MARKET FORCES TO WORK HERE.
JOHN: COVID-19 HAS DOMINATED THE
POLITICAL AND MEDIA LANDSCAPE.
THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES.
ONE OF OUR VIEWERS SAYS HE WANTS
TO SEE ALL THE CORRUPTION TAKEN
OUT OF WASHINGTON.
PRESIDENT TRUMP RAN ON DRAINING
THE SWAMP OF CORRUPTION.
HOW DO YOU THINK HE HAS DONE TO
FIGHT CORRUPTION AND WHAT WOULD
YOU DO OR DO DIFFERENTLY?
MR. MESSNER: I THINK PRESIDENT
TRUMP HAS DONE A GOOD JOB
STARTING TO DRAIN THE SWAMP AND
I’M PROUD TO HAVE RECEIVED
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ENDORSEMENT.
I WILL HELP HIM AS THE NEXT U.S.
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE TO
DRAIN THE SWAMP AND, IN FACT, A
BIG STEP TO DOING THAT IS FOR ME
TO GET ELECTED AS A U.S. SENATOR
RETIRING JEANNE SHAHEEN.
CAREER POLITICIANS LIKE JEANNE
SHAHEEN CREATE THE PROBLEM IN
THE SWAMP.
AND WE DON’T NEED TO REELECT
PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
JOHN: GENERAL, HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT THAT?
GENERAL BOLDUC: I FEEL THEY
ELECTED THE PRESIDENT FOR THE
SAME REASONS I’M GOING TO GET
ELECTED.
HE WAS NOT PART OF THE SWAMP,
HE’S NOT PART OF THE
ESTABLISHMENT, HE’S NOT PART OF
THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, HE’S NOT
PART OF THE LOBBYISTS.
HE WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY THE
ESTABLISHMENT.
HE WOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT TODAY
IF THE ESTABLISHMENT WERE TO
PICK HIM.
HE WOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT TODAY
IF WE DID NOT HAVE AN ELECTORAL
COLLEGE.
I WILL GO DOWN THERE AND
REPRESENT AMERICA BECAUSE I’M
JUST LIKE PRESIDENT TRUMP.
I DID NOT GET HIS ENDORSEMENT,
BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN I’M NOT
GOING TO SERVE WELL.
ADAM: FINAL QUESTION HERE --
THERE IS SO MUCH ANIMOSITY IN A
COUNTRY RIGHT NOW AND IT SEEMS
LIKE INSTEAD OF PEOPLE HAVING
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION, THERE’S
JUST A LOT OF HATRED EVERYWHERE.
HOW DOES AMERICAN UNITE --
AMERICA UNITE AND HOW DO YOU
HELP HEAL THE DIVIDE?
GENERAL BOLDUC: IT’S A SIMPLE
PROCESS.
IT’S GOING DOWN THERE WITH THE
IDEA THAT PUBLIC SERVICE IS
FIRST AND YOU ARE GOING TO SERVE
OTHERS AND YOU PUT OTHERS BEFORE
YOURSELF.
THAT’S NOT BEING DONE NOW AND IF
WE CONTINUE ON THIS ROAD, WE
WILL NEVER EVER TURN THE CORNER
ON BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
IT IS A NARRATIVE FROM MEN OF
ACTION, NOT A BUNCH OF PLANS,
BUT MEN OF ACTION WHO ARE GOING
TO GO DOWN THERE AND DO THE
RIGHT THING CONSISTENT WITH
CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY, AND SELFLESS
SERVICE AND THAT HAVE PROVEN
THAT IN THEIR LIFE, A LIFETIME
OF SERVICE AND DON’T COME WITH A
BUNCH OF BAGGAGE, AND I MEAN A
BUNCH OF BAGGAGE THAT THE
DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HAVE A
FIELD DAY WITH THAT’S GOING TO
PUT PEOPLE IN TO KUNG FU STAND.
ADAM: MR. MESSNER?
MR. MESSNER: I THINK IT TAKES
COURAGE, CHARACTER, AND
LEADERSHIP, AND I HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THAT WITH ALL THE
ATTACKS THAT HAVE BEEN LEVELED
AGAINST ME FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.
FROM THE DEMOCRATS, FROM OTHER
PEOPLE.
I’VE BEEN ATTACKED IN EVERY
DIRECTION AND WHAT HAVE I DONE?
I’VE STAYED ON THE HIGH GROUND,
I SHOWED LEADERSHIP, I SHOWED
COURAGE, I FOCUSED ON GRANITE
STATER’S, I FOCUSED ON THE
ISSUES THAT GRANITE STATER’S ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT.
SO TO GET THROUGH AND BRING
PEOPLE TOGETHER, YOU’VE GOT TO
HAVE COURAGE AND CHARACTER TO BE
ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE HEAT TO DO
THE RIGHT THING, TO DO THE
HARDER RIGHT INSTEAD OF THE
EASIER WRONG.
ADAM: WE’VE GIVEN EACH CANDIDATE
60 SECONDS FOR A CLOSING
STATEMENT.
MR. MESSNER, YOU CAN GO FIRST.
MR. MESSNER: THANK YOU AND I
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
WATCHING TONIGHT.
I WOULD BE HONORED TO EARN YOUR
VOTE ON SEPTEMBER 8.
I GREW UP IN A BLUE-COLLAR
FAMILY.
I WENT TO WEST POINT, GRADUATED
FROM WEST POINT, I’M A VETERAN.
I SERVED IN THE ARMY AND HAVE
TWO SONS THAT ARE WEST POINTERS.
I HAVE A WONDERFUL DAUGHTER.
I HAD A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
CAREER.
I BUILT A BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH.
I AM SELF-MADE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSED ME
BECAUSE HE KNOWS I CAN HELP HIM
GET THE JOB DONE IN WASHINGTON
DC.
INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY, ECONOMIC
FREEDOM, WE MUST NOT SEND BACK
CAREER POLITICIANS TO THE SWAMP.
WE MUST ELECT POLITICAL
OUTSIDERS LIKE ME WHO KNOW HOW
TO GET THINGS DONE, WHO KNOWS
HOW TO CREATE JOBS, WHO KNOWS
HOW TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.
I HAVE A LOT OF BUSINESS
EXPERIENCE.
I WANT TO EMPOWER GRANITE
STATER’S TO GET THIS ECONOMY
BACK.
THANK YOU.
ADAM: GENERAL BOLDUC?
GENERAL BOLDUC: THANK YOU FOR
THE GREAT QUESTIONS AND THANK
YOU TO ALL THE VIEWERS.
THANK YOU TO CORKY MESSNER AS
WELL.
I WILL SERVE NEW HAMPSHIRE AS
NEW HAMPSHIRE’S NATIVE SON.
I’VE BEEN A RESIDENT HERE FOR 58
YEARS AND I’M 58 YEARS OLD.
I’VE BEEN A REPUBLICAN SINCE I
WAS 18 YEARS OLD.
I HAVE LEARNED VALUES AND ETHICS
WORKING ON MY FAMILY FARM IN
GUILFORD MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I
HAVE TAKEN THOSE WITH ME EVERY
PLACE THAT I HAVE GONE.
I LOVE THIS STATE, I LOVE THIS
COUNTRY.
I WANT TO EARN YOUR VOTE.
I WANT TO EARN YOUR VOTE BECAUSE
I WANT TO GO DOWN THERE AND
REPLACE THE POLITICS OF POWER
AND MONEY AND SELF LEASE --
SELFLESS SERVICE WITH INTEGRITY.
IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO BE ON
THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, IT HAS BEEN
AN HONOR TO MEET PEOPLE THE
GRANITE STATE AND IT HAS BEEN AN
HONOR TO SEE THE STATE IN A
DIFFERENT WAY THAN I HAVE EVER
SEEN IT.
ADAM: THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AND THANK YOU FOR THE
CANDIDATES.
WE WANT TO THANK THE CANDIDATES
FOR THEIR TIME AND WE WANT TO
THANK YOU FOR JOINING THESE
GRANITE STATE DEBATES.
TOMORROW, WE WILL HEAR FROM THE
REPUBLICANS R
