>> THIS IS A COMMITMENT 2020
SPECIAL.
THE GRANITE STATE DEBATES.
 THE MAJOR GOP CONGRESSIONAL
CANDIDATES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE’S
SECOND DISTRICT SHARE AN
ADVANTAGE, VOTERS KNOW WHO THEY
ARE.
TWO OF THE TOP FINISHERS FROM
THE 2018 PRIMARY ARE FACING OFF
AGAIN FOR THEIR PARTY’S
NOMINATION, BUT THIS REPUBLICAN
REMATCH IS PLAYING OUT AGAINST A
DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT BACKDROP.
>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT RACE, IT
WAS A DIFFERENT TIME.
>> THE CANDIDATES’ PERSONAL
EXPERIENCES WITH COVID-19 AND
RACISM HAVE BECOME PART OF THE
DISCUSSION.
 I BECOME A BETTER PERSON FOR
IT.
>> WHO IS BETTER EQUIPPED TO
LEAD NEW HAMPSHIRE THROUGH THESE
EXTRAORDINARY TIMES?
>> IT IS ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER.
>> AND TO FACE A FOUR TERM
INCUMBENT IN NOVEMBER.
 I’VE SPENT MY WHOLE LIFE
RUNNING TOWARD THE FIGHT.
>> TONIGHT, THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES FOR THE SECOND
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US FOR THE LAST OF
OUR GRANITE STATE BAIT.
I’M WMUR POLITICAL REPORTER.
 FEATURES
CANDIDATES WHO ARE ALREADY
EXPERIENCED OPPONENT, BUT SHARE
THE GOAL OF FLIPPING THE SECO
STEVE NEGRON IS  OFFICER.
HE HAS LIVED IN NASHUA 30 YEARS.
LYNNE BLANKENBEKER IS AN
ATTORNEY AND COMBAT NURSE.
SHE HAS SERVED IN THE NEW
HAMPSHIRE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
WMUR NEWS EVALUATED ALL
LEGALLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND
SELECTED THOSE CONSIDERED MO
NEWSWORTHY ACCORDING TO ITS
OBJECTIVE CRITERIA TO
PARTICIPATE IN THIS DEBATE.
THE CANDIDATES WILL GET ONE
MINUTE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, 32ND
REBUTTALS WILL BE ALLOWED AT THE
MODERATOR’S DISCUSSION.
OUR QUESTIONS WILL COME FROM
CHERISE LECLERC AND JOHN
DISTASO.
AS WE KEEP OUR DISTANCE IN THE
STUDIO, THE CANDIDATES ARE
STAYIN DISTANT IN SEPARATE
ROOMS AT THE NEW HAMPSHIRE
INSTITUTE OF POLITICS.
WE ARE RECORDING THIS DEBATE
INSTEAD OF BROADCASTING LIVE.
TO START THINGS OFF, WE HAVE
ASKED EACH CANDIDATE TO TELL US
HOW THEY WOULD MAKE NEW
HAMPSHIRE A BETTER PLACE.
>> THANK YOU, ADAM.
THANK YOU JOHN AND CHERISE FOR
MODERATING TONIGHT.
SO, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS A
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PLACE.
I MOVED HERE IN 1993 TO RAISE MY
FAMILY.
WHEN WE MOVED TO NEW HAMPSHIRE,
IT WAS OUR GOAL TO HAVE A PLACE
WHERE WE COULD RAISE OUR BABY
WHERE THERE WAS FREEDOM, GOOD
SCHOOLS, LOW CRIME, AND WE STILL
LOVE NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE LOVE
EVERYTHING ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE,
THE GEOGRAPHY, AND SO MANY
WONDERFUL THINGS TO DO.
UNFORTUNATELY, NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS
SUFFERED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT
ECONOMIC PRICES DUE TO COVID, SO
WE HAVE GOT TO REALLY WORK AT
GETTING BUSINESSES BACK UP AND
RUNNING AND GET OUR ECONOMY
GOING AGAIN.
SO, I’M GOING TO WORK REALLY
HARD, BRING MY LEADERSHIP AND
HELP IN CONGRESS TO WORK WITH
THE GOVERNOR, SO THAT WE MAKE
SURE WE RESTORE NEW HAMPSHIRE TO
THE PROSPERITY THAT IT WAS
ENJOYING BEFORE COVID.
ADAM: MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: GOOD EVENING.
LOOK, NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS BEEN
UNDER ATTACK FOR THE LAST FOUR
CONGRESSIONAL TERMS.
THEY HAVEN’T HAD A VOICE IN
WASHINGTON.
TO MAKE NEW HAMPSHIRE BETTER IS
TO GIVE THEM A VOICE IN
WASHINGTON AND I INTEND TO DO
THAT.
WE HAVE THIS CRONYISM THAT IS
TAKING NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THIS
WHOLE COUNTRY WILL WAY WE DON’T
WANT IT TO GO AND I BELIEVE WE
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THE
GRANITE STATE KNOW WHAT WE NEED
TO DO, SO I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO
THIS DEBATE AND I’M LOOKING
FORWARD TO TELLING THE FOCUS OF
THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT -- I WAS YOUR NOMINEE
LAST TIME AND I’M GOING TO BE
YOUR NOMINEE AGAINST -- AGAIN
THIS TIME AND LET’S MAKE NEW
HAMPSHIRE BETTER.
ADAM: LET’S GO TO JOHN DISTASO
FOR OUR FIRST QUESTION.
JOHN: THANK YOU AND GOOD
EVENING.
GRANITE STATERS HAVE BEEN
DEALING WITH THE CORONAVIRUS
ABOUT FIVE MONTHS.
PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE ANXIOUS
ABOUT THEIR HEALTH, KIDS GOING
BACK TO SCHOOL, THEIR JOBS, AND
SOCIETY IN GENERAL.
WHEN DO YOU THINK THE PANDEMIC
WILL REALISTICALLY END AND HOW
WILL WE GET THERE?
MR. NEGRON, PLEASE.
MR. NEGRON: THANK YOU FOR THE
QUESTION.
I THINK THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME
AS IT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE
PANDEMIC ITSELF, BUT THE
REACTION TO THE PANDEMIC.
WE CAN’T HAVE A
ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL SOLUTION.
IT I CLEAR THAT THERE ARE
UNIVERSES OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEED
TO PROTECT.
WE NEED TO DO THOSE THINGS TO BE
ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE
PROTECTIONS.
BUT I DON’T BELIEVE EVERYBODY
HAS TO BE SPRAYED WITH THE SAME
ANTIDOTE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE PEOPLE OUT
THERE THAT WANT TO GET BACK TO
WORK.
WHEN I GET ON THE PHONES AND
WALK THE DISTRICT, THEY ARE ABLE
TO GET BACK OUT.
KIDS WANT TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL,
TEACHERS WANT TO TEACH.
TAKING THE NECESSARY
PRECAUTIONS.
I THINK THE TIME IS NOW TO OPEN
UP NEW HAMPSHIRE AND THIS
COUNTRY AND I THINK THE PEOPLE
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE GOING TO BE
BETTER FOR IT.
WHEN WE KNOCK ON DOORS, THEY ARE
HAPPY TO SEE US AND HAPPY TO BE
GETTING LIFE BACK IS NORMAL.
JOHN: THANK YOU.
MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: THANK YOU.
 TOO GET OUT IN THE DISTRICT
AND TALK TO VOTERS FROM CO.
HOSKIN COUNTY DOWN TO THE --
COOS COUNTY DOWN TO THE
MASSACHUSETTS BORDER.
I HEAR THE SAME THING ACROSS THE
STATE.
FOLKS ARE TIRED OF BEING COOPED
UP, THEY ARE READY TO GET OUT.
AND FOLKS AREN’T -- THEY WANT
THEIR FEARS LAID.
IT IS EASY AS A NURSE TO BE ABLE
TO HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH
THEM ABOUT REALISTIC FEARS.
FOLKS ARE READY TO GET BACK TO
SCHOOL.
I TALKED TO THE YOUNG CHILDREN
AND THE STUDENTS.
THEY ARE READY TO GO BACK TO
SCHOOL.
THE SCHOOLS HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB
TO PUT SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE.
SAME THING WITH THE WORKFORCE.
ONE OF THE BEAUTIES WE HAVE SEEN
FROM COVID IS THAT WE ACTUALLY
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE
TO WORK FROM HOME OR GO TO
SCHOOL FROM HOME, SO WHEN PEOPLE
AREN’T FEELING WELL, WHETHER IT
IS COVID, WHETHER IT IS THE FLU,
WHETHER IT IS ANY OTHER VIRUS,
THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A
SUBSTITUTE WHERE THEY WILL BE
ABLE TO WORK FROM HOME OR SCHOOL
FROM HOME.
SO, WE ARE TRYING TO PUT A
POSITIVE SPIN ON THIS AND
LESSONS LEARNED AND HELP PEOPLE
PREPARE FOR MOVING FORWARD.
ADAM: THANK YOU.
LET’S GO BACK TO MR. NEGRON.
GOVERNOR SUNUNU PUT AN EMERGENCY
ORDER IN PLACE REQUIRING PEOPLE
AT PREPLANNED GATHERINGS OF 100
PEOPLE TO WEAR MASKS.
YOU ARE AT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S
RALLY IN LONDONDERRY AND YOU DID
NOT WEAR A MASK.
WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO
GRANIT STATERS THAT A POTENTIAL
CONGRESSMAN DOES NOT FOLLOW THE
GOVERNOR’S EMERGENCY ORDERS?
MR. NEGRON: WE LOOKED AT WHAT
THE EVENT WAS THERE IN
MANCHESTER, THERE WAS OVER 100
PEOPLE, THAT’S RIGHT, BUT YOU
KNOW WHAT?
I WAS OVER TO ONE SIDE.
I DON’T THINK IT A MESSAGE OTHER
THAN I’M A PERSON, I MAKE MY OWN
DECISIONS.
I WASN’T THE ONLY ONE THAT WAS
THERE.
THE PRESIDENT WAS THERE WITHOUT
THE MASK.
THERE WERE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE
THAT WERE NEW HAMPSHIRE
RESIDENTS THAT WERE WITHOUT THE
MASK.
THE GOVERNOR DID SHOW UP AND HE
WORE A MASK.
IT WASN’T A POLITICAL STATEMENT.
IT WAS ME SAYING, I KNOW MY
SURROUNDINGS, I KNOW MY HEALTH,
AND I KNOW I DIDN’T HAVE TO WEAR
A MASK, SO I DIDN’T DO IT.
I DIDN’T LOOK AT IT AS SOME SORT
OF A PROTEST.
IT WAS ME MAKING MY OWN PERSONAL
DECISION.
JOHN: BU SIR, YOU DIDN’T
FOLLOW THE ORDER.
WHAT ABOUT THAT?
MR. NEGRON: WELL, CERTAINLY, IF
THAT WAS SOMETHING THE GOVERNOR
WOULD HAVE SEEN ME AND WHATEVER
THE PENALTIES WERE, HE WOULD
HAVE BIT -- BEEN WITHIN HIS
RIGHT AND JURISDICTION TO DO
THAT.
THERE WASN’T A SINGLE PERSON
THAT DIDN’T HAVE A MASK THAT WAS
CHALLENGED OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT, SO I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE
GOVERNOR’S ACTIONS WOULD HAVE
BEEN.
BUT I WOULD HAVE COMPLIED
ACCORDINGLY.
JOHN: THANK YOU.
MS. BLANKENBEKER, YOU WERE ALSO
AT THE RALLY.
NUMEROUS GROUP PHOTOS SHOW YOU
TAKING PHOTOS WITH PEOPLE
OUTSIDE THE EVENT.
YOU ALSO DID NOT HAVE A MASK ON.
WHY NOT BE CAUTIOUS AROUND OLDER
AND VULNERABLE PEOPLE?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: AS YOU KNOW, I
HAD COVID AND I HAVE THE
ANTIBODY TO COVID, SO I MASK IS
NOT APPROPRIATE TO ME AS FAR AS
MY ABILITY TO SPREAD THE VIRUS.
THE CPC HAS COME DOWN AND SAID
THAT IF YOU’RE A
SYMPTOMATICALLY, YOU ARE NOT
CONTAGIOUS.
WITH MY ANTIBODIES AND THE FACT
THAT I HAVE HAD COVID, I WASN’T
A RISK TO MYSELF OR TO OTHERS.
I DID WEAR MY MASK, BUT WHEN I
WAS TAKING PHOTOS, WE AGREED IN
A GROUP TO TAKE OUR MASK
SOFTWARE THOSE PHOTOS.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
CHERISE LECLERC.
CHERISE: THANK YOU, GOOD
EVENING.
THE PUSH CONTINUES TO DEVELOP A
COVID-19 VACCINE.
A LOT OF MONEY HAS PUT INTO THAT
PROJECT.
THE PRESIDENT HAS REPEATEDLY
SAID HOW PROMISING THE VACCINE
DEVELOPMENT IS AND HOW MUCH IT
WILL HELP CURB THE SPREAD OF
CORONAVIRUS.
WHEN DEVELOPED, WILL YOU GET THE
VACCINE AND DO YOU THINK ENOUGH
AMERICANS WILL IN ORDER TO BRING
THE VIRUS UNDER CONTROL AND WE
WILL START WITH YOU, MS.
BLANKENBEKER.
MS. BLANKENBEKER THANK YOU.
I PROBABLY WON’T GET THE
VACCINE.
I AM IN THE MILITARY.
IF THE MILITARY MANDATES IT, I
WILL FOLLOW THE RULES AND GET
THE VACCINE IF IT IS MANDATED.
BUT I BELIEVE IN VACCINE CHOIC
THIS IS A RUSH TO MARKET
VACCINE.
AS A HEALTH CA PROVIDER, WE
GIVE RESEARCH DRUGS AND WE GIVE
WELL RESEARCHED MEDICATIONS.
THIS IS THAT RUSH TO MARKET
VACCINE.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THIS
LOGICALLY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE
KNOWN ABOUT COVID SINCE MAYBE
JANUARY OR FEBRUARY AND IT IS
NOW AUGUST, SO THAT IS ROUGHLY
SEVEN MONTHS.
GESTATIONAL PERIOD FOR A HUMAN
FETUS IS NINE MONTHS AND WE HAVE
NOT EVEN TESTED THIS TO SEE WHAT
THE IMPACT WOULD BE ON A FULL
GESTATIONAL PERIOD.
FOR ME, I THINK IT IS A RUSH TO
MARKET VACCINE AND I THINK ANY
TIME THAT YOU HAVE A RISK
INVOLVED, THEN THE PERSON WHO IS
TAKING THAT RISK SHOULD HAVE THE
CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY
WANT TO TAKE THE VACCINE, BUT I
PERSONALLY HAVING HAD COVID AND
HAVING HAD ANTIBODIES, I DON’T
NECESSARILY NEED THE VACCINE
EITHER.
CHERISE: THANK YOU SAME
QUESTION, MR. NEGRON.
MR. NEGRON ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK ALL OF THAT IS A
PERSONAL CHOICE.
THE FLU SHOT IS SOMETHING WE
HAVE EVERY YEAR AND I MAKE A
PERSONAL CHOICE WHETHER OR NOT I
WANT TO TAKE IT.
WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES AND
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE MAKE THE
RIGHT DECISION FOR OURSELVES.
ANYTHING THAT IS MANDATED TO ME,
I GET BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.
I AS AN INDIVIDUAL NEED TO MAKE
THAT ASSERTION.
I NEED TO DO THE RESEARCH.
I NEED TO DO THE ONE WHO MAKES
THE DECISION FOR ME OR MY FAMILY
OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
I CAN TELL YOU WHITE NOW, I
PROBABLY WILL NOT TAKE THE
COVID-19 VACCINE.
I WILL RESEARCH IT.
I WILL READ UP ABOUT IT.
I’M NOT YOUR TYPICAL FLU SHOT
GUY EVERY YEAR EITHER.
IT IS JUST MY NATURAL PATTERN.
I’M NOT SOMEBODY THAT IS GOING
TO GO AND LOOK AT A VACCINE
BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT TELLS ME
I HAVE TO TAKE IT.
ADAM A QUICK FOLLOW-UP, IF
PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED YOU TO
TAKE THE VACCINE, WOULD THAT
MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: PRESIDENT
TRUMP IS MY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF
AND IF HE REQUIRED IT FOR THE
MILITARY, I WOULD BE TAKING IT.
ADAM: MR. NEGRON?
IF HE ASKED YOU TO TAKE THE
VACCINE, WOULD YOU?
MR. NEGRON: I WOULD TAKE THAT
UNDER ADVISEMENT AND THAT THE
END OF THE DAY, IT WOULD STILL
BE MY PERSONAL DECISION.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION FROM JOHN
DISTASO.
JOHN: WE ASKED VIEWERS AND
FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS TO LET US
KNOW WHAT PART OF THE COVID-19
CRISIS IS MOST CONCERNING TO
THEM.
THIS RESPONSE CAME FROM DONNA
WHITNEY, WHO SAID HERS IS ABOUT
"THE DEBT WE A COMPOUNDING."
SHE CONTINUES, WE NEED TO BE
LOOKING AHEAD IN BALANCE LOOKING
AT THIS CURRENT CRISIS.
AND SHE ADDS, ANYONE BURIED IN
DEBT, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GET
OUT OF IF EVER.
HOW WOULD YOU CONTROL SPENDING
WHILE DIRECTLY RESPONDING TO THE
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC?
MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: THAT IS A GREAT
QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
I WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF THIS
MASSIVE BAILOUT PACKAGE BECAUSE
OF THE TYPE OF MONEYS THAT WERE
INSIDE THIS PACKAGE.
TO ME, IT WOULD BE A SIMPLE
LITMUS TES
IF THE MONEY WAS GOING TO BE
USED FOR SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING
DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE
COVID-19, THEN I WOULD BE
WILLING TO LISTEN TO IT.
IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WERE A
LOT OF THINGS IN THAT PACKAGE
THAT WERE NOT DIRECTLY AFFECTED
BY COVID-19.
I THINK THAT WAS A WAY FOR THE
DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR THE
SOCIALIST LEANING LEFT PARTY TO
GET THINGS INTO A BUDGET THEY
COULD NOT GET THROUGH THE NORMAL
PROCESS.
I’M A FISCAL HAWK.
I UNDERSTAND WE CAN’T KEEP
SPENDING THE WAY WE ARE.
I THINK THIS FIRST ROUND DID
HELP SOME PEOPLE, BUT I BELIEVE
THERE WAS SOME BLOATED SPENDING
THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO
THE STREET.
JOHN: THANK YOU.
MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER I’M ABSOLUTELY
A FISCAL RESPONSIBLE PERSON.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CARES ACT
AND THE PACKAGES THAT CAME
THROUGH, THERE WAS SO MUCH PORK
AND SO MUCH BLOAT THAT WAS NOT
GOING DIRECTLY TO TRANSLATING
DIRECTLY TO COVID RELIEF, SO
WHEN NANCY PELOSI THREW IN $25
MILLION TO REHAB THE KENNEDY
CENTER SO SHE COULD HAVE A
PARTY, THIS IS REALLY
RIDICULOUS.
WE’VE GOT TO BE BETTER STEWARDS
OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS WHEN IT
COMES TO THAT.
WE STI HAVE $1 TRILLION LEFT
IN THE LAST CARES PACKAGE.
SO, THAT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS TO BE
SPENT BEFORE WE WOULD EVEN
CONSIDER ANOTHER PACKAGE, WHICH
I WOULD NOT BE IN FAVOR FOR AT
THIS POINT.
THE NATION IS HEALING AND LIKE I
SAID, UNLIKE M OPPONENT, I’M A
VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE PERSON
AND SO I WOULD NOT SUPPORT A
BLOAT LIKE THAT.
ADAM: LET’S EXPLORE.
HOW WOULD YOU BE DIFFERENT ON
THIS COVID-19 RESPONSE?
MR. NEGRON CERTAINLY, HER
STATEMENT THAT SHE WOULD SPEND
THE $1 TRILLION THAT IS LEFT.
THAT IS INDICATIVE.
I WOULD LOOK AT NOT SPENDING
THAT $1 TRILLION IF THERE IS NO
NEED FOR IT.
IF IT IS THERE, SHE WANTS TO
SPEND IT.
THAT IS THE HUGE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN MY OPPONENT AND MYSELF.
ADAM: YOUR RESPONSE?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: I DON’T THINK
I CLEARLY SAID I WOULD SPE IT.
I SAID THERE WAS $1 TRILLION
LEFT, WHY WOULD WE BE LOOKING AT
ANOTHER PACKAGE WITHOUT LEFT ON
THE TABLE?
CERTAINLY IF THERE WAS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO NOT SPEND IT, I
WOULD BE SUPPORTING THAT.
SO.
ADAM: IN TERMS OF HOW YOU WOULD
DIFFER FROM MR. NEGRON, HOW
WOULD YO HANDLE THIS PANDEMIC
DIFFERENTLY?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: WELL, YOU CAN
SEE BY MR. NEGRON’S CAMPAIGN
BUDGET THAT HE IS $300,000 IN
DEBT, SO HE CLEARLY IS NOT AS
FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE AS HE
LEADS US TO BELIEVE.
ADAM: MR. NEGRO, 15 SECONDS TO
RESPOND.
MR. NEGRON: NORMALLY, WE GET A
TAX FROM DEMOCRATS -- ATTACKS
FROM DEMOCRATS.
MS. BLANKENBEKER: THESE ARE THE
FACTS.
MR. NEGRON THAT MONEY IS MONEY
I OWED THE CAMPAIGN.
THAT IS MY PERSONAL RESOURCES.
THE PERSON I/O THAT MONEY TO HIS
MYSELF.
SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE
LAST THREE MONTHS.
IT IS NOT GETTING ANY TRACTION
AND IT IS THE SON OF A DESPERATE
CAMPAIGN.
MS. BLANKENBEKER: WELL, SINCE
I’VE BEEN INVOKED, DO I GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND?
ABSOLUTELY.
YES, FIRST OF ALL, THESE ARE NOT
ATTACKS, THESE ARE THE FACTS.
WHETHER YOU BORROW THE MONEY
FROM YOURSELF OR THE BANK OR
FROM CHINA, WE SIMPLY CANNOT
HAVE A PERSON WHO BELIEVES THAT
BORROWING MONEY IS THE WAY TO
FINANCE ANYTHING.
I DO NOT WANT A CONGRESSPERSON
GOING TO CONGRESS FOR ME THAT IS
NOT GOING TO BE FISCALLY
RESPONSIBLE AND IS GOING TO BE
WORRYING ABOUT BORROWING MONEY
AND SPENDING BEYOND THEIR MEANS.
I’M THE CANDIDATE WHO HAS BEEN
ABOUT STAYING WITHIN FISCAL
CONSTRAINTS.
ADAM: THAT IS TIME.
MS. BLANKENBEKER: THAT GOES
ADAM: ADAM: AGAINST MY GRAIN.
OK, LET’S MOVE ON.
CHERISE: THANK YOU.
MS. BLANKENBEKER, YOU ARE A
NURSE IN THE NAVY.
YOU SERVED ON THE USNS COMFORT.
DURING THAT TIME, YOU DID
CONTRACT COVID-19.
HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND IF YOU
HEARD SOMEONE CALL THIS VIRUS A
HOAX?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: WELL, IT IS
CLEARLY THERE IS A VIRUS OUT
THERE.
I THINK THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE VIRUS AND THE FEAR.
WE HAD AN EXCEPTIONAL FEAR.
NOW THAT WE HAVE SEEN THE CDC
REPORTS WHERE THE ORIGINAL
MODELS OF THIS SAID MILLIONS
WOULD DIE AND NOW CDC HAS COME
DOWN AND THEY HAVE DROPPED THEIR
NUMBERS OF COVID RELATED DEATHS
BY 96%.
YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO
GET THE VIRUS AND I MEAN THE BIG
MAJORITY SUFFER COLD-LIKE
SYMPTOMS.
SO, IT IS NOT -- AND THAT IS
WHAT I HAD.
YOU KNOW -- OF COURSE, ANY
PERSON WHO DIES FROM A VIRUS, WE
CERTAINLY HAVE TO TAKE
SAFEGUARDS AND PROTECTIONS TO
KEEP THOSE PEOPLE SAFE,
ESPECIALLY OUR MOST VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS.
WE REALLY NEED TO GET CONTROL OF
THE FEAR.
CHERISE: MR. NEGRON, DO YOU
THINK PEOPLE HAVE OVERREACTED TO
THE VIRUS?
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A FAMILY
MEMBER OF A GRANITE STATER WHO
HAS DIED WHO IS WARNING OTHERS
TO TAKE IT SERIOUSLY?
MR. NEGRON: CERTAINLY TO THAT
FAMILY, MY KIT -- SINCEREST
CONDOLENCES.
TO ANY FAMILY THAT LOSES A
MEMBER.
NO, IT IS NOT A HOAX.
WHAT THE HOAX IS IS THE FEAR
THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THESE
MILLIONS OF DEATHS AS A RESULT
OF THIS PANDEMIC.
IT IS CLEAR THAT THAT HAS NOT
COME TO FRUITION.
IT IS NOT NECESSARILY -- WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN
ISSUE OUT THERE, THAT THERE IS A
CERTAIN POPULATION MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE.
BUT THE HOAX WAS THE FEAR
MONGERING THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO
DO AND ANNIE KUSTER WANTS TO DO.
SHE PUT OUT A PLAN THAT TALKS
ABOUT STAY-AT-HOME, DON’T DO
THIS, DON’T DO THAT.
WE ARE THE PARTY OF HOPE.
IT IS ABOUT BUILDING OUR FUTURE,
NOT KEEPING PEOPLE AFRAID.
THERE IS A GREAT PICTURE --
THERE WAS ONE AUSTRALIAN
SHEEPDOG CONTROLLING 100 SHEEP.
HOW DOES ONE PERSON CONTROL AND
HUNDRED SHEEP?
IT IS BY FEAR AND THAT IS WHAT
THE DEMS ARE TRYING TO DO TO US.
ADAM: WE ARE GOING TO MOVE
QUICKLY THROUGH SOME DIFFERENT
TOPICS WITH A LIGHTNING ROUND.
KEEP YOUR ANSWERS TO A BRIEF 15
SECONDS OR LESS.
IF SOMEONE TESTS POSITIVE FROM
ATTENDING ONE OF YOUR CAMPAIGN
OR A LARGER GOP EVENT, WOULD YOU
CONTINUE TO HOLD YOUR OWN
EVENTS?
MS. BLANKENBEKER WELL, I WOULD
CONTINUE TO USE THE SOCIA
DISTANCING AND THE SAFEGUARDS WE
NEED TO PUT IN PLACE.
TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY,
THAT OUR EVENTS ARE SAFE.
ADAM: MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: ABSOLUTELY I WOULD
CONTINUE, BUT WE WOULD HOLD
THOSE AND EVERYBODY HAS THE
RIGHT AND FREEDOM AND CHOICE TO
ATTEND OUR EVENT IF THAT IS WHAT
THEY CHOOSE TO DO.
ADAM: OF NEW HAMPSHIRE’S MANY
PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT ADVOCACY
GROUPS, WHICH ONE IS THE BEST
AND NAME ONE SPECIFICALLY?
MR. NEGRON: THAT IS TOUGH, I
THINK THEY ARE ALL GREAT.
ANYBODY THAT PROMOTES AND
DEFENDS THE SECOND AMENDMENT I’M
FOR.
NEW HAMPSHIRE GUNOWNERS, I THINK
THERE IS A GOOD ONE.
ANYBODY FIGHTING FOR ME AND MY
RIGHTS, I’M FOR THEM?
ADAM: MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: I DON’T HAVE A
FAVORITE, BUT I DID RECEIVE THE
HIGHEST RATING FROM ANY OF THE
GUN GROUPS -- SORRY, FROM
GUNOWNERS -- THE NEW HAMPSHIRE
FIREARMS COALITION IN THE STATE,
OF ALL THE CONGRESSIONAL
MEMBERS, SO I’M REALLY PROUD OF
THAT.
I THINK ANY GROUP THAT ADVOCATES
FOR OUR SECOND AMENDMENT IS
AWESOME AND THEY ALL HAVE MY
SUPPORT.
ADAM: SO, FIRST ONE TO YOU, MR.
NEGRON.
YOU BOTH -- MS. BLANKENBEKER.
YOU BOTH RAN FOR THE SAME SEAT
IN 20 18.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOUR
OPPONENT?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: IN 2018, WE
LOST THE SEAT BY 13 POINTS.
THAT WAS A BIG LOSS.
WE HAVE HAD TO OVERCOME THAT.
WE ARE MOVING ON.
.
THIS IS A. NEW RACE
WHAT I LEARNED IS THAT WHERE OUR
CAMPAIGN FELL SHORT IS THAT WE
WERE HAVING TROUBLE WITH
MESSAGING.
WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB GETTING
OUR MESSAGING OUT.
WE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.
WE HAVE A TEAM ON THE GROUND.
WE HAVE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.
ADAM: MR. NEGRON?
WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOUR
OPPONENT?
MR. NEGRON: SURE.
LET ME HELP MY OPPONENT WITH
MATH.
THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO IS
YOU HAVE TO GET 50 PLUS ONE.
WE GOT 42.2% OF THE VOTE.
IT IS NOT 13 POINTS
OUR STARTING POINT IS THERE.
THE PEOPLE WHO DID NOT COME BACK
ARE COMING BACK.
MS. BLANKENBEKER: THE FACTS ARE
THE FACTS, IT WAS 13 POINTS.
13.3.
ADAM: MOVING ON, THIS IS GOING
TO BE A LITTLE INCONGRUOUS.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE STOP IN
THE DISTRICT WHEN CAMPAIGNING,
MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: WOW.
 LIKE -- I LIKE THE REDSTONE
ROCKET UP IN WARNER.
ADAM MS. BLANKENBEKER?
FAVORITE STOP IN THE SECOND
DISTRICT?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: WELL, WE
LOVELY WE LOUIS -- LOVE LOU
LOUIS’S IN LEBANON.
ADAM: FINAL QUESTION OF THE
LIGHTNING ROUND.
SHOULD IMMIGRATION FROM EUROPE
BE PRIORITIZED OVER OTHER
COUNTRIES?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: I’M SORRY.
CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?
ADAM: SHOULD IMMIGRATION FROM
EUROPE HE PRIORITIZED OVER OTHER
COUNTRIES?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: ABSOLUTELY
NOT.
WE ARE A LAND OF IMMIGRANTS AND
CERTAINLY WE SHOULDN’T BE
LOOKING AT WHERE YOU ARE COMING
FROM, BUT THE INDIVIDUALS THAT
ARE COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY.
WE WELCOME ALL.
WE HAVE A PROCESS FOR FOLKS TO
GO THROUGH.
WE SHOULD BE WELCOMING EVERYBODY
AND WE SHOULDN’T PRIORITIZE ONE
COUNTRY OVER ANOTHER.
ADAM: MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: NOT AT ALL.
THIS COUNTRY IS STILL A BEACON
OF HOPE DESPITE EVERYTHING WE
SEE GOING ON.
THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY
PRIORITIZATION AT ALL.
ANYBODY THAT COMES TO THIS
COUNTRY HAS TO FOLLOW THE LAWS,
WE ARE A LAND  LAWS.
THERE IS A RIGHT WAY TO DO IT
AND WELCOME THEM INTO OUR
COUNTRY.
ADAM: THE FIRST NEXT QUESTION
COMES FROM JOHN DISTASO.
JOHN: THE COUNTRY CONTINUES TO
GRAPPLE WITH ISSUES OF RACIAL
INJUSTICE, SOCIAL UNREST,
PROTESTING, POLICE SHOOTINGS,
AND VIOLENCE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK AMERICANS ARE
GETTING WRONG IN THE CURRENT
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RACE AND
JUSTICE?
MR. NEGRON.
MR. NEGRON SURE, THANK YOU.
CERTAINLY CLEARLY MY PERSPECTIVE
IS HEADS ABOVE ANYBODY ELSE IN
THIS RACE BECAUSE I’M A HISPANIC
AND I AM A MINORITY.
WHAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING
WRONG IS THAT THEY ARE LISTENING
AND THEY ARE TRYING TO SEE THAT
THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO
PAINT THAT THIS COUNTRY IS TRULY
A RACIST COUNTRY.
I CAN TELL YOU FIRSTHAND THAT IT
IS NOT.
I WAS INTERVIEWED THE OTHER DAY
AND SOMEBODY ASKED ME WHY DO I
SAY THAT?
I SAY, ARE WE BETTER TODAY THAN
1950 OR 1960 OR 1970?
THE ANSWER IS YES.
ARE THERE GOING TO BE SITUATIONS
TO ADDRESS?
WITHOUT A DOUBT.
BUT IT IS NOT AN INDICTMENT
AGAINST OUR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.
THAT IS WHAT THE DEMS WANT US TO
DO.
THEY WANT TO PUSH THIS RACISM,
PUSH THIS RACE CARD, SEE THE
THINGS HAPPENING ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY.
I’M NOT GOING TO BUY IT.
ARE THERE OTHER THINGS WE CAN DO
BETTER?
ABSOLUTELY AND WHERE WE CAN, WE
SHOULD BE.
JOHN: MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER CERTAINLY,
THERE ARE POCKETS OF AREAS IN
OUR COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS MORE
RACISM THAN OTHER POCKETS OF
AMERICA AND IT IS DEFINITELY A
PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO LISTEN AND
WE NEED TO LISTEN WITH THE
INTENT TO LEARN
I’M IN LEADERSHIP IN MY COMMAND
IN THE NAVY.
AS A COMMAND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
OFFICER, WE SIT DOWN AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS.
WE HAVE RESPECTFUL CONVERSATIONS
WHERE WE TRY TO LEARN AND WE TRY
TO LISTEN WITH THE INTENT TO
LEARN.
AS WE HAVE THESE DIFFICULT
CONVERSATIONS AROU RACE AND WE
LEARN EVERYBODY ELSE’S
PERSPECTIVE, THAT HELPS ME AS A
LEADER.
THAT HELPS ME BE THE LEADER FOR
THE STATE AND THE LEADER FOR
THIS COUNTRY, WHERE WE FINALLY
GET TO HAVING CIVIL
CONVERSATIONS BASED AROUND
MUTUAL RESPECT WHEN IT COMES TO
RACE RELATED ISSUES.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
CHERISE: THANK YOU.
IN 2018, CONGRESS PASSED AND THE
PRESIDENT PRIORITIZED AND SIGNED
A CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BILL
DESIGNED TO REDUCE CERTAIN
CRIMINAL PENALTIES AND
RECIDIVISM.
PEW RESEARCH STATISTICS SHOW
THAT THE BLACK IMPRISONMENT RATE
WAS MORE THAN FIVE TIMES THE
RATE FOR WHITES.
DO YOU THINK BLACK AMERICANS ARE
DISPROPORTIONATELY INCARCERATED
AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO AS A
MEMBER OF CONGRESS ABOUT IT?
MS. BLANKENBEKER.
MS. BLANKENBEKER: SO, WHOEVER
DOES THE CRIME GOES TO JAIL.
I DON’T THINK WE ARE OUT THERE
AS COMMUNITY -- OUR POLICE
OFFICERS ARE NOT OUT THERE JUST
SEEKING OUT AFRICAN-AMERICANS OR
A PARTICULAR RACE TO PUT IN
JAIL.
THAT ISN’T -- THAT ISN’T A
PROBLEM.
AS SUGGESTED.
YOU KNO WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE
OFFICERS.
ANNI KUSTER WANTS TO DEFUND THE
POLICE.
THIS IS GOING TO CREATE CIVIL
UNREST AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES
LESS SAFE.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE
SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND
THAT WE DEFEND OUR POLICE
OFFICERS.
THOSE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE
ACTING OUTSIDE OF THE PARAMETERS
OF WHAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR
POLICE OFFICERS, THEY SHOULD BE
HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT NO I DON’T THINK THERE IS A
TARGETING OR A DISPROPORTIONATE
TARGETING OF A PARTICULAR RACE.
CHERISE: MR. NEGRON.
MR. NEGRON: THANK YOU.
IT IS REALLY FUNNY, THIS
PRESIDENT HAS DONE MORE FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM THAN ANY
OTHER PRESIDENT.
WE SEE THAT CLEARLY WHEN THERE
WAS A YOUNG LADY THAT SPOKE AT
THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION, THAT SHE WAS IN
PRISON FOR 18 YEARS AND IT WAS
BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S
POLICIES THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO
COME OUT.
I THINK THE PROBLEM IS
DEEP-ROOTED.
I DON’T THINK IT IS GOING TO BE
FIXED BY A POLICY.
I THINK IT IS A PROBLEM WITHIN
SOME OF THE LARGER CITIES INNER
CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED AND
RUN FOR DECADES.
I THINK THAT IS WHERE THE
PROBLEM STEMS.
I THINK THAT THERE ISN’T A
SITUATION WHERE THE POLICE
OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE TARGETING
INDIVIDUALS.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE TO
STAND BEHIND THE POLICE.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A
SITUATION WHERE THEY NEED TO
KNOW THEY HAVE THE BACKING OF
NOT ONLY LOCAL AND STATE
GOVERNMENT, BUT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BECAUSE THEY ARE THE
ONES PROTECTING US.
I THINK THE PRESIDENT HAS DONE A
GREAT JOB PUTTING CRIMINAL
JUSTICE REFORM IS A TOP
PRIORITY.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
JOHN: THE HOUSE AND SENATE HAVE
PASSED VERSIONS OF A DEFENSE
SPENDING BILL WITH SIMILAR
PROVISIONS TO NAME -- RENAME
LUKE PERRY BASES AFTER
CONFEDERATE LEADERS.
-- RENAME BASE IS NAMED AFTER
CONFEDERATE LEADERS.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO
CONSTITUENTS WHO MIGHT BE
OFFENDED BY THOSE NAMES IF YOU
DO NOT SUPPORT RENAMING?
MR. NEGRON: THAT IS A GREAT
QUESTION.
I WOULD VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE ANY
RENAMING OF A BASE.
HAVING BEEN IN THE MILITARY AND
HAVING A SON IN ACTIVE-DUTY, MY
FAMILY HAS 114 YEARS OF MILITARY
SERVICE.
WHEN WE GO TO A BASE, WE DON’T
LOOK AT WHAT THE NAME IS.
DID YOU SERVE AT F.E. WARREN?
IT REALLY IS A PLACE THAT WE
ACTUALLY COME TOGETHER BECAUSE
WE CHEWED THE SAME DIRT THERE.
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
I’M NOT TRYING TO PAY FOR THE
SINS OF MY FATHER.
TODAY, IT MEANS SOMETHING TO US.
IF YOU ARE AN AIRBORNE GUY, YOU
ARE AT BRAGG.
IF YOU ARE A BOMBER GUY, YOU ARE
AT WHITEMAN.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER
SERVED AND WANT TO CHANGE THESE
NAMES BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IT IS
SORT OF RACIALLY MOTIVATED, THEY
DON’T UNDERSTAND THE CAMARADERIE
THAT UNDER -- HAPPENS AT A
MILITARY INSTALLATION THAT 30
YEARS FROM NOW YOU SAY, WORK YOU
WHAT WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE?
IT IS A CALL TOGETHER, IT IS NOT
A CALL TO SEPARATE.
JOHN: MR. NEGRON -- MS.
BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: OUR MILITARY
BASES ARE NAMED AFTER MILITARY
HEROES.
THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED
TO THE UNITED STATES AND VERY
HEROIC WAYS.
IT IS A HUGE PART OF OUR FABRIC,
A PART OF OUR MILITARY HISTORY,
OUR MILITARY HERITAGE, AND OUR
COUNTRY’S HISTORY.
IT CELEBRATES HEROES.
SO, I WOUL BE -- I SUPPORT THE
PRESIDENT IN HIS VETO OF WANTING
TO RENAME MILITARY BASES.
I DO THINK THAT WE CAN BE
CULTURALLY AWARE AND CERTAINLY
RACIALLY SENSITIVE, BUT WHAT WE
ARE CELEBRATING WITH THOSE NAMES
ARE THE HEROIC ACT OF THOSE
MEMBERS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS
THAT SIGNIFICANTLY SHAPED AND
CHANGED TO OUR COUNTRY IS AND
WHAT OUR COUNTRY IS.
WE CANNOT CHANGE HISTORY BY
CHANGING A NAME, BUT WE JUST
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T
HAVE TO REPEAT HISTORY.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
CHERISE: NASHUA IS ON OF THE
MOST DIVERSE COMMUNITIES IN NEW
HAMPSHIR
ABOUT 18% OF RESIDENTS ARE
NONWHITE.
WHAT OUTREACH HAVE YOU DONE TO
THE IMMIGRANT GROUPS AND WHO
SPECIFICALLY HAVE YOU LEARNED
FROM OR SPOKEN TO IN THE GATE
CITY?
MS. BLANKENBEKER.
MS. BLANKENBEKER: THANK YOU.
THERE IS A GREAT ORGANIZATION
HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE CALLED THE NEW
AMERICAN REPUBLICANS.
IT IS MADE UP OF MANY, MANY
DIFFERENT CULTURES.
THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM THE DR,
THERE ARE PEOPLE FROM THE CONGO,
JUST ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THESE ARE FOLKS WHO CAME TO THE
UNITED STATES WITH THE HOPE OF
FINDING SOMETHING BETTER FOR
THEMSELVES.
THEY CAME FOR OPPORTUNITY.
I’VE REALLY ENJOYED GETTING TO
KNOW THESE FOLKS.
THEY ARE ALL SUPPORTING MY
CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THEY LOVE WHAT
WE STAND FOR AND THEY KNOW WE
STAND FOR THEM.
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS WHAT THEY
SAID TO US.
THEY SAID, WHEN WE FIRST CAME TO
THE UNIT STATES AND STARTED
THIS ORGANIZATION, WE WERE MET
AT THE SHORES BY DEMOCRATS
TELLING US, HERE IS WHERE YOU
GET YOUR FREE FOOD, FREE HOUSING
-- THEY SAID NO, WE DON’T WANT
FREE STUFF, WE CAN HEAR FOR
OPPORTUNITY, WE CAN HEAR FOR
JOBS.
IT HAS BEEN WONDERFUL TO LEARN
ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT CULTURES
AND SEE HOW THEY HAVE INTEGRATED
AND JUST EMBRACED OUR VALUES OF
FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY AND
EVERYTHING THAT IS SO WONDERFUL
ABOUT BEING IN THE UNITED
STATES.
CHERISE: THANK YOU.
SAME QUESTION.
MR. NEGRON ABSOLUTELY.
NASHUA IS MY HOMETOWN.
TO DO SOMETHING SPECIFIC, NOT
YET.
I LIVE AMONG THEM, THEY ARE IN
MY CHURCH, I COACH THEIR KIDS IN
LITTLE LEAGUE, I COACH THEIR
KIDS IN WRESTLING, I VIDEOTAPE
THEIR DAUGHTERS’ VOLLEYBALL
GAMES.
THERE IS A TREMENDOUS MINORITY
POPULATION IN NASHUA.
I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU, THIS IS
SOMETHING INTERESTING FOR US.
THEY ARE TIRED OF THE WAY THE
DEMOCRATS HAVE LED THEM DOWN A
PATH.
THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE IN
OUR CITY.
WE ARE GOING TO DO THINGS
SPECIFICALLY IN THOSE
COMMUNITIES.
THEY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE,
DOMINICANS, PUERTO RICANS,
INDIANS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE
FROM AFRICA -- IT IS A GREAT
CITY TO HOLD UP AS A MODEL
BECAUSE WE HAVE A WONDERFUL
PEOPLE TO DO THING AS A
COMMUNITY.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
JOHN: THE SUPREME COURT RECENTLY
SENT A CASE BACK TO A LOWER
COURT THAT DEALT WITH THE
PROGRAM CALLED DACA, DEFERRED
ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD ARRIVAL
ALLOWING SOME CHILDREN OF
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO STAY
AND WORK LEGALLY IN THE U.S.
DO YOU THINK THESE IMMIGRANTS
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY AND IF
ELECTED, WHAT TYPE OF
IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION WOULD
YOU PRIORITIZE?
MR. NEGRON FIRST.
MR. NEGRON: THANK YOU.
YES, I WAS AWARE OF THAT SUPREME
COURT RULING DOWN TO THE LOWER
COURTS.
LOOK, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO
DO IS RECOGNIZE WE ARE A LAND OF
LAWS.
THAT IS THE FIRST THING WE HAVE
TO RECOGNIZE.
I’VE ALWAYS SPOKE THAT I THINK
THERE IS A REQUIREMENT AND A
NEED AND OUR PRESIDENT SAID SO
OF OVERHAULING THE IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM.
NOT ONLY THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM,
BUT THE VISA PROCESS BY WHICH
YOU COME HERE.
I THINK THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT
ARE HERE THAT WANT TO BE
PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS.
NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE A U.S.
CITIZEN.
I THINK THAT IS A FALLACY PEOPLE
WANT TO TALK TO -- TALK ABOUT.
THEY COULD BE HERE ON WORK
VISAS, STUDENT VISAS, WHATEVER
THE CASE MAY BE.
I BELIEVE WE NEED TO LOOK AT
THIS PROGRAM IN ITS TOTALITY,
NOT JUST A SINGLE INSTANCE, AND
SEE IF THERE ARE WAYS WE CAN
BETTER IMPROVE OUR IMMIGRATION
SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE ARE WAYS TO
MAKE THINGS BETTER.
JOHN: MS. BLANKENBEKER.
SAME QUESTION.
MS. BLANKENBEKER THANK YOU.
I FEEL LIKE -- MY FAMILY
IMMIGRATED HERE.
MY GRANDPARENTS ON BOTH SIDES
IMMIGRATED HERE.
MY PARENTS WERE FIRST-GENERATION
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THEY CAME HERE FOR OPPORTUNITY.
SO, WHEN WE DO HAVE IMMIGRANTS
COME TO THIS COUNTRY LEGALLY AND
WANT TO BECOME CITIZENS, WE DO
NEED TO MAKE THAT A SEAMLESS AND
STREAMLINED AS POSSIBLE.
WE DO KNOW THAT OUR IMMIGRATION
PROCESS IS BROKEN AND THAT DOES
NEED TO BE LOOKED AT AND WE DO
NEED TO FIX THE FLAWS IN THE
PROGRAM.
BUT YOU KNOW, I ALSO DON’T
BELIEVE WITH COMING OVER TO THIS
COUNTRY ILLEGALLY A TRYING TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THINGS THAT
LEGALLY BORN CITIZENS IN THIS
COUNTRY OR LEGAL CITIZENS DON’T
HAVE ADVANTAGE OF.
FOR EXAMPLE, EDUCATION.
CHILDREN WHO ARE N LEGAL
CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY SHOULD
NOT RECEIVE A FR EDUCATION
OVER A CHILD WHO WAS BORN IN
THIS COUNTRY OR A CHILD WHO IS A
NATURAL CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION FROM CHERISE
LECLERC.
CHERISE: THERE IS STILL MUCH
DEBATE IN WASHINGTON ABOUT
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WHAT STEPS
THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE TO DEAL
WITH THAT.
IN DISTRICT 2, SOME MAPLE
PRODUCERS AND SKI RESORTS HAVE
SOUNDED THE ALARM ABOUT CLIMATE
CHANGE ADVERSELY AFFECTING THEIR
LIVELIHOODS.
WHAT LEGISLATION WOULD YOU
PROPOSE TO HELP THEM?
MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: EXCELLENT.
CONSERVATION IS SO IMPORTANT IN
OUR STATE AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE
PLANET.
WE’VE GOT TO BE REALLY GOOD
STEWARDS OF THIS ONE PLANET WE
HAVE.
NEW HAMPSHIRE IS VERY UNIQUE
THAT WE HAVE SO MANY OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES THAT DRAW IN TOURISTS
AND THAT RELY ON AIR
CONSERVATION, WHETHER IT IS OUR
SHORELINE, WHETHER IT IS OUR
RECREATION AREAS FOR SKIING,
HIKING.
WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT IS
APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION AND WHA
IS APPROPRIATE FOR SAFEGUARDING
THOSE NATURAL RESOURCES WE HAVE
IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CERTAINLY, WE NEED TO WEIGH IN
THE BALANCE JUST HOW FAR WE ARE
GOING TO GO, BUT ABSOLUTELY,
PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL
RESOURCES HERE IS PROTECTION OF
OUR ECONOMY HERE, SO I WOULD
DEFINITELY LOOK AT LEGISLATION
THAT WE CAN PUT IN PLACE THAT
WOULD HELP PRESERVE THOSE THINGS
AND KEEP OUR ROBUST ECONOMY WHEN
IT COMES TO OUR CONSERVATION
EFFORTS HERE IN THE STATE OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
CHERISE: MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON HAVING BEEN A
SCOUTMASTER FOR 15 YEARS, THE
OUTDOORS IS A HUGE PART OF MY
LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WE USED TO HAVE A
PROGRAM AND THE SCOUTS CALLED
LEAVE NO TRACE, WHICH WHENEVER
WE WENT UP HIKING OR CANOEING,
WE LEFT IT BETTER THAN WHAT WE
FOUND IT.
IF THERE IS LEGISLATION I WOULD
WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR, STATE
LEGISLATURE TO DO THINGS THAT
WOULD BE IN TH BENEFIT OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND THE SECOND
CONGRESSIONAL, ABSOLUTELY.
WHAT I DON’T WANT TO DO IS ALL
OF A SUDDEN HAVE THESE
OVERREACHING ISSUES OR LAWS FROM
WASHINGTON TO TELL US HERE IN
THE GRANITE STATE WHAT IT IS WE
NEED TO DO FOR OUR STATE.
WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE, WE KNOW IT
IS A BEAUTIFUL STATE, THAT IS
WHY SO MANY PEOPLE COME HERE TO
VISIT US.
IT IS AN AMAZING STATE.
THAT IS WHY I ENDED UP PUTTING
ROOTS DOWN HERE AND BECOMING A
NEW HAMPSHIRE TRANSPLANT.
IF THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE DO
TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP THIS
WONDERFUL STATE OF OURS AS
BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS, I WOULD
SUPPORT THAT.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
JOHN: ACCORDING TO THE GIFFORDS
LAW CENTER, WHICH USES CDC
STATISTICS, 1500 PEOPLE ARE
KILLED -- CHILDREN ARE KILLED
WITH A GUN EACH YEAR, INCLUDING
SUICIDE.
GUN VIOLENCE IS THE SECOND
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN
CHILDREN OVERALL AND THE FIRST
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG
BLACK CHILDREN.
COVID-19 HAS CAUSED FAR FEWER
PEDIATRIC DEATHS, FEWER THAN
100.
SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BE
TREATING GUN VIOLENCE LIKE A
PANDEMIC? MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON NO, THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD NOT BE TREATING GUN
VIOLENCE AS A PANDEMIC.
LOOK, WE HAVE OVER 10,000 LAWS,
BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS ON
THE BOOKS AND IT DOES NOT STOP
ANY OF THIS VIOLENCE.
THE ISSUE WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF
THE SITUATIONS, YOU WOULD HAVE
TO LOOK AT WHAT THE SITUATION
WAS FOR THESE YOUNG CHILDREN.
IF THERE WAS A SITUATION WHERE
SOMEBODY GOT HOLD OF A GUN
IMPROPERLY STORED, THAT IS ON
THE ADULT IN THE HOUSE.
A LAW IS NOT GOING TO FIX THAT.
IF IT IS A PARENT THAT USED IT
ON THEIR CHILD BECAUSE OF SOME
MENTAL INSTABILITY, WE HAVE TO
LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF MENTAL
ILLNESS.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO LOOK AT YOU
CONTROL THE END RESULT OR THE
WEAPON AND THAT IS GOING TO FIX
THE PROBLEMS.
THE ANSWER TO THAT IN MY HONEST
OPINION IS NO, THAT IS NOT GOING
TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
WE HAVE OTHER ISSUES.
MENTAL HEALTH IS A HUGE ISSUE
WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.
WE NEED TO HOLD THOSE PARENTS
RESPONSIBLE IF THEY ARE DOING
THINGS THAT ARE PUTTING THEIR
CHILDREN IN HARM’S WAY.
MS. BLANKENBEKER THANK YOU,
YES, I’M A ROOT CAUSE KIND OF
PERSON.
ABSOLUTELY, THE GUNS ARE NOT THE
CAUSE.
THE PROBLEMS ARE UNDERLYING
ISSUES, WHETHER IT IS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE AND THAT IS CRIMINAL,
WHETHER IT IS MENTAL ILLNESS AND
WE NEED TO DEAL WITH THAT,
WHETHER IT IS YOU KNOW -- YOU
KNOW ANY OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY
OTHER THAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
SO, NO, WE NEED TO GET TO THE
ROOT CAUSE AND WE NEED TO DEAL
WITH THAT.
IF WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS
COUNTRY WITH MENTAL ILLNESS,
THAN WE REALLY NEED TO SIT DOWN
AND START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE
ARE GOING TO COMBAT OUR MENTAL
ILLNESS PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.
CERTAINLY IN THE STATE.
WE KNOW WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS, SO ANY
INCENTIVES WE CAN GIVE TO GET
FOLKS TO GO INTO THOSE MENTAL
HEALTH PROFESSIONS WOULD
DEFINITELY HELP, BUT THE PROBLEM
ISN’T THE GUN, THE PROBLEM IS
THAT HANDS THAT THE GUN ARE IN.
WE NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AT
TH ROOT AND NOT AT THE GUN.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
CHERISE: MR. NEGRON -- MS.
BLANKENBEKER, WE ARE GOING TO
START WITH YOU.
MR. NEGRON SAID HE BELIEVES THAT
LIFE BEGINS AT CONCEPTION, BUT
THAT ABORTION SHOULD BE OUTLAWED
WITH NO EXCEPTIONS.
DO YOU THINK THIS POSITION IS
TOO EXTREME?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: NO, I SUPPORT
LIFE.
I BELIEVE IN THE SANCTITY OF
LIFE.
I WILL ALWAYS PROTECT THE
UNBORN.
CHERISE: THANK YOU, MR. NEGRON,
YOUR POSITION IS THAT VICTIMS OF
RAPE AND INSETS WOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO HAVE ABORTIONS.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO A WOMAN IN
THAT POSITION AND DOES WANT TO
TERMINATE HER PREGNANCY?
MR. NEGRON: WELL, ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT PEOPLE TEND TO
FORGET IS THAT FOR ME AS A
CANDIDATE, ME AS A PERSON, AS A
FATHER IS THAT THERE ARE GOING
TO BE SITUATIONS WHERE WOMEN ARE
GOING TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.
THAT IS THEIR CHOICE.
I DON’T AGREE WITH IT.
THE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO
UNDERSTAND IS I WILL ALWAYS BE
THERE FOR THEM. ON THE OTHER
SIDE
PEOPLE THINK THAT BECAUSE OF IT
HE MAKES THAT DECISION THAT THEY
ARE GOING TO ABANDON THAT WOMAN.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
AS A MAN OF FAITH, WE UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE ARE SITUATIONS THEY
ARE GOING TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
IT HAS TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT
ON THE BACKEND OF IT, WE ARE
GOING TO BE THERE TO CARE FOR
THEM, NURTURE THEM, LOVE THEM,
DO THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
IT IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER FOLKS
THAT SAY, IF THAT IS YOUR
DECISION, WE ARE GOING TO
ABANDON YOU.
THAT IS NOT SOMETHING ME OR
ANYBODY ELSE BELIEVES.
WE NEED TO BE THEM THROUGH THE
PROCESS IF THEY DECIDE TO TAKE
THAT CHILD’S LIFE.
JOHN: MR. NEGRO, YOU HAVE SAID
IT WAS A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR
TO BE ENDORSED BY THE FAMILY
RESEARCH COUNCIL.
A KEY COMPONENT OF THE PLATFORM
SAYS, HOMOSEXUAL CONDUCT IS
HARMFUL TO PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN
IT AND TO SOCIETY AT LARGE.
IT IS BY DEFINITION UNNATURAL
AND AS SUCH IS ASSOCIATE WITH
NEGATIVE PHYSICAL AND
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT
STATEMENT?
IF NOT, WHY DID YOU ACCEPT THE
ENDORSEMENT AND WHAT MESSAGE
DOES THAT SEND TO YOUR POTENTIAL
LGBTQ CONSTITUENT
MR. NEGRON: SURE, THANK YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, ALL MEN ARE
CREATED EQUAL AND THEY ARE
ENDOWED BY THAT BY OUR CREATOR.
THEY WERE THE ONES WHO ENDORSED
ME.
THEY DO HAVE SOME PILLARS THAT I
AGREE WITH.
THEY AGREE ABOUT FAMILY AND I’M
A FAMILY MAN AND I BELIEVE THAT
IS IMPORTANT.
SO, TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, I
BELIEVE EVERYBODY IS IMPORTANT
AND EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT.
THIS IS WHO I A
YOU HAD TO DIVE PRETTY DEEP INTO
THEIR WEBPAGE TO FIND THAT.
BUT IT WAS THEY WHO ENDORSED ME,
JOHN.
SO,  STAND BY THE FACT THAT
THEY ENDORSED ME, BUT THE FACT
THAT THEY ARE PROFAMILY,
PRO-LIFE IS SOMETHING THAT I
MEANT WITH MY STATEMENT.
JOHN: MS. BLANKENBEKER, THE
POLICY FOR TRANSGENDER
INDIVIDUALS SERVING IN THE U.S.
MILITARY WAS CHANGED.
IT NOW STATES THAT TRANSGENDER
INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT EXCLUDED
FROM MILITARY SERVICE, BUT MUST
MEET MILITARY STANDARDS,
INCLUDING THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH
THEIR BIOLOGICAL SEX.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE CURRENT
POLICY AND WHY OR WHY NOT? MS
BLANKENBEKER: YES, SO I WAS AT
THE DEFENSE HEALTH HEADQUARTERS
AND THE PENTAGON WHEN WE WERE
STUDYING AS TO WHETHER OR NOT
TRANSGENDE INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE
COMING INTO THE MILITARY.
THAT WAS UNDER THE OBAMA
ADMINISTRATION, WHEN WE DID
ALLOW TRANSGENDERS.
THE ISSUE FOR US WAS BASED ON
MEDICAL ISSUE.
WE AS MILITARY MEMBERS HAVE TO
BE WORLDWIDE READY TO GO
MOBILIZEABLE WITHIN HOURS.
I WAS MOBILIZED WITHIN 48 HOURS
TO GO ABOARD USNS COMFORT.
SO, IF YOU ARE AN INDIVIDUAL IN
THE MIDDLE OF A TREATMENT,
WHETHER IT IS HORMONE
REPLACEMENT THERAPY OR GOING
THROUGH THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE,
WE CANNOT SUPPORT THAT IN A
BATTLEFIELD OR A WARTIME
SCENARIO.
SO, THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT
CONSIDERED WHAT WE CALL IN THE
MILITARY "FIT FOR MOBILIZATION
AT THAT TIME."
LESS THAN 1% OF AMERICA IS
WEARING A UNIFORM RIGHT NOW AND
WE NEED EVERY PERSON TO GO TO
DUTY, SO THAT DID CREATE A
MEDICAL PROBLEM AND A PROBLEM
FOR US WHEN WE WERE TRYING TO
MOBILIZE FOLKS AND SEND FOLKS
ACROSS - OVER, YOU KNOW, INTO
BATTLE.
SO, WE HAD TO MAKE THOSE HARD
DECISIONS ABOUT BEING MEDICALLY
FIT, NOT ONLY FOR THE HEALTH OF
THE MILITARY FORCE, BUT ALSO FOR
THE HEALTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL.
WHEN YOU CANNOT GIVE THEM THOSE
SUPPORTIVE SERVICES OVER IN A
BATTLEFIELD, THAT DOES THEM AND
INJUSTICE, AS WELL.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
CHERIS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS
ENDORSED CANDIDATES IN BOTH
OTHER FEDERAL PRIMARY RACES IN
THE STATE.
THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
AND THE SENATE.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR HIS SUPPORT
AND IF SO, MAKE YOUR CASE?
WHAT MAKES YOU THE TRUMP
CANDIDATE?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: WELL, I WAS
JUST ENDORSED BY THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATI UNION, WHICH I’M
SUPER EXCITED ABOUT.
THAT IS A GREAT ENDORSEMENT AND
ONE I’M VERY PROUD OF.
THAT IS AN ENDORSEMENT THE
PRESIDENT REALLY, REALLY VALUES.
I THINK FOR ME, BACK OVER A YEAR
AGO NOW, I WAS ABOARD USNS MERCY
WHEN I GOT A PHONE FROM LAURA
TRUMP ASKING ME IF I WOULD SERVE
ON PRESIDE TRUMP’S WOMEN’S
ADVISORY BOARD.
I WAS ONE OF 37 WOMEN SELECTED
OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO SERVE OUR
PRESIDENT IN THAT CAPACITY.
I WAS SO PROUD TO DO THAT AND I
WOULD BE PROUD TO EARN HIS
ENDORSEMENT.
I’VE GONE FROM ALL THE WAY UP IN
CANADA ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
VIRGINIA RECRUITING AND SPEAKING
TO AND SIGNING UP NEW WOMEN FOR
TRUMP ON BEHALF OF THIS
PRESIDENT.
I’M PROUD TO TALK ABOUT HIS
ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR WOMEN.
I’M A GREAT SPOKESPERSON FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
I SUPPORT H AND MY ROLE IN THE
WOMEN’S ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN
TREMENDOUS.
I WOULD BE A GREAT PICK FOR HIM.
CHERISE: MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: I WAS DISAPPOINTED I
WAS NOT PICKED FOR THE WOMEN FOR
TRUMP, BUT THAT IS ANOTHER
ISSUE.
THE ISSUE I BELIEVE IS THAT THE
PRESIDENT KNOWS WHAT HE SEES IN
ME
HE HAS MADE HIS DECISION IN THE
FIRST DISTRICT AND THE SENATE
RACE.
THAT IS HIS CHOICE AND WHAT HE
NEEDS TO DO.
OUR GOAL IS ANNIE KUSTER.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN THE
SMOKE CLEARS, WE WILL BE TAKING
THAT SEAT BACK AND PUTTING IN A
GOOD CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.
THE PRESIDENT KNOWS THAT THE
FIGHT IS HERE.
HE KNOWS THIS IS A STATE HE
WANTS TO WIN.
IF THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY CAME
AND LOOKED AT THE SECOND, HE
WOULD SEE I WAS THE ONE WHO TOOK
THE NOMINATION LAST TIME, HE WAS
THE ONE THAT HAD THIS WONDERFUL
INSTITUTION THAT PUT OUT A POLL
AND HAD ME UP ON MY OPPONENT BY
22 POINTS.
THAT IS CLEARLY WHAT HE WILL
SEE, THAT THAT IS THE CANDIDATE
THAT IS OUT THERE AND PROBABLY
THE ONE THAT HAS T BEST
OPPORTUNITY TO UNSEAT ANN
KUSTER.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
JOHN: INCUMBENT CONGRESSWOMAN
CUSTER HAS HELD THE SEAT FOR
FOUR TERMS.
SHE HAS RAISED FAR MORE MONEY
THAN BOTH OF YOU AND IN THE PAST
SEVERAL ELECTIONS IN DISTRICT 2,
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS NOT
THROWN A LOT OF RESOURCES INTO
THIS DISTRICT NATIONALLY.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THIS YEAR
WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT?
MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: I’VE ALREADY
FORGED THE RELATIONSHIPS IN
CONGRESS WITH REPRESENTATIVES
WILLING TO STAND STRONG WITH ME.
REPRESENTATIVE DAN CRENSHAW HAS
ENDORSED MY CAMPAIGN.
I COULD GO ON AND ON.
WE HAVE OVER 11 REPRESENTATIVES
THAT HAVE ENDORSED OUR CAMPAIGN
BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT I HAVE
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A
CONGRESSWOMAN.
THEY KNOW I HAVE THE LEADERSHIP
AND THE CHARACTER AND THE
INTEGRITY TO BE IN CONGRESS WITH
THEM AND HELP THEM GET THE JOB
DONE FOR THIS COUNTRY.
SO, THEY ARE STANDING WITH ME
AND THEY ARE STANDING READY TO
SUPPORT ME.
I’VE ALSO BEEN ENDORSED BY THE
ACU AND BY VIEW PAC AND BY
MAGGIE’S LIST.
THESE ARE TREMENDOUS
ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL HELP ME
RAISE THE MONEY THAT WE NEED TO
GET TO D.C. AND GET TO WORK FOR
THE PEOPLE OF THE GRANITE STATE.
JOHN: SAME QUESTION, MR. NEGRON.
MR. NEGRON SURE, I HAD WANTED
TO 17,999 ENDORSEMENTS.
MY ENDORSEMENTS DON’T COME FROM
WASHINGTON.
THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
WE ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT THE
SITUATIONS.
I TOUT THE FACT THAT I KNOW THAT
WE HAVE THE MOST VOTES IN A
MIDTERM SINCE 2002.
THAT IS WHAT I TOUT.
THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE
IMPORTANT AND THOSE ARE THE
FOLKS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
THOSE ARE THE ONES WHO SPOKE
LOUDLY IN THE PRIMARY LAST TIME
AND THAT WE CAME UP SHORT IN THE
GENERAL, THAT IS OUR STARTING
POINT.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE HAVE THE
RIGHT MESSAGE ABOUT BUILDING OUR
FUTURE, THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO DRAW TO THIS RACE.
WE HAVE MORE MONEY THAN ANYBODY
ELSE IN THIS RACE.
WE ARE USING IT JUDICIOUSLY.
ANN KUSTER HAS COME AFTER OUR
CAMPAIGN FOUR TIMES NOW, CALLING
US HER OPPONENT BECAUSE SHE
KNOWS I’M THE ONE WHO IS GOING
TO CARRY THE WATER AND WE ARE
GOING TO RAISE THE MONEY TO TAKE
HER OUT THIS TIME.
CHERISE: THE U.S. IS LIKELY TO
EXPERIENCE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FOR
MONTHS IF NOT YEARS TO COME.
IF LARGE PORTIONS OF CERTAIN
INDUSTRIES START ASKING FOR
FINANCIAL HELP UNDER WHAT IF ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU VOTE FOR
A TAXPAYER-FUNDED BAILOUT?
MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON I’M NOT A FAN OF
TAXPAYER-FUNDED BAILOUTS.
I THINK THAT THERE ARE OTHER
SITUATIONS WE COULD DO TO HELP
AN INDUSTRY.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC.
WHAT WE COULD DO IS THAT WE
WOULD LIGHTEN SOME REGULATIONS,
REDUCE REGULATIONS.
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO DO SOME
THINGS TO MAKE AN INDUSTRY MORE
PROFITABLE, MORE EFFICIENT.
THOSE OF THE THINGS I WOULD LOOK
FOR.
THERE ARE THOSE THAT THINK
THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM
FIXES IT.
I’M NOT THAT PERSON.
I LOOK AT ACROSS THE BOARD WHAT
ARE SOME THINGS THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT COULD DO TO HELP THEM
OUTSIDE OF THROWING MONEY TO
THEM?
I WOULD SIT DOWN THEM AND SEE
WHAT IT BENEFICIAL PATH WOULD BE
FOR BOTH.
CHERISE: SAME QUESTION TO YOU,
MS. BLANKENBEKER.
MS. BLANKENBEKER I AGREE, I
DON’T AGREE WITH BAILING OUT
FAILING INDUSTRY, LIKE I DON’T
AGREE WITH BAILING OUT FAILING
TOWNS OR CITIES OR STATES, FOR
TH MATTERM THAT HAVE NOT
MANAGED WELL.
I DO AGREE THOUGH THAT IF THEY
ARE STRUGGLING AND WE CAN HELP
THEM WITH REDUCING REGULATION OR
REDUCING BURDENS OR REDUCING
BUREAUCRACY, THEN THAT MIGHT BE
AN AVENUE TO GO TO GIVE THEM
SOME ASSISTANCE AND HELP THEM
GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.
BUT THESE WHOLESALE, LARGE
AMOUNTS OF MONEY -- OUR COUNTRY
IS ALREADY UNDER EXCESSIVE DEBT
AND EXCESSIVE DEFICIT AND SO,
NO, I WOULDN’T BE FOR BAILOUTS.
ADAM: NEXT QUESTION.
JOHN: ABC NEWS IS REPORTING THAT
RUSSIA, CHINA, AND IRAN ARE
TRYING TO INFLUENCE THIS YEAR’S
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
THAT IS ACCORDING TO A DRAFT
INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN OBTAINED.
HOW CONCERNED ARE YOU ABOUT
FOREIG INTERFERENCE AND BECAUSE
IT HAS TO DO WITH AN ELECTION
ABOUT THE POLITICIZATION OF THIS
KIND OF INTELLIGENCE?
MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: WELL, WE KNOW
THAT THOSE ARE OUR BAD ACTORS
FROM A FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
FOREIGN RELATIONS PERSPECTIVE.
WHEN I WAS AT THE PENTAGON AND
STUDYING AND PREPARING THE
DEFENSE STRATEGY, THE NATIONAL
DEFENSE STRATEGY, THEY ACTUALLY,
THEY WERE KEY PLAYERS.
WE KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A VESTED
INTEREST IN MAKING SURE THAT
THEY CAN UNDERMINE THIS COUNTRY
ANYWAY THEY CAN.
THEY ABSOLUTELY WOULD WANT TO
NOT SEE DONALD J. TRUMP BE OUR
PRESIDENT.
HE IS A SKILLED NEGOTIATOR, HE
TAKES NO PRISONERS, AND HE
DEFINITELY IS A FORCE TO BE
RECKONED WITH WITH THESE FOREIGN
BAD ACTORS.
SO, I ABSOLUTELY COULD SEE THAT
THEY WOULD BE WANTING TO GET
INVOLVED AND ENSURE THAT
PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS NOT
OUR PRESIDENT AGAIN.
JOHN: THANK YOU.
MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: HAVING SAT ON THE
ELECTION LAW COMMITTEE WHEN I
WAS AT THE STATEHOUSE, THIS WAS
ALWAYS A TOPIC OF CONCERN.
NOBODY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO TRY
TO RIG OR INFILTRATE OR SWAY OUR
ELECTIONS.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT HERE IN THE
GREAT STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE
FILL IN A BUBBLE AND IT GETS
THROUGH AN OPTICAL READER.
THE THING THAT SCARES ME
SOMETIMES IF YOU HAVE THESE
ONLINE VOTING PROCEDURES AND
MACHINES, WHICH THE DEMS WANT TO
BE ABLE TO DO -- I THINK THAT
BECOMES A BIGGER THREAT AND
RISK.
PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THIS, BUT
6% OF THE VOTING MACHINES OUT
THERE ARE CONTROLLED BY TWO
INDIVIDUALS.
GEORGE SOROS AND ANOTHER GUY
FROM UTAH -- IT IS MITT ROMNEY.
THOSE THINGS DO SCARE ME.
HERE IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT.
THAT WE AS INDIVIDUALS, AS
AMERICAN VOTERS, THAT WE MAKE
THE DECISION ON OUR OWN.
THAT WE DO OUR OWN EDUCATION AND
MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS ON
INFORMATION WE HAVE.
IF ANYBODY’S OUT THERE TRYING TO
INFLUENCE OUR SYSTEM, THEY
SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULL
EXTENT OF THE LAW.
JOHN: MS. BLANKENBEKE DO YOU
WORRY ABOUT THIS INFORMATION
BEING POLITICIZED IN THIS
ELECTION SEASON?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: WELL,
EVERYTHING IS POLITICIZED.
COVID IS POLITICIZED DURING THIS
ELECTION SEASON.
SO, YES, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAVE
TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE HEAD ON AND
MAKE SURE THAT WE DON’T HAVE A
FOREIGN INFLUENCE INTO OUR
ELECTIONS AND THAT THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE GET TO DULY ELECT THE
PRESIDENT IN THIS COUNTRY AND
NOT LETTING FOREIGN ACTORS HAVE
AN INFLUENCE.
ADAM: MR. NEGRO?
WORRIED ABOUT THE
POLITICIZATION?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: I AM --MR.
NEGRON: I AM.
YOU SEE PEOPLE START FAKE
FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS AND START
SWAYING PEOPLE, THAT IS
BOTHERSOME TO ME.
I THINK FACEBOOK HAS SOME
ACCOUNTABILITY TO DO THOSE KIND
OF THINGS.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED
TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN
DECISIONS AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE
TO BE ACCOUNTABLE.
ADAM: A FINAL QUESTION BEFORE
CLOSING STATEMENTS.
YOU HAVE BOTH SERVED YOUR
COUNTRY AND DEFENDED THE RIGHT
TO VOTE.
REGARDLESS OF A PERSON’S PARTY
OR BELIEFS, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO
STAY ABOUT GRANITE STATER’S
ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THEIR ROLE
IS TO OU DEMOCRACY, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO MAY FEEL THEIR VOTE
DOES NOT MATTER?
MR. NEGRON?
MR. NEGRON: IN 1974, THE UNITED
STATES SENATE RACE IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE WAS DECIDED BY TWO
VOTES.
SO YOUR VOTE DOES MATTER.
NEVER THINK FOR ONE SECOND THAT
IT DOESN’T.
IT ISN’T JUST A VOTE AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
IT IS A VOTE AT YOUR STATE,
CITY, AND TOWN LEVEL.
FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE
CONSERVATIVE, THAT IS HOW WE
REGAIN CONTROL.
WE STARTED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
WE START ON THE SCHOOL BOARD,
THE PLANNING BOARDS.
YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT.
IF AT ANY TIME YOU THINK IT
DOESN’T, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT
THOSE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN -- I
THINK IT WAS IN AFGHANISTAN OR
IRAN THAT VOTED FOR THE FIRST
TIME, HOW PROUD THEY WERE THAT
THEY FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY
TO VOTE.
I WOULD TELL YOU IT IS A GIFT TO
VOTE.
YOU DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, EVERY
SINGLE ONE OF YOU.
I WOULD URGE YOU COME SEPTEMBER
8 TO VOTE AND THEN FOLLOW IN ON
NOVEMBER 3.
ADAM: MS. BLANKENBEKER?
MS. BLANKENBEKER: I FEEL LIKE I
HAVE THE MOST NOBLE JOB IN THE
UNITED STATES NAVY AND THAT IS
THE ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR
WARRIORS AS THEY PROTECT AND
DEFEND OUR CONSTITUTION.
WE ENJOY CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS
IN THIS COUNTRY THAT OTHER
MEMBERS OF OTHER COUNTRIES DO
NO HAVE.
SO, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU TO
HONOR THOS MEMBERS, HONOR THE
PEOPLE WHO WEAR UNIFORM, WHO
EVERY SINGLE DAY PROTECT AND
DEFEND YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
THIS IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE.
HAVING SAT OVER IN COUNTRIES
OVER THE LAST 34 YEARS WHERE
PEOPLE DID NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO
VOTE, IT IS SUCH A PRIVILEGE.
HONOR OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO
HAVE GONE BEFORE US AND ARE
SERVING NOW, THAT HAVE
SACRIFICED FOR YOU TO HAVE THAT
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
GET OUT AND PICK THE CANDIDATE
OF YOUR CHOICE AND FEEL PROUD
ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU LIVE IN
A COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAVE THE
FREEDOM TO VOTE.
ADAM: WE HAVE GIVEN THE
CANDIDATES TIME TO MAKE A
CLOSING STATEMENT.
LET’S BEGIN WITH MS.
BLANKENBEKER.
MS. BLANKENBEKER: THANK YOU SO
MUCH.
THANK YOU, ADAM, THANK YOU JOHN
AND CHERISE, AND THE VIEWER
AUDIENCE, AND MR. NEGRON, THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
OUR CURRENT REPRESENTATIVE ANN
KUSTER OPENLY ADMITS SHE IS
AFRAID OF NANCY PELOSI AND SHE
RUNS AND HIDES.
WE NEED A CONGRESSWOMAN WHO IS
GOING TO STAND STRONG FOR NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
I’VE STOOD STRONG FOR 34 YEARS.
I HAVE RUN TO THE FIGHT, WHETHER
IT WAS IN DESERT SHIELD, DESERT
STORM, WHETHER IT WAS IN
AFGHANISTAN WHERE I HELD A BOMB
IN MY HAND, WHERE I CARED FOR
PATIENTS, OR WHEN IT WAS I
SERVED ABOARD THE USNS COMFORT.
I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND STRONG
FOR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR
SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS, OUR
ECONOMY, FOR SECURING OUR
BORDERS, AND FOR LIFE.
SO, THIS ELECTION IS SO
IMPORTANT.
WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF SOCIALISM
AND I ENCOURAGE ALL OF YOU, GET
OUT AND VOTE.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE
THE SEAT AND TAKE BACK CD2.
SO, GET OUT AND VOTE.
PLEASE CHECK US OUT.
JOIN THE FIGHT TONIGHT.
ADAM: THAT IS TIM
WE ARE GOING TO GO TO MR. NEGRON
FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.
MR. NEGRON: SURE.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME.
THIS IS ABOUT REMOVING SOMEBODY
TH HAS PUT THIS STATE IN A
PRECARIOUS SITUATION.
THIS IS ABOUT CUSTER CRONYISM.
THIS IS ABOUT BEING NANCY
PELOSI’S PUPPET.
THIS IS ABOUT HER BRINGING
BIG-CITY IDEALS TO THIS DATE.
THIS IS ABOUT HER IMPEACHING OUR
PRESIDENT.
THIS IS ABOUT HER PICKING A
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE THAT WANTS TO
ABOLISH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE,
WHICH WILL TAKE AWAY OUR VOICE
FOR THE FIRST IN THE NATION
PRIMARY.
THIS IS ABOUT A WOMAN WHO JUST
BACKED SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TAX
YOU.
THIS I ABOUT YOU GETTING YOUR
VOICE BACK.
I ONE LAST TIME -- WON LAST TIME
IN A HARD-FOUGHT RACE.
I KNOW WHAT  TAKES TO DEFEAT
ANN KUSTER, SHE DOES NOT WANT TO
SEE ME ON THE STAGE.
SEPTEMBER 8, I WOULD APPRECIATE
YOUR VOTE AND THEN AGAIN ON
NOVEMBER 3.
THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS.
ADAM: WE WANT TO THANK THE
CANDIDATES AND THE PANELISTS.
AND OF COURSE, WE THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US FOR THESE GRANITE
STATE DEBATES.
YOU WILL FIND A LINK TO ALL THE
DEBATES IN THE COMMITMENT 2020
SECTION OF WMUR.COM AND OUR
MOBILE APP, AS WELL AS MORE
INFORMATION ON ALL THE
CANDIDATES AND RESOURCES FOR
CASTING YOUR BALLOT IN NEXT
WEEK’S PRIMARY ELECTION.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT AND THANKS FOR
WATCHING.
[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS
CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.
VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
