Today's question: Is it best to openly identify with Free State Project or hide the information?
In its 2014 candidate questionnaire, the New Hampshire chapter of the American Federation of Teachers asked, “Are you a member of the Free State Project or NH Liberty Alliance?”
State House candidate Amanda Bouldin posted a copy of the questionnaire on the NHLA Facebook page. The audience there was not amused.
“Are you now or have you ever been a member of the communist party?” wrote FSP president Carla Gericke. “By which we mean: are you a member of ANY union? We should do our own questionnaire. Stark360.”
“# Winning,” wrote Rep. JR Hoell (R-Dunbarton). “When AFT needs to target your group by name, then you know you are being effective.”
Much of the ensuing discussion assumed voters are wary of Free Staters simply because they have moved here from out of state.
House candidate Bill Walker noted former Rep. Seth Cohn “used to have a good list of Democrats that had moved here… it was over half of their reps.”
“I didn’t make the list, I can’t recall who did,” replied Cohn. “I’d talk to O'Brien, he might recall who (Greg Moore? Pam Tucker?) put together the list of hometowns for Reps in 2011 when this last was raised.”
One person asked the obvious question: “What answer is best to give?”
“ *ahem* I said teachers union,” answered Bouldin.
“I meant it more as a general question,” he replied. “Is it best to openly identify, come what may re: consequences, or should one hide the information to get into a better position?”
Bouldin dodged the question. “I believe, in general, candidates don’t take surveys that they don’t think they can ‘pass,’ ” she wrote.