Town Wants Obama Campaign To Foot The Bill For Monday's Visit

Portsmouth, NH Patch:

DURHAM, NH -- The Obama campaign is locked in a stalemate with a small New Hampshire town over who should foot the cost for police protection for the president's visit on Monday.

Read the whole story at Portsmouth, NH Patch

Comments

[Moni222]

10:33 PM on 06/25/2012

Read this article from Wisconsin to see this is clearly about embarrassing Obama because this is how it has always been:
"Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden said he has presided over at least three dignitary security details, including a presidential visit by President George W. Bush in 2004, his Democratic presidential contestant U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, and candidate Barack Obama.
“'We have never been reimbursed,' Spoden said.
"He estimated Bush’s visit cost taxpayers $19,000; Kerry’s about half that amount."
http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/wi-police-protect-presidential-candidates-taxpayers-stuck-with-the-bill
If jurisdictions want to start getting reimbursed, then they shouldn't go about it publicly embarrassing one candidate (particularly when it is disrespecting the office of the presidency). They should unite with other jurisdictions and lobby Congress to pass a national law that applies to all candidates everywhere.

[Dani09]

06:46 PM on 06/25/2012

Just returned from the event - what an amazing opportunity to meet our President! By the way, guess who else turned up? The Town Administrator who asked Obama to pay the security expenses. It started raining and he tried to bypass the long line and get in early. Sorry bud. Denied - by the police.

[enigma2]

10:11 PM on 06/25/2012

Lucky you , there are a lot of envious people on here, me for one..So Dani, I have a little more information about the thread, Mac says he would like our help but the most we could do is load music potentials, he would have to do the okaying, since I am not an employee I can not have access to the inner workings, there are still details that need sorting, like how many hrs per day will people be able to post, is it 24/7.. 365 days, still so many unanswered questions. as I find out more I will let you know..WAAH, you saw the President, WAAAH!!

[RSGmusic]

10:17 PM on 06/25/2012

Great enigma2!!

Prosper always!

[Dani09]

10:30 PM on 06/25/2012

:) In NH politicians are very accessible - come visit!  There was a lot of hurry-up-and-wait, but well worth it!  
Re: the music thread, aahhh the mysteries of aichP...Does MacGregor need a certain number of clicks per day to keep it going?

[james T61]

03:51 PM on 06/25/2012

all you people who think your president is doing such a great job must live in iran or africa or some other country that he has given billions of dollars to.not here in the USA we pay thru the nose with money we dont have.but we can still believe he will change that if we are gullable enough.why didnt the pipeline go thru.it would have created jobs and lowered the price of gas.can someone give me a real reason it was not signed by your obama?why are we poring millions into africa we dont have and why bare we holding secret meetings with russia and giving them oil rich land in alaska?

[bluecatb]

04:29 PM on 06/25/2012

Easier to deal with Africans than the Arabs who have a few people who don't like the LYING from the former President about IRAQ. Even Hillary says we are getting the heck out of the ME.
It will be a more peaceful and equitable partnership and there is a "small ocean of water below the desert and several of the states, that will help them develope their water and the oil will be doing a good thing, yes?
It is really quite evident that the Saudi thingy, and the Iraqi thingy and that Iranian thingy, is like a hornets nest that was stirred up by Republicans. Osama was in borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan, why were we in Iraq again?

That was a trillion thrown in the toilet.
Until the "COCKEYED PARTY OF NO" THERE WAS PEACE IN A LOT OF THE REGIONS."

Our soldiers and family died over there for another of the Republican Presidents lies.
Iran Contra Remember....Grenada....Ollie North....Equador...Noriega....

My how sort a memory span some people have. I don't forget chit in 10 or 20 years.

[65611111]

02:47 PM on 06/25/2012

I am glad to see this . May be something a bought spreading their money around?
candidates should pay for their campaign cost

[Palinisnotaleader]

01:15 AM on 06/25/2012

I mean what's next?
Whites get to use the free roads while everyone else who isn't white has to use the toll road?

[BlueKoi]

10:58 PM on 06/24/2012

They already did "Foot the Bill" . You should make more of an effort to keep your "news" up to date.

[morknmindy1977]

08:36 PM on 06/24/2012

$30,000 wouldn't even have covered the bar tab at the George Clooney event .

Why should tax payers of a small town have to foot the bill so a politician can get a photo op ?

[adombo43]

10:39 PM on 06/24/2012

That politician mind you is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Who the last time I checked is still the president. I guess next time people like you will be demanding that he pays for the security he gets at night when the first family is sleeping, since you will argue he's not on the job at that time. For your information, the president irrespective of who he is gets 24/7 protection period. I hope you ask Romney to pay for his secret service protection whiles he's on his bus tour. Can you please tell me where in the constitution that is stated a 'presidential candidate' gets to be protected on the tax payer's dime, yet they are given protection all the same. How then do you question the protection of a sitting president, whether he's campaigning or not.

[BlueKoi]

10:59 PM on 06/24/2012

Ask the same of Romney

[bonypix]

08:26 PM on 06/24/2012

Why raise millions if you are not going to foot the bill? Why should a small town be dumped on? Do you think it will mean they vote for someone who stiffs them? Use campaign money and foot the darned bill, Obama.

[adombo43]

10:48 PM on 06/24/2012

Non/sense. I hope you ask Romney to pay for his secret service protection too. The president irrespective of what he does get 24/7 protection as long as he is the PRESIDENT. If you don't like it change the constitution. Since when has the security of a sitting president been in question. I guess until a Bl****ck person became one, then all of a sudden they demand he pay for his own security. A previlage enjoyed by all past presidents.

[bonypix]

11:05 AM on 06/25/2012

A small town can not afford such expense when the economy is in the dumper. But Obama has raised enough money to pay and if Romney goes to small town USA he should pay also. Enough of this thinking politicians are elitists. They are just another American citizen. No better than anyone else, and sometimes much worse.

[Dani09]

12:03 AM on 06/25/2012

This town is in MY state. Mitt has been here multiple times, and never once asked to pay additional town/city security expenses. This is a double standard. Suddenly our President's AND the attending citizen's safety is a budget issue???

[sakovkt]

08:23 PM on 06/24/2012

I can see why they wouldn't want the Secret Service showing up.

Might actually be worse than having Bill Clinton hanging around.

[The Great Intellectual]

08:17 PM on 06/24/2012

Why shouldn't both campaigns be responsible for the cost of their own visits to towns. Especially if it is going to involve overtime pay and the closing down of streets.

[Micheal Frisbie]

07:40 PM on 06/24/2012

Town Wants Obama Campaign To Foot The Bill For Monday's Visit ... sorry, but i can't disagree... both campaigns should notify the locals as to their plans and how many policemen they will need, and let the campaigns utilize off duty cops and put them on the campaign payroll until they release them and don't need them anymore. why should local governments and taxpayers foot the bill for campaign stops.... the campaigns don't ask local or national tv and radio stations to run free ads for them... what is the difference.

[Changeover]

08:40 PM on 06/24/2012

Wonder what the cost of shutting the 405 down as the dope posse is want to do when its money grubbing time in the BV (Beverly Hills)

[planetjeffy]

08:53 PM on 06/24/2012

Romney has been to San Diego 6 times this year to beg for money. I don't see Republicans asking for him to reimburse the city.

[adombo43]

10:57 PM on 06/24/2012

I thought campaigning is part of the democratic process guaranteed by the constitution. why don't you also ask that we pay for our own voter registration, and ballot papers. Which way you look at it, our system of changing government by the ballot box is cheaper than by the barrel of a gun as happen in other countries.

[Micheal Frisbie]

11:09 PM on 06/24/2012

if you want to total all the law enforcement expenses and then divide it between all tax payers across the nation, i would have no problem with that.  but just because a presidential candidate decides to pick your town or city to stop in, why should you be penalized in paying extra taxes for his or her campaign.  no matter how you look at it, it is an unfair situation for the locals.  and i realize that some businesses might make extra profit, but the local taxpayers are the ones who pay for law enforcement, and why should they be penalized, especially if it isn't even the candidate they intend to vote for... that forces them to make a campaign contribution whether they like it or not.

[onehenry]

07:30 PM on 06/24/2012

$30,000 in OT for a town that probably has 10 to 15 police officers. I guess they will be working OT until Christmas.

[bonypix]

08:27 PM on 06/24/2012

With millions raised, Obama campaign can foot the bill easier than a small town. If he doesn't want to, then skip their town. They probably won't vote for him if he stiffs them.

[onehenry]

08:51 PM on 06/24/2012

That is not even a bright idea. The secret service does all the work. The local police of a small town are only involved out of respect. The most they get to do is traffic control.

[bluecatb]

04:38 PM on 06/25/2012

Fanned onehenry!!

They think they are so slick. If i was the President, i would pay it, and then leave. Seems like they want to forget that the businesses that make more money from the crowds and staff, are taxed for that profit they "gain' during his visit. He still holds 50 % or better according to (bitemy tongue) gallup. So I guess they would have sent the bill for Lincoln when his body went around the country.

SHOW ME THE RECEIT OR TIME CARD. HE DOESN'T TALK FOR HOURS SO WHAT IS WITH THE GIGANTIC OVERCHARGE?

[treadway123]

07:08 PM on 06/24/2012

How many people did this bring to their town? A few hundred any way! Resterant/fast food/hotels/gas Stations an tourist spots probally brought in thousands! Utilized right they could have Doubled/tripled that cost in service's to the Campagne/visitors.

[Dani09]

06:55 PM on 06/24/2012

Breaking: "an anonymous Durham resident contacted Gooze and Town Administrator Todd Selig on Sunday afternoon and offered to pay for town public safety costs up to $20,000."

"It is a privilege for any town to host a sitting President of any party and we do not take that responsibility lightly. Durham residents will welcome the President with open arms tomorrow and the proud members of our police and fire departments will do their jobs with honor."

http://concord-nh.patch.com/articles/donor-gives-town-20k-to-cover-public-safety-costs-for-obama-visit

[morknmindy1977]

08:41 PM on 06/24/2012

$20,000 won't even get the donor a handshake and a photo with the president.

The minimum is usually $40,000

[Dani09]

09:13 PM on 06/24/2012

oh puhleeze.  Durham is a hugely Dem town, and home to some wealthy progressive minds.  The donor wanted to step up and do the right thing.  Save your cynicism for Mr. Corporations Are People Too.

[bluecatb]

04:42 PM on 06/25/2012

I just can't believe the slugs would try and do this to him. Have they no shame before the world.

I believe if the President is held to that standard, then the billionaires better start coughing up the price for Mitt.

DO YOU HEAR THAT ROVE. WRITE ANOTHER CHECK TO THE TOWN FOR THE POLICE.

[LINDSAY77]

06:30 PM on 06/24/2012

Obama's Visit will cost 20,000-30,000$----HE IS NOT WORTH IT SAVE YOUR MONEY Durham.

[bluecatb]

05:23 PM on 06/25/2012

PETTY comment and tacky republican.