Edwards, Pappas battle over Social Security, political ambitions
By
New Hampshire Union Leader
And perhaps to underline that attack, Edwards revived a newspaper commentary Pappas had written that once advocated an end to
In response, Pappas said the Edwards plan for future solvency of
In summary, this second encounter between these two major party nominees raised the heat of this competitive race up a notch before a capacity crowd at the
The
The goals of both candidates were clear.
Pappas wanted to remind seniors that only a week earlier Edwards had favored "weaning off" younger workers from
"We have got to protect the system and not undermine it or gamble it in the stock market," Pappas said, calling the Edwards plan a "dangerous" effort he would oppose if elected.
Edwards came to push back on the assault and accuse Pappas of deliberately trying to scare seniors by suggesting he would threaten the future of their retirement benefits.
"We can't use divisive tactics to create division in this country and that's what you are seeing here. There is that demonization of one side going against one another. At the end of the day we have to have the courage to have an open conversation," Edwards said.
Pappas also criticized Edwards who, as a state
Edwards pointed out then-Executive Councilor and now Gov.
And Edwards was anxious to try and cast Pappas as an ambitious, big government liberal who doesn't support
Edwards brought up the commentary Pappas had written in support of a ban on smoking in restaurants.
"We should let our politically charged motto slip into the night like the Old Man and pick a new mantra that calls each of us to do better by each other, not just ourselves," Pappas concluded in the column.
As a non-native who grew up in the South, Edwards said he was stunned by the essay.
"I was shocked to read that statement because from someone who came from a very different community, a very different state when I came here I thought this was paradise," Edwards said.
Pappas said the 2005 column he wrote in the
"I don't believe that. That was a silly point-counterpoint in the early 2000s. That is not what I believe," Pappas said.
"If you look at my record as a member of the Legislature and in other roles, I have always supported the values of our state and will continue to do that."
Edwards said Pappas has been on the ballot 18 times and political ambition drives him.
"I thought Chris was a different kind of person but I guess he was just another career politician," Edwards said.
"He left the state at age 22 and came back to the state and has never really dealt with normal people."
After the event, Edwards said he was talking about working people and not the fact Pappas, if elected, would be the first openly gay congressman from
"I meant working people. When I use the normal people I am talking about working people like myself," Edwards said.
Pappas fired back at the remark.
"I thought that was a ridiculous comment. He obviously doesn't know me. I am around people each and every day on the campaign trail and running my business. This is why I am running for office," Pappas added.
"We don't need more of the political attacks from people like
Pappas and Edwards have three more debates, one next Tuesday in
Politics
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