Maine Democratic Party

Press Releases

For Immediate Release:
4/15/2009
Contact:
Arden Manning
(207) 622-6233 x113

Tea Party: Is This the New Maine GOP Agenda?

PORTLAND- Last Thursday, Republican Party leaders Kevin Raye and Josh Tardy held a press conference in which they argued that Republicans needed a new communications strategy after last year's failed election,"The result of the November election made it painfully clear that our party has not done a good job of communicating..." (MPBN 4.9.09). Just one week later, on Wednesday, Republicans, led by Dean Scontras and Rep.Rich Cebra organized what they described as a "Tea Party", protesting President Obama's agenda. Rep. Rich Cebra (R-Naples) described the Tea Party as organizing against"left-wing zealots...we now have evidence that they also hate our children." Cebra continued, describing President Obama's supporters as "unhinged from reality" (P.P.H Nemitz 4.14.09).

Arden Manning, Executive Director of the Maine Democratic Party responded to Rep. Cebra's comments, "Rep. Cebra's angry comments have no place in Maine politics, and regardless of their new communications strategy,I hope Dean Scontras, Josh Tardy and Kevin Raye will disavow them."

Manning continued in response to the GOP "Tea Party", "While President Obama and Democrats in Washington are working to turn our economy around, Maine Republicans are sitting back and drinking tea, pining for the failed trickledown economics of the past, while offering no real solutions of their own. This Maine GOP communications makeover can't hide the same tired Republican ideas of the last eight years. The truth is, Republicans don't just need to do a better job talking about their ideas, they need better ideas, because the modern Maine Republican Party is simply out of step with the mainstream."

"The vast majority of Mainers and Americans support the work of President Obama. We know that the President has acted quickly and decisively since he took office. Working with both Democrats and some Republicans, the President passed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act which is already working to stimulate our economy. What's more, the President passed tax cuts which will take effect more quickly than any other in American history, and which will put money back in the pockets of working families, helping to give them a hand up. There is still a lot of work to be done, and it is discouraging that Republicans have decided to sit on the sidelines, sipping their tea instead of rolling up their sleeves and getting to work to turn this country around."

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