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Sanborn’s race-baiting disqualifies him

By Staff | Oct 29, 2014

Politics gets dirty sometimes, we all know that. But there are some lines you just don’t cross. One of them is stoking racial fears for political gain. You just don’t do that. Unless you’re District 9 Sen. Andy Sanborn, apparently.

A mailer Sanborn sent recently attacking his opponent is blatant race-baiting – complete with a dark-skinned man wearing a grey hoodie, menacing look, a gun and bags of drugs. The moment Sanborn gave his stamp of approval to this ugly fear-mongering mail, he showed he lacks the judgment we deserve in a state senator.

As a black man with a teenage son, I have to live every day with the fear that my son might be the next victim of a race-based attack. The world is already a dangerous place to be a black teenager. Sanborn just made it more dangerous.

He must think he can get away with this race-baiting because there aren’t many black and Latino voters in his district. But I think he misjudges the integrity of New Hampshire voters. Black and Latino people aren’t the only ones who can reject racial fear-mongering. White people can do it, too.

If you’re comfortable having a senator who uses race-baiting for political gain, then Sanborn’s your man. But if you think stoking racial fears is a line no leader should cross, then send a message that we want leaders who will fight this kind of hate – not fuel it – and vote for Sanborn’s challenger, Lee Nyquist, on Election Day.

Jerry Hayes

Mont Vernon

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