{news} New Britain Herald-Political candidates speak to seniors

[clifford thornton]

  Political candidates speak to seniors
  By: Scott Whipple
  09/15/2006

  <http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/?brd=1641&pag=795&newsid=17199458&action=submit>Post<http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/?brd=1641&pag=795&newsid=17199458&action=submit>Post> 
  a Comment 
  <http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/?brd=1641&pag=795&newsid=17199458&action=submit>printer<http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/?brd=1641&pag=795&newsid=17199458&action=submit>printer> 
  friendly 
  <http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1641&dept_id=10109&newsid=17199458>Printer-friendly<http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1641&dept_id=10109&newsid=17199458>Printer-friendly> 
  <http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1641&dept_id=10109&newsid=17199458<http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=1641&dept_id=10109&newsid=17199458>>
  NEW BRITAIN - City seniors got to listen to national and state political 
  candidates and ask them questions Thursday at the senior center. Several 
  retirees were outspoken.

  After listening to a presentation on the perilous future of Social 
  Security from Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Alan Schlesinger, New 
  Britain octogenarian Tom Phmann, a retired Fafnir worker, told The 
  Herald: "I don't care if there's no money in the till, as long as they 
  give me my check and I can cash it."

  Other speakers included Democratic candidate for the U.S. 5th District 
  Chris Murphy, Green Party candidates for the U.S. Senate Ralph Ferrucci 
  and for governor Clifford Thornton. U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson was in 
  Washington for a house vote and could not attend the forum. State Sen. 
  Don DeFronzo, and state Reps. Betty Boukus, Chris Donovan, John 
  Geragosian, Timothy O'Brien and Peter Tercyak also spoke.
  Schlesinger, former mayor of Derby, spoke the longest and drew the ire 
  of some in the audience when he tried to explain the link between the 
  "Social Security crisis, the energy security crisis, and the national 
  security crisis."

  About Medicare, Schlesinger said the government needs to create 
  "realistic policies with affordable eligibility requirements. The 
  alternative is a $30 trillion fiscal train wreck that most politicians 
  choose to ignore."

  Murphy told seniors the election is "about putting us - not corporations 
  - first again." A New Britain native, Murphy said middle class jobs are 
  not here any more "because chief executives and boards of directors 
  decided they could make a quicker buck moving jobs overseas."
  The state representative added that the healthcare system has become a 
  center for profit and gain.
  "But, it doesn't have to be that way. The Medicare program will now cost 
  $1.2 trillion, yet the benefits aren't any better."

  Donovan, who represented Ned Lamont, likened the Lamont-Lieberman 
  contest to Herbert Hoover/Franklin Delano Roosevelt and John F. 
  Kennedy/Richard Nixon races. He compared Lamont favorably to both 
  Roosevelt and Kennedy.

  Todd Stein, policy director for Lieberman, assured seniors that the 
  senator wants to protect and strengthen Social Security, and has 
  challenged the Bush administration's attempt to increase Medicare premiums.

  Ferrucci, an independent truck driver, said Medicare needs to be 
  expanded to cover all Americans. 

  Thornton, a former middle manger for Southern New England Telephone, said 
  he is the first African-American to run for governor in the state.
  He said he was running for office because he was "sick and tired of 
  being sick and tired. The Green Party is the party of environmental and 
  social justice. Our society is neglecting our senior citizens."

  Tom Gross, 5th Congressional District coordinator for DeStefano, said 
  the New Haven mayor could not appear because of a scheduling conflict.
  Gross called DeStefano "a man of progress and ideas, not afraid to take 
  on difficult challenges."

  Following the presentations, Gross told The Herald he expected his 
  candidate would soon start raising questions about Gov. M. Jodi Rell's 
  "squeaky clean image. What did she know about corruption in the Rowland 
  administration and when did she know about it?"

  Scott Whipple can be reached at swhipple at newbritainherald.com<mailto:swhipple at newbritainherald.com> or by 
  calling (860) 225-4601, Ext. 319.




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://pairlist10.pair.net/mailman/private/ctgp-news/attachments/20060915/3b342e3c/attachment.html>