New Hampshire Republican gubernatorial candidate once called the Tea Party ‘teabaggers’

 Walt Havenstein is a Republican who is running in the New Hampshire gubernatorial primary to become the party’s nominee to take on Governor Hassan in the November election.

  There was some question about his eligibility to run in the state because–much like the carpetbagging Scott Brown–he was not really living in the state, but on a narrow vote of 3-2 the Ballot Law Commission decided he met the criteria as an “inhabitant” of the state.

  With that issue behind him comes another problem because a video of Mr. Havenstein from four years ago, while he was the CEO of a business, has surfaced which shows him openly mocking the Tea Party while calling them ‘teabaggers.’

  Here is the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3XYURXMzwA

  Did you notice that wry little smile on his face as he tried to pretend he didn’t know this was a derogatory term?

  His main opponent in the primary is Andrew Hemingway but to this point his lack of name recognition has left him incapable of making much of an impact in the race. This could change that however and today he jumped on this newly discovered video and demanded an apology from Walt Havenstein:

“Whether one likes the ‘Tea Party’ or doesn’t like the ‘Tea Party,’ everyone should be offended by this. People have referred to me as a Tea Partier and I always say this: If you mean an average citizen worried about the future of our country as it relates to over-taxation, over-regulation and limited liberty who is willing to stand up and work?  Then fine.  That’s who these people are.

“Moreover, Walt is asking to represent these people that he just showed such complete disrespect to.   People say the Republican Party is divided.  They actually blame liberty activists and Tea Party Members for that divide.  But it is only the Washington establishment-chosen candidate that refers to fellow Republicans in a sexually derogatory manner.

“I call on Walt Havenstein to apologize.  I want him to apologize to me and to every single mother, father, and student who for several years have spent precious time working to promote the ideas of liberty and freedom from government intrusion. “

  It has been a lackluster primary season to date in New Hampshire but it might be about to get quite a bit livelier.