Concord Rep's Email Causes National Firestorm

A Concord state representative's email to Republican colleagues at the State House about her Army training is causing national controversy this morning. 

In the email July 21, State Rep. Lynne Blankenbeker, R-Concord, the city's only GOP rep., described some of the training she was getting at Fort Dix, before she ships off to Afghanistan later this year. Blankenbeker, who is a Naval Reservist nurse, said she was learning how to drive a hum vee for convoys, both day and night, as well as weapons training. 

Blankenbeker wrote: "Today I got to be the gunner which was fun. The .50cal is quite a gun! I was never ascared (sic) of the unions but they better not F#%k with me again!!! Just saying."

The email went viral, appearing on both The Huffington Post and Politico.

In an email to Concord NH Patch, Blankenbeker stated that she "never made any statement to anyone, unions or otherwise, threatening to use any force or weapon of any kind."

"I merely made a statement that my army training has toughened me up to the point that I could take on any hostile group such as the unions," she stated. 

The comments, Blankenbeker told The Huffington Post, were "for my state representative Peers only." Blankenbeker added that in the past, she had been a target of the SEIU 1984, the State Employees Association of New Hampshire, via a "Pink Slip Lynne" campaign, calling on her to resign because of her votes at the State House. Her email was "metaphorically explaining" how hard the training has been and how she will be prepared "to withstand even the toughest attacks."

Some union officials were quick to denounce the comments. 

Dave Lang, president of Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire, said while the union is "very supportive" of the men and women in the military, since a lot of firefighters are veterans and currently serving. But elected officials really need to notch it down a bit.  

"Inflammatory comments are not helpful," he said. "Our members, while they are union members, are also taxpayers, fathers and mothers, and members of the middle class of the state. We expect more from our elected officials."

Lang said using officials legislative email for such comments "does not help produce a rational debate." 

"I wonder openly where the party leaders are in this discussion," he said. "It’s time for someone to step forward and tone down the hurtful and harmful rhetoric ... surely there is an adult somewhere that could stand up and reel some of this in."

State Rep. Dick Patten, D-Concord, one of Blankenbeker's four Democratic colleagues serving in Merrimack District 11, offered "no comment" on July 22, about the controversy when asked to respond via email today. Blankenbeker's other three colleagues also did not respond to requests for comments.

However, at least one long-time city Republican thinks the entire thing is all about nothing. 

"To live in politics is to be a moving target," noted Jeff Newman, an active city Republican who unsuccessfully ran alongside Blankenbeker in 2010. "I am glad she is serving us out there ... Lynne is correct about how much fun a .50 cal. machine gun can be."

Newman stated that the comments were just "Lynne being Lynne," and voters could judge her in the voting booth in the next election, as they should all political candidates. 

"[Rep. Blankenbeker] is a candid person and doesn't hide her feelings or her passion about serving," he said. "I am certain that her detractors have been at least as candid about their feelings about her in their emails."

Union press officials from the SEA and The New Hampshire AFL-CIO, also did not respond to requests for comment.