ICYMI — Nashua Telegraph: Mayor Criticizes Sununu for Supporting War in Iran

ICYMI — Nashua Telegraph: Mayor Criticizes Sununu for Supporting War in Iran

In Case You Missed It, the Nashua Telegraph covered a recent press conference in Nashua where Mayor Jim Donchess and Board of Public Works Commissioner Manny Espitia knocked Donald Trump-endorsed “U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu for continuing to support the war in Iran.”

Mayor Donchess criticized Sununu for having “‘fallen in line with Donald Trump’” and celebrating the “‘so-called success’” of Trump’s war. Commissioner Espitia “spoke about the increased cost of heating oil, which is now $5.80 per gallon,” saying, “‘as temperatures drop, Granite Staters shouldn’t have to be worried about whether they can afford to stay warm. But if Trump continues to prolong this war, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.’”

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Nashua Telegraph: Mayor criticizes Sununu for supporting war in Iran

• Mayor James Donchess recently expressed his vexation toward Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Sununu for continuing to support the war in Iran.
• Looking back to October 2002, Donchess said Sununu, who was a congressman at the time, voted in favor of the proposal from then-President George W. Bush to send troops into Iraq.
• “Sununu gave Bush permission to send our troops into a controversial and ill-informed conflict that turned into a strategic failure and took the lives of thousands of Americans, including 32 that had ties to New Hampshire,” Donchess said during the Oct. 15 press conference hosted by the New Hampshire Democratic Party.
• Now, 24 years later, Sununu has backed President Donald Trump’s decision to attack Iran, a move that was made without Congressional authorization.
• “Sununu is reminding us that he’s still the same rubber stamp that he was more than 20 years ago,” said Donchess. “Sununu has fallen in line with Donald Trump.”
• According to the U.S. Congressional Budgetary Office, as of Aug. 1, the Department of Defense has spent $38 billion on the war effort since the conflict began on Feb. 28. The Trump Administration has also not given a definitive reason for initiating the hostilities. To date, 21 American soldiers have been killed in Iran.
• “Sununu has publicly defended Trump’s war and even celebrated its so-called success,” said Donchess.
• According to AAA New Hampshire, diesel is currently $6.41 per gallon, gasoline is $4.27 per gallon and crude oil is nearly $100 per barrel.
• “Are those the successes he’s talking about?” asked Donchess.
• In contrast, he said Sununu’s opponent, Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH), will put New Hampshire first.
• “Unlike Sununu, Congressman Pappas has consistently called for Trump’s war of choice to come to an end and has introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax, saving more Granite Staters’ hard earned dollars,” said Donchess.
• Former State Rep. Manny Espitia said that since the war started through the second week of September, the average New Hampshire family has spent an additional $840 on gasoline.
• He also called attention to a September poll from the University of New Hampshire Survey Center. According to the poll, 78 percent of Granite Staters said their overall cost of living has gone up during the past year.
• “Costs for groceries, gasoline and other necessities feel like they are getting out of hand and Donald Trump’s war is not helping,” he said.
• Espitia also spoke about the increased cost of heating oil, which is now $5.80 per gallon.
• “As Trump’s war keeps chugging along, the average household is expected to pay 31 percent more for home heating oil, which would cost almost $2,300 this winter,” he said. “As temperatures drop, Granite Staters shouldn’t have to be worried about whether they can afford to stay warm. But if Trump continues to prolong this war, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”
• Although Congress has the authority to regulate Trump’s war powers, Espitia said Republican lawmakers have prevented a war powers resolution from passing.
• “Here in New Hampshire, John Sununu has been in lockstep with those Republicans and with Donald Trump,” said Espitia. “When asked about a war powers resolution to limit Trump’s ability to wage war, Sununu refused to support the bill. One time, Sununu even walked away without a single word when asked about it.”
• In contrast, Espitia said Pappas voted six times to end the war.
• “He’s the only candidate in this race to take on anyone to do what’s best for Granite Staters,” said Espitia. “That’s why New Hampshire is ready to send Congressman Chris Pappas to the United States Senate.”