From what I've heard of this guy, I like him. Anyone know his Second Amendment stand (I think I can guess, but..)?
I think the Republican majority is foolish to discount someone like Smith, who sounds more like a true Constitutional (for lack of a better term) legislator.
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Profile of Candidate Bob Smith
By HOLLY RAMER Associated Press Writer
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Sen. Bob Smith is a former teacher who says the public has a lot to learn and a former high
school baseball coach who has spent his political career way out in right field.
Now the former real estate agent is bidding on some prime property: the White House.
Phil Decelle, a retired teacher who supervised Smith's first few years working in the classroom, remembers the passion for
government the young civics teacher tried to impart to his students.
Decelle, a lifelong Democrat, also remembers the heated political discussions the Republican Smith sparked with other
teachers.
``I don't want to use the word opinionated, but that's what he is. What you see is what you get,'' Decelle said. ``He says one
thing and does what he says.''
Smith, 57, is unafraid to take a stand, even if everyone else remains seated. He was one of only five senators who voted
against the 1991 Civil Rights Act, one of three senators who voted against the National Energy Policy Act in 1992 and one of
three to vote against the nomination of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Supreme Court justice. He voted against funding for Head
Start, food stamps and emergency aid for hurricane victims.
``I was right, and the other 93 senators were wrong,'' he said about the Civil Rights vote.
Reporters laughed in a 1997 hearing when Smith called President Clinton fund-raising mess ``probably the biggest scandal in
the history of the republic.'' He also faced ridicule several years ago after giving a passionate speech against allowing elephants
on Capitol grounds.
But Smith insists his extreme views will draw people together instead of alienating them.
``I think people deserve honesty and I think there are a broad range of voters out there who agree with me,'' he said in a
telephone interview Wednesday. ``Clearly, there are enough people out there who agree with me for me to win the
presidency.''
``It's not just issues. It's integrity, it's a passion of wanting to lead,'' he said. ``It's a simple kind of feeling, a feeling of
patriotism.''
Smith has visited 20 states in the year and a half since he began considering a run, with frequent stops in Iowa, home of the
first presidential caucuses. Wherever he goes, he says he tells people about the life experiences that shaped his views: growing
up without his father, who was killed in a World War II airplane crash, serving in the Navy in Vietnam, serving his community
as a teacher and school board member.
``I've tried to introduce myself as a real person: Bob Smith the school teacher, the coach, the dad, the husband, then the
senator,'' he said. ``I think people need to know who you are. If you're a good person in your life, you have a better chance of
being a good president.''
Smith won his first House seat in 1984 after two unsuccessful campaigns and was re-elected twice. He was elected to the
Senate in 1990 and re-elected by a narrow margin in 1996.
Lois Beaulieu, a 70-year-old Newmarket businesswoman who has supported Smith from the start, says the early losses
reveal as much about Smith as the wins.
``He was a good loser,'' she said. ``If you can't be a good loser, you can't be a good winner. He never saw it as losing. It was
just on to the next election.''
Beaulieu said Smith won her over with his honesty: ``He doesn't talk double-talk. He speaks plain language.''
Although he comes from this first presidential primary state, the favorite-son factor is not looming large. In a recent poll of
New Hampshire Republicans, only 4 percent said they would vote for Smith in the primary.
Jeff Woodburn, chairman of the state Democratic Party, last week offered $100 to the first Republican officeholder or GOP
leader to endorse Smith publicly.
``We're poking fun at Bob Smith to illustrate a serious lack of support he has,'' Woodburn said. ``We're trying to find where
that lonely Republican is who will publicly support Bob Smith.''
State Rep. Tom Rice of Laconia took him up on the offer Wednesday, saying Smith would bring integrity to the White House.
``I am pleased to announce my support for my good friend Bob Smith and look forward to receiving my $100 check from
Jeff Woodburn -- payable to `Bob Smith for President,''' Rice said.
AP-NY-02-18-99 0945EST
I think the Republican majority is foolish to discount someone like Smith, who sounds more like a true Constitutional (for lack of a better term) legislator.
-------------------------------------------
Profile of Candidate Bob Smith
By HOLLY RAMER Associated Press Writer
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- Sen. Bob Smith is a former teacher who says the public has a lot to learn and a former high
school baseball coach who has spent his political career way out in right field.
Now the former real estate agent is bidding on some prime property: the White House.
Phil Decelle, a retired teacher who supervised Smith's first few years working in the classroom, remembers the passion for
government the young civics teacher tried to impart to his students.
Decelle, a lifelong Democrat, also remembers the heated political discussions the Republican Smith sparked with other
teachers.
``I don't want to use the word opinionated, but that's what he is. What you see is what you get,'' Decelle said. ``He says one
thing and does what he says.''
Smith, 57, is unafraid to take a stand, even if everyone else remains seated. He was one of only five senators who voted
against the 1991 Civil Rights Act, one of three senators who voted against the National Energy Policy Act in 1992 and one of
three to vote against the nomination of Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Supreme Court justice. He voted against funding for Head
Start, food stamps and emergency aid for hurricane victims.
``I was right, and the other 93 senators were wrong,'' he said about the Civil Rights vote.
Reporters laughed in a 1997 hearing when Smith called President Clinton fund-raising mess ``probably the biggest scandal in
the history of the republic.'' He also faced ridicule several years ago after giving a passionate speech against allowing elephants
on Capitol grounds.
But Smith insists his extreme views will draw people together instead of alienating them.
``I think people deserve honesty and I think there are a broad range of voters out there who agree with me,'' he said in a
telephone interview Wednesday. ``Clearly, there are enough people out there who agree with me for me to win the
presidency.''
``It's not just issues. It's integrity, it's a passion of wanting to lead,'' he said. ``It's a simple kind of feeling, a feeling of
patriotism.''
Smith has visited 20 states in the year and a half since he began considering a run, with frequent stops in Iowa, home of the
first presidential caucuses. Wherever he goes, he says he tells people about the life experiences that shaped his views: growing
up without his father, who was killed in a World War II airplane crash, serving in the Navy in Vietnam, serving his community
as a teacher and school board member.
``I've tried to introduce myself as a real person: Bob Smith the school teacher, the coach, the dad, the husband, then the
senator,'' he said. ``I think people need to know who you are. If you're a good person in your life, you have a better chance of
being a good president.''
Smith won his first House seat in 1984 after two unsuccessful campaigns and was re-elected twice. He was elected to the
Senate in 1990 and re-elected by a narrow margin in 1996.
Lois Beaulieu, a 70-year-old Newmarket businesswoman who has supported Smith from the start, says the early losses
reveal as much about Smith as the wins.
``He was a good loser,'' she said. ``If you can't be a good loser, you can't be a good winner. He never saw it as losing. It was
just on to the next election.''
Beaulieu said Smith won her over with his honesty: ``He doesn't talk double-talk. He speaks plain language.''
Although he comes from this first presidential primary state, the favorite-son factor is not looming large. In a recent poll of
New Hampshire Republicans, only 4 percent said they would vote for Smith in the primary.
Jeff Woodburn, chairman of the state Democratic Party, last week offered $100 to the first Republican officeholder or GOP
leader to endorse Smith publicly.
``We're poking fun at Bob Smith to illustrate a serious lack of support he has,'' Woodburn said. ``We're trying to find where
that lonely Republican is who will publicly support Bob Smith.''
State Rep. Tom Rice of Laconia took him up on the offer Wednesday, saying Smith would bring integrity to the White House.
``I am pleased to announce my support for my good friend Bob Smith and look forward to receiving my $100 check from
Jeff Woodburn -- payable to `Bob Smith for President,''' Rice said.
AP-NY-02-18-99 0945EST
