Dems Question Hinckley’s Commitment to Rhode Island After Voting Record Emerges
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
The motivations of Senate candidate Barry Hinckley are again being called into question by supporters of incumbent Senator Sheldon Whitehouse after the Republican’s campaign confirmed that he registered to vote in Florida in 2010 before ultimately voting in the Ocean State later that year.
“Given this revelation, Rhode Islanders really have to question whether Barry Hinckley - who has said that running for office is a good way to boost public relations for your business, and has told others he’s running in Rhode Island because it’s a 'cheap seat' - is going to have their best interests at heart," said Bill Fischer, a spokesperson for the RI Democratic Party.
But Whitehouse supporters say it is Hinckley’s record in recent years that warrants more attention.
The Newport native spent much of his adult life in Boston where he co-founded Bullhorn, a software company that recently sold for over $100 million. But after a short time living in Florida in 2010, Hinckley says he moved back to Rhode Island in time to vote in the local elections. By March of 2011, he had already launched his Senate campaign website.
Two weeks ago, the Whitehouse campaign took Hinckley to task for suggesting that running for office was a smart public relations move for businessmen looking to make a name for themselves during a speech several years ago. Hinckley has pointed to the fact that he has poured $150,000 of his own money into the race as an example that he is committed to the campaign.
But now Democrats are questioning whether Hinckley simply chose Rhode Island because it is relatively affordable to run for a Senate race in the Ocean State.
Hinckley’s campaign manager Patrick Sweeney confirmed that the Republican moved to Florida for “a couple of months” and obtained a “license and registered to vote, but never voted.” He dismissed the Democratic Party’s criticism of his candidate.
“If that’s the best Bill Fischer has to offer, it is going to be a long election cycle for him,” Sweeney said. “It is readily apparent Senator Whitehouse does not want to debate the issues and is grasping at straws. Some questions for Mr. Fischer: Why has unemployment doubled in Rhode Island under his term? Why has gas doubled under his term? Why has the national debt almost doubled under his term? Why did Senator Whitehouse bail out the banks? Why did Senator Whitehouse take over $2 million dollars in special interest money?”
Whitehouse and Hinckley are expected to take part in several debates prior to the November election.
Dan McGowan can be reached at dmcgowan@golocalprov.com. Follow him on Twitter: @danmcgowan.
Comments:
don almonte
9:40am on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
I doubt Sheldon Whitehouse will debate Hinckley... when it comes to the issues Sheldon is in big trouble... not to mention, nobody seems to like him. Hinckley 2012!!
Aaron Regunberg
10:02am on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
I spoke to Barry Hinckley last summer. I asked him which GOP presidential candidate he was supporting. He told me he favored Hermain Cain. I think there are many reasons to doubt Mr. Hinckley's judgment, and this certainly isn't the biggest. But to me it's one of the funniest.
Russ Hryzan
10:30am on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Many people have lived in different places. 20 years ago, I moved down to Florida, I hated the excessive heat and humidity, and so I moved back after a few months. Who cares?
This is Sheldon's hack-job political team trying to take focus off of his uselessness, his arrogance, his complete and total disconnect with working Americans, and his accomplishment-less political record.
lu desrosiers
10:35am on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
If Mr. Whitehouse would be running for reelection in any other State than Rhode Island, I would have to agree with his assessment that Mr. Whitehouse would be in trouble. However, he is running in Rhode Island, the state of the walking dead, when it comes to most voters. But, being an optimist I'll allow for the unexpected.
Mr. Regunberg comment could have been more informative to the readers if he had elaborated on the "many issues" he doesn't comment on. That would have provided us with an in depth assessment that I could inform myself of and compare to my assessment. That makes for good conversation and thinking.
As presented his statement gives the impression he has made comparisons between Mr. Hinckley's positions and that of Senator Whitehouse's and finds those of Mr. Hinckley wanting. If so, it would be a fine contribution to this venue and its readers of his findings and suggestions, if any that either candidate should aspire to present.
Mark Smiley
11:12am on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Barry Hinckley has made an enormous commitment to this campaign and in turn, every voter in Rhode Island. He has put his own money into the campaign and has divested himself of Bullhorn Software, the company he founded.
At the same time, Sheldon Whitehouse has done nothing for Rhode Island during the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and was caught red handed in a "legal" insider Trading scandal. Truly Sheldon Whitehouse is only in Washington to line his own pockets and will say and do ANYTHING to get reelected.
don almonte
11:21am on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
lol I especially like patrick sweeney's comment at the end of this... what a smack down. Good point though, is this really what they have for ammo against Hinckley?
David Allen
2:03pm on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Fischer takes another page from the most divisive and partisan former Chair Wee Willy Lynch's playbook and runs with it... I agree, it is funny that this is all he has.
As for Whitehouse, some day, I want to come back as filthy rich and white so I can coast from job to job and accomplish absolutely nothing. DBR, AG, US Attorney and Senator...and he has no record to boast about.
Christopher Abernathy
5:06pm on Wednesday, August 08, 2012
I feel like Sheldon has been an Epic Fail since his days as AG. If this is the only attack he can get on Hinckley, well i guess the song goes like bye bye bye sheldon, or go cry me a river. Honestly a man who leaves florida to come back to this medieval state has my praise for standing up and fighting to get RI back to work! I will vote for Hinckley in Novemeber!