Alfred P. Baldasaro (born November 20, 1956) is a Republican politician from the state of New Hampshire. He is a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Baldasaro lives in Londonderry and represents District 5 in Rockingham County.[2] He is known for his strongly conservative views and provocative remarks, including one in 2016 where he called for Hillary Clinton to be "put in the firing line and shot" for which he was widely rebuked and investigated by the Secret Service.
Al Baldasaro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Rockingham 5th district | |
| In office December 2006 – December 7, 2022 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 20, 1956 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Judy[1] |
| Residence | Londonderry, New Hampshire[1] |
Career before politics
editBaldasaro's grandfather Alfred Vellucci served as mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts for four terms, beginning in 1971.[1] Baldasaro served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 22 years.[1]
New Hampshire House of Representatives tenure
editAccording to the Guardian, Baldasaro is "known as one of the most conservative—and controversial" members of the New Hampshire's 400-member House of Representatives.[1] Baldasaro led the fight against same-sex marriage in New Hampshire.[1]
In the 2012 Republican presidential primaries, Baldasaro supported Texas Governor Rick Perry. At a Republican primary presidential debate in 2011, the audience booed and jeered a gay Marine who had submitted a debate question about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. When asked about the incident, Baldasaro said that he was "disgusted" by the Marine and said: "I thought the audience, when they booed the marine, I thought it was great."[3][4][5] Baldasaro, who was criticized for the remarks by the Nashua Telegraph,[4] defended his comments in the media, stating that it is against Department of Defense regulations to wear a PT uniform at a partisan event.[5]
Baldasaro considered running for the United States Senate in the 2014 election but did not enter the race.[6]
In late December 2015, in response to a Facebook post made by Democratic State Representative Amanda Bouldin's supporting breastfeeding in public and opposing a New Hampshire bill that would criminalize the exposure of women's nipples or breasts in public, Baldasaro wrote on his Facebook page, "Amanda, no disrespect, but your nipple would be the last one I would want to see. You want to turn our family beaches into a pervert show."[a] Baldasaro refused to apologize or retract his remarks.[7][8] The incident prompted Republican House speaker Shawn Jasper to ask state Representatives "to act with dignity, to act with respect" in his remarks the following month at the opening of the 2016 legislative session.[9]
Baldasaro was an advisor to Donald Trump when Trump was the Republican nominee for president in the 2016 election, and regularly appeared with him at campaign events.[1] Baldasaro was the co-chairman of the Trump campaign's national veterans coalition.[10]
Baldasaro was a delegate at the 2016 Republican National Convention.[11] At the convention, Baldasaro called for the execution of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, accusing her of treason and saying she should be "put in the firing line and shot".[10][12][13] Baldasaro declined to apologize for his remark and then repeated it. New Hampshire Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte responded that “This kind of rhetoric is totally irresponsible, it has no place in our society, and violence should never be encouraged against anyone.”[11] The Secret Service investigated Baldasaro over the remarks.[10] However, in 2019, following the remarks, Trump praised Baldasaro at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire.[14] Baldasaro also was named a New Hampshire co-chair of Trump's 2020 reelection campaign.[15]
On December 5, 2018, Baldasaro was elected to a seventh term in the House. Republican caucus leader Dick Hinch has appointed Baldasaro as the Minority Floor Leader for the 2019-2020 legislative term.[16] On November 3, 2020, he began serving in his eighth term and was appointed to be the Chair of the State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs Committee.[17]
In 2022, Baldasaro introduced a measure to prevent the New Hampshire House from considering a bill that would allow homeowners to add up to four housing units on lots that were previously exclusively zoned for single-family housing.[18]
Notes
edit- ^ Another state Representative, Josh Moore, a Republican, made a similar "crude" comment, which Moore deleted.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Gershon, Livia (February 16, 2016). "Trump's biggest fan: a veteran and vote-wrangler – despite his own controversies". The Guardian.
- ^ Official profile Archived November 2, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, New Hampshire House of Representatives.
- ^ Rick Perry and gay soldiers (with audio), Dallas Voice (October 5, 2011).
- ^ a b Editorial, Here's something to really boo about, Nashua Telegraph (October 6, 2011).
- ^ a b Buckland, Tim (October 4, 2011). "State rep defends comments about gay soldier". New Hampshire Union Leader.
- ^ Houghton, Kimberly (December 19, 2013). "Al Baldasaro may run for U.S. Senate". New Hampshire Union Leader. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
- ^ a b Salinger, Tobias (December 30, 2015). "Male N.H. state lawmakers make crude Facebook comments after female legislator expresses opposition to public nudity bill". New York Daily News. New York City: Tribune Publishing.
- ^ a b Laura Newberry, Male New Hampshire lawmakers make disturbing comments in response to female legislator's defense of public breastfeeding, MassLive.com (December 31, 2015).
- ^ Lawmakers spar over New Hampshire bill forbidding women to show nipples, Associated Press (January 6, 2016).
- ^ a b c DiStaso, John. "Updated: Secret Service investigates Baldasaro for saying Clinton should face firing squad". WMUR. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ a b Leo Shane III, Trump veterans adviser won't apologize for saying Clinton should be shot, Military Times (July 21, 2016).
- ^ "Trump adviser endorses violence against Hillary Clinton". MSNBC. July 20, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ Mak, Tim (July 20, 2016). "Donald Trump's Thugs: Execute Hillary Clinton for 'Treason'". Daily Beast. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
- ^ Matthew Choi, N.H. lawmaker who called for shooting Hillary Clinton, Politico (August 15, 2019).
- ^ Madeline Hughes and Rachel DeBerardinis, Trump attracts fans, foes at NH rally, Salem News (August 16, 2019).
- ^ "House Republican Leader Announces First Leadership Appointments".
- ^ "Alfred Baldasaro".
- ^ "'Missing middle' housing bill tabled by House". NH Business Review. March 22, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.