WILL TELL US WHERE NEW HAMPSHIRE NEEDS TO DO BETTER.
GOOD MORNING.
I’M ADAM SEXTON.
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY IS OVER, AND NOW THE DOWN BALLOT RACES ARE STARTING TO GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.
ONE, IS THE BATTLE TO UNSEAT DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN.
BUT BEFORE ANYONE CAN FACE THE SENATOR, THEY HAVE TO WIN WHAT IS SHAPING UP TO BE A HOTLY CONTESTED PRIMARY.
CORKEY MESSNER IS ONE OF THOSE REPUBLICANS AND HE HAS OUR FIRST GUEST THIS MORNING.
CORKEY: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
ADAM: COREY LEWANDOWSKI IS OUT OF THE PICTURE NOW.
WITH LEWANDOWSKI OUT OF THE PICTURE, IT IS OPEN FOR DEBATE WHO CAN BE THAT REPUBLICAN WHO WILL BE THE CLOSEST ALLY TO PRESIDENT TRUMP.
WHAT IS THE CASE HE WOULD MAKE FOR CONSERVATIVES TO PICK YOU?
CORKEY: I’M THE ONE THAT CAN BE JEANNE SHAHEEN.
THAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST.
I HAVE BEEN CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTIVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP’S AND I’M A STRONG CONSERVATIVE.
I WILL WORK HARD TO BEAT JEANNE SHAHEEN.
I HAVE THE RESOURCES TO BE JEANNE SHAHEEN AND I WILL EXPOSE HER FOR THE PROGRESSIVE SHE HAS.
THE REASON TO PICK ME IS, I’M THE ONE THAT CAN BEAT HER.
ADAM THE SENATE JUST HELD A PAIR OF HIGH-PROFILE BOATS ON THESE OR ALIVE BILLS.
THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY CRIMINALIZE SOME DOCTORS PERFORMING ABORTIONS.
ON THE PRACTICAL SIDE -- YOU HAVE CRITICIZED HER FOR VOTING AGAINST THOSE BILLS -- ON THE PRACTICAL SIDE HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST THE POLICE GO ABOUT INVESTIGATING AND ARRESTING
DOCTORS?
CORKEY: IT IS MORE A QUESTION OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
ESPECIALLY IN SITUATIONS WHERE A BABY IS BORN ALIVE AND THE BABY DESERVES HEALTH CARE, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY DESERVES HEALTH CARE.
A BABY BORN ALIVE AFTER AN ABORTION DESERVES THE SAME HEALTH CARE IS EVERYBODY.
AND THE DOCTOR WHO IS IN THAT SITUATION, TO ABORT A BABY, AS IMMEDIATELY SHIFT GEARS TO PROVIDE THAT BABY HEALTH CARE.
I THINK THE BORN ALIVE BILL POINTS THAT OUT TO DOCTORS.
TO PROVIDE THE SAME STANDARD OF CARE THAT ANYONE ELSE WOULD RECEIVE.
ADAM: HERE YOU SAY DESERVING HEALTH CARE.
YOU BELIEVE HEALTH CARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT THEN?
CORKEY: LISTEN, EVERYONE DESERVES HEALTH CARE.
I THINK THE NOTION THAT IT IS A HUMAN RIGHT IS A PROGRESSIVE TALKING POINT.
I THINK IT SOUNDS GOOD, BUT EVERYBODY DESERVES HEALTH CARE.
IN THIS HELP -- THIS COUNTRY, EVERYBODY HAS A WAY TO GET HEALTH CARE.
IF SOMEONE IS SICK AND THEY GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THEY GET HEALTH CARE.
ALL RIGHT?
AND THE NEW HAMPSHIRE, 94% OF GRANITE STATERS HAVE HEALTH CARE.
THERE IS ONLY 6% THAT DON’T.
IF THOSE PEOPLE NEED HEALTH CARE, THERE IS WAYS FOR THEM TO GET IT.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF THAT 6% HAD HEALTH INSURANCE TOO.
WE HAVE GOT TO CLOSE THAT GAP, BUT 94% HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.
ADAM: THE ABORTION DEBATE HASN’T CHANGED IN DECADES.
WHEN I TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
INCENTIVIZING CHILDBIRTH OR ANYTHING TO CONVINCE THAT EXPECTANT MOTHER TO CONTINUE THE PREGNANCY OR BRING IT TO TERM?
WHY NOT GO IN THAT DIRECTION RATHER THAN AT -- FIGHTING THE PITCHED BATTLE THAT HASN’T WORKED OUT FOR PRO-LIFE FOLKS IN 40 OR 50 YEARS?
CORKEY: AS I HAVE SAID, I AM A SUPPORTER OF THE WOMEN WHO LEAD THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT.
THE WOMEN LEAVE THE -- LEAD THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT.
THOSE WOMEN PROVIDE THOSE KINDS OF SERVICES YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT TWO WOMEN WHO HAVE A CRISIS PREGNANCY OR AN UNWANTED PREGNANCY.
THERE IS OPTIONS TO HAVE A BABY.
THERE IS OPTIONS FOR ADOPTION.
THERE IS MANY LOVING FAMILIES THAT WOULD HELP.
THEY ARE COMPASSIONATE AND HELPFUL AND THERE IS HELP WITH FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
I HAVE ALWAYS SAID, CULTURALLY WE NEED TO TAKE THAT APPROACH.
THAT WE PRO-LIFERS SHOULD BE SUPPORTIVE, HELPFUL, COMPASSIONATE, AND PROVIDE WAYS FOR WOMEN IN A CRISIS PREGNANCY TO SEE THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO ABORTION.
THE WOMEN WHO LEAD AND RUN THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT ARE VERY GOOD AT THAT.
THOSE ORGANIZATIONS ARE OUT THERE.
ADAM: LET’S SHIFT TO THE CORONAVIRUS.
SOME SOBERING NEWS IN TERMS OF THE RATE OF INFECTION.
DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANYWHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COULD BE DOING BETTER?
WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU ARE IN THE SENATE?
CORKEY: I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE COULD DO RIGHT NOW IN THE U.S. SENATE AND CONGRESS IS THE SUPPORTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT, BE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PRESIDENT.
WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE DOING RIGHT NOW, CRITICIZING HIM NO MATTER WHAT HE DOES, IT’S BAD FOR THE COUNTRY, THAT FOR PEOPLE , AND BAD FOR THIS CRISIS SITUATION.
WE OUGHT TO BE SUPPORTIVE.
THE PRESIDENT ASKED FOR $2.5 BILLION.
IF HE NEEDS MORE MONEY, HE WILL ASK FOR MORE.
IF CONGRESS WANTS TO GIVE HIM MORE MONEY, THEY CAN GIVE HIM MORE.
HE IS ON TOP OF THIS.
HE TOOK BOLD ACTION EARLY ON WITH THE TRAVEL BAN AND HE WAS CRITICIZED FOR THAT.
IT IS TURNING OUT THE WAS A -- THAT WAS A REALLY SMART MOVE.
ADAM: WHAT ABOUT CDC FUNDING?
IF WE SEE YOU IN THE U.S. SENATE ARE YOU GOING TO BE VOTING FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR THINGS LIKE OUTBREAK PREPAREDNESS?
RATHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN, THEY’RE ATTEMPTED CUTS?
ARE YOU GOING TO BE CALLING FOR MORE FUNDING FOR CDC?
CORKEY: THE BUDGET FOR CDC HAS GONE UP WHILE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.
IT IS MY VIEW THAT CDC HAS TO BE APPROPRIATELY FUNDED TO DEFEND AMERICANS FROM PANDEMICS OR OTHER THINGS.
I HAVE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE CDC.
THE FUNDING HAS TO BE THERE, BUT WE HAVE GOT TO START MAKING SURE THAT I WOULD DOLLARS ARE BEING SPENT PRODUCTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
MORE MONEY DOESN’T ALWAYS MEAN BETTER.
WE NEED TO HOLD ALL BUREAUCRACIES ACCOUNTABLE TO SPEND OUR MONEY AND MAKE PRODUCTIVE WAY.
ADAM: LET’S GET TO SOME LOCAL HEADLINES.
YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE A TALK AT DARTMOUTH THAT GOT CANCELED AND SHIPPED AROUND BECAUSE OF AN ALLEGED THREAT THAT HAPPENED ONLINE.
THE MORE PEOPLE LOOKED AT THAT, THE LESS THAT HELD UP AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE COLLEGE OF PUBLIC ENDS HAVE RESIGNED AS A RESULT.
THIS IS ALL VERY TEMPEST IN A CAMPUS TEAPOT, BUT DO YOU THINK YOUR CAMPAIGN EXAGGERATED THIS?
CORKEY: I DON’T THINK SO.
WE ASKED THE COLLEGE REPUBLICANS THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO COME AND TALK -- BY THE WAY, I WENT UP THERE AND I TALKED TO SOME COLLEGE REPUBLICANS THAT NIGHT.
WHEN THEY MADE THE DECISION THAT THEY DID NOT THINK IT WOULD BE SAFE, YOU KNOW, WE DID NOT PUSH IT.
THAT IS THEIR DECISION.
I WAS AGHAST.
IT IS WHAT IT IS -- I WAS A GUEST.
IT IS WHAT IT IS.
I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR US TO LET THEM KNOW -- THE WORLD KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
SINCE THEN WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS AND PART OF OUR RESPONSE TO THAT LETTER IS, I WOULD BE GLAD TO COME AND TALK TO THE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS.
LET’S, YOU KNOW, TALK AND MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT IS LIKE WHERE PEOPLE OF DIFFERING OPINIONS CAN HAVE A CIVILIZED DISCUSSION.
I’M GOING TO GO BACK AND TALK TO THE COLLEGE REPUBLICANS AND I HOPE THAT THE COLLEGE DEMOCRATS INVITE ME BACK.
ADAM: WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO HELP NEW HAMPSHIRE’S NORTH COUNTRY?
CORKEY: I THINK A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS, WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT TO THE EXTENT THERE ARE NOT ENTERPRISE ZONES UP THERE THAT WE GET MORE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY COVERED WITH ENTERPRISE ZONES TO BRING INVESTMENT IN AND RING
BUSINESS IN -- BRING BUSINESS IN.
THAT WILL BE A HUGE DRIVER THERE.
I’VE BEEN TO THE NORTH COUNTRY SEVERAL TIMES AND I WILL BE GOING BACK MORE TIMES.
THE FOLKS UP THERE, I THINK, ARE AMBITIOUS AND TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN THERE.
I THINK WITH THE APPROPRIATE FREE-MARKET INCENTIVES IT WILL HELP THE NORTH COUNTRY.
ADAM: ONE OF THE BIG TOPICS RIGHT NOW IS WATER CONTAMINATION, PARTICULARLY BY P FAST.
THE APA ANNOUNCED IT IS INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS.
YOU THINK THAT GOES TOO FAR?
THAT THESE BUSINESSES ARE BEING HELD TO ACCOUNTABLE?
-- TOO ACCOUNTABLE?
CORKEY: EVERYBODY’S ENTITLED TO CLEAN WATER.
PART OF THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT PEOPLE AND YOU PROTECT THEM BY MAKING SURE THEY HAVE CLEAN WATER.
I ACTUALLY VISIT -- VISITED A WATER TREATMENT FACILITY AND GOT A TOUR AND TALKED TO THE PERSON WHO WAS RUNNING THAT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT ON HIM WITH THEPFAS STUFF.
HIS PERSPECTIVE WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT, HE THINKS THAT THE BURDEN IS GOING TO BE TOO HEAVY ON WHAT HE IS DOING AND THAT HIS WATER IS COMING OUT AFTER THEY TREATED WITHOUT PFAS ISSUES.
ADAM CLIMATE CHANGE.
DO YOU BELIEVE IT IS CAUSED BY MAN?
IF SO WHAT SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT DOING?
CORKEY: CLIMATE CHANGE HAPPENS.
CLIMATE HAS BEEN CHANGING FOREVER.
MAN’S IMPACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS MINIMAL, ALRIGHT?
I DON’T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN DO MUCH TO IMPACT IT.
HAVING SAID THAT, WE ONLY HAVE ONE EARTH.
I CONSIDER MYSELF A CONSERVATIVE CONSERVATIONIST.
I’M INVOLVED IN CONSERVATION WHERE I LIVE IN WOLFEBORO.
WE ALL OUGHT TO DO THE THINGS WE CAN DO TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE EARTH.
GOVERNMENT HAS A ROLE IN THAT TOO.
I THINK THE EXTREMIST COME -- THAT WANT TO TAKE CONTROL OF ALL PARTS OF OUR LIVES, IT IS EXTREME.
THE REALITY IS, I DON’T THINK THAT WOULD HAVE MUCH IMPACT ANYWAY.
I THINK BEING GOOD CITIZENS AND DOING THINGS TO HELP CONSERVE THE EARTH AND EVERYONE DOING THEIR PART WILL HELP, BUT I DON’T THINK THE MODELS THAT ARE PREDICTING ALL OF THE STUFF ARE
ACCURATE.
I READ A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHERE THE MODELS, THEY FOUND OUT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THEM.
NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO RECONCILE THE MODELS.
I THINK THE PROGRESSIVES ARE USING CLIMATE CHANGE AS A JUSTIFICATION TO TAKE MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL.