The Dover Democratic Committee celebrated its’ First Annual Franklin Roosevelt Dinner on Saturday, January 26, 2008 with the presence of many political figures, including State Representatives Brendan Browne, Tom Fargo, Baldwin (Dom) Domingo, Sarah Hutz, and Roland Hofemann. As the crowd was addressed with the famous Franklin Roosevelt remark, “Be sincere, be brief, be seated,” State Representative Domingo displayed his usual humor while taking a picture, “One dollar.”

Harvard Sitkoff, the author of “A New Deal for Blacks” and “King: Pilgrimage to the Mountaintop” told the crowd how it took a President to recognize Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream, which began with the New Deal under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, shifting the black vote from being 90% for republicans to what the greater Democratic party stands for today – a party of social equality, diversity, and fair employment practices. FDR appointed over 100 blacks to administrative positions in a time that society began to speak against racism.

Audio clips provided by the University of New Hampshire played, one of which was President Franklin Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address, “…let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance…” The Dover Democratic Committee operates in such that all Democrats that live in Dover NH can vote in the upcoming caucuses that will decide new State Representatives.

U.S. Senator hopeful Jay Buckley spoke for several minutes, touting his experience in the military, in NASA, as a doctor, and an engineer. He spoke about an Energy Policy that allows the withdrawal from the Persian Gulf, his opposition to the war in Iraq from the beginning, and the need for quality affordable healthcare for every American. He said Senator John Sununu does not represent the people of New Hampshire, and that democrats need to vote to elect someone who will in November.

Jim Casey spoke on behalf of Jeanne Shaheen, former Governor of New Hampshire, and her experience in Concord that makes her the right person to represent New Hampshire in the United States Senate in 2008. He mentioned how Governor Shaheen established Martin Luther King Day as a holiday in New Hampshire after republicans had blocked it for years. He spoke about how she helped the working class with workmen’s compensation insurance payments when the program was being cut to pieces. He also said that Jeanne Shaheen is the person to fill the vacancy of Senator John Sununu in 2008.

Although she was not able to make it, a message was provided from Carol Shea-Porter thanking everyone for their help to elect her to the U.S. House of Representatives, and that she continues to work for the people of New Hampshire on the issues that matter most, including the Iraq War. She has voted for legislation establishing timetables for withdrawal from Iraq, voted for the increase of minimum wage, and for legislation to increase spending for veterans’ benefits.

The spaghetti dinner ended after two hours, many people eager to see the outcome of the Primary in South Carolina. There was also some discussion of Florida and Michigan delegates to the Democratic National Convention.