New Hampshire Restaurant Bans GOP Candidates: ‘No Politicians, No Exceptions’

by Frances Martel | 5:31 pm, January 5th, 2012

» 10 comments

For many small businesses, having a large political event in their area is a good sign– it brings tourists and attention and business to the community. For others, it’s a nuisance, particularly when politicians are involved. That’s what Colby’s Breakfast & Lunch in Portsmouth, New Hampshire decided of the week-long political circus heading their way and, in preparation for the storm, put up a simple and non-negotiable sign: “No politicians, no exceptions.”

According to local network WMUR 9 New Hampshire, the restaurant decided to ban politicians because their customers were simply trying to have a quiet meal, not have a Republican candidate try to convince them that they are the superior choice in the primary. WMUR notes that Rick Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann had brought their entourages along but, in a somewhat bizarre turn of events, it was the lesser-known candidate Buddy Roemer whose visit was the last straw.

Employee Jessica Labrie told the Portsmouth Herald she made the sign after several customers complained that the visits were an interruption.

Labrie said several GOP presidential candidates, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former candidate Michele Bachmann and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer have visited the business since the summer, and each time their presence was an interruption.

She said the most recent candidate visit came Monday from Roemer. She said it disrupted conversations among people eating breakfast.

The owner of Colby’s, Jeremy Colby, said that politicians had been coming and going since the summer and the restaurant was simply too small to allow them in. With such a small state in such an unpredictable and hotly contested race, one wonders whether Colby’s will be the first of many restaurants to refuse to partake in a tradition of so many decades in the First in the Nation state.

[h/t Alan Colmes]

2012 elections, local news, New Hampshire, politicians, Portsmouth, Primaries, Republicans

Anonymous

Don’t get them started on BLACK politicians.
Jim Harper

If you want to be the first state with a primary because “you take it seriously” and expect “retail politics” and want to question the candidates, then it is unreasonable to then ban them from the very retail establishments where this takes place. If this spreads to other places in NH, then the nation should take their “first in the nation” status away from them.
Anonymous

Or the ones who don’t speak English!
Anonymous

I think they are well within their rights to ban these “retail politicians” if they are upsetting their clientele. If their customer’s are complaining and they do nothing about it, then they risk losing the very people who keep them in business. Customer service always comes first.
http://twitter.com/sayzgor Sarah Gormady

Yeah first of the nation primary status mandates candidates can barge into any private business and usurp the place as a soap box. Not allowing that kind of intrusion to commerce must mean we’re heathens. Candidates have plenty of public space in New Hampshire to campaign from. They don’t need to barge into establishments. Two major pedestrian traffic areas are 2 minute WALKS from Colby’s, Prescott Park and Market Square. Seriously ask before you bring a 15 person entourage into a restaurant that seats 20.
Anonymous

Can Ann Coulter bring her blacks in?
Anonymous

especially since the locals will be there well after the election and the GOP mob will leave the day after their primary caucus, or whatever the hell it’s called there.
Anonymous

So, let’s say, the regular customers were all white and they were upset to see black people in there, would the establishment be right to exclude those black people?

What if the regulars were all straight and were offended by seeing a gay couple in there?
Anonymous

GavinsPapa- I’m sure they would be welcome to come in and order and eat food like any other customer. The objection is their coming in and disrupting business with their sales pitch. Do it outside on the sidewalk, across the street or where ever your invited. Don’t feel that they are entitled to just come in and take over any business. I thought they are all ways whittling away at entitlements for every one else.
Anonymous

The issue is not white/black or straight/gay. The issue is GOP contenders interrupting the local clientele trying to eat a meal.