Getting to Know Greenberg: Why is Mark Boughton Endorsing His New Tea Party Pal?

Hartford, CT – Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Boughton endorsed Congressional hopeful Mark Greenberg in the 5th Congressional District, calling him a “friend” who he has “gotten to know”. A far-right, Tea Party extremist, Greenberg is anti-women, anti-gay marriage, and pro-guns.

“Another day, another step further to the right for the Republican candidates. They continue to pander to the NRA while making promises on taxes they can never keep,” said Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo. “An endorsement for his ‘friend’ Mark Greenberg would seem like an endorsement of the Tea Party. Does Boughton share Greenberg’s Tea Party, anti-choice, anti-gay marriage, and pro-gun positions? Is this just political pandering or does this demonstrate that Boughton is actually way out of the mainstream?”

Background – Getting to Know Mark Greenberg

In His Endorsement Of Congressional Candidate Mark Greenberg, Boughton Said, “Over The Past Several Years I Have Gotten To Know Mark” And Greenberg “Is Not Only A Team Player But A Person I Consider A Friend. “Twice passed over for the GOP nomination in the 5th Congressional District, Greenberg has locked up the endorsement of Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. ‘Over the past several years I have gotten to know Mark and appreciate his dedication to the Republican party and working to elect Republicans at every level,’ Boughton said of Greenberg. ‘Mark is not only a team player but a person I consider a friend. I look forward to him being part of the team that helps restore fiscal sanity to our great state.’ Greenberg’s wooing of Boughton, a Republican gubernatorial contender, has been four years in the making.” [CT News, 5/15/14]

CT News Junkie: “In 2012, Greenberg Was Perhaps The Most Conservative Of The Republican Candidates… He Won The Support Of Tea Party Groups.” “In 2012, Greenberg was perhaps the most conservative of the Republican candidates running for the 5th Congressional District nomination. He won the support of Tea Party groups and he supports raising the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to at least 69. He would repeal what he called the ‘Unaffordable Care Act.’” [CT News Junkie, 12/3/13]

Greenberg On Marriage Equality: “I Don’t Know If They Should Be Able To Be Married.” According to WNPR, “Greenberg is running as a social conservative and he is a pro-life candidate. When it comes to gay marriage,  ’I don’t know if they should be able to be married. I think marriage as a union is dedicated to a man and a woman,’ said Greenberg. He is also opposed to a national law allowing gay marriage.” [WNPR, 7/19/12]

Greenberg: “I Am Very Pro-Life.” “Greenberg has stated that he is both pro-life and against the use of tax dollars ‘to fund abortion in any form.’ ‘I am very pro-life,’ he said in 2010. ‘In terms of wording, pro-life, what’s the opposite of that? Pro-death?’” [Register Citizen, Connecticut’s 5th Congressional District, accessed 5/15/14] 

Greenberg: “I Am Strongly Opposed To Using Taxes To Fund Abortion In Any Form.” In January 2011, Greenberg had posted to his campaign website, “For decades federal law has prohibited the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortion. As a part of the health care bill, there has been an effort to change this established law. I am strongly opposed to using taxes to fund abortion in any form. If I am elected to Congress, I will fight to maintain the existing law that prohibits our tax dollars from funding abortion.” [Greenberg Campaign Website, via The Internet Archive, Captured 1/26/11]

Greenberg: “The 2nd Amendment Clearly Protects The Right Of Individuals To Keep And Bear Firearms – Period.” In January 2011, Greenberg had posted on his campaign website, “The 2nd Amendment clearly protects the right of individuals to keep and bear firearms – period. Our 2nd Amendment represents the freedom to own firearms for personal protection, hunting and sport shooting. I will ensure that no bills violate our Constitutional Rights as lawful citizens, to own and possess firearms. Handgun bans have been repeatedly overturned by the courts because they are unconstitutional – and ensure that ‘only the bad guys’ will have guns. Gun ownership is a right and with rights come responsibility. I believe we should promote gun safety education and training programs to ensure that guns are used safely and are used by those with proper training and licensing.” [Greenberg Campaign Website, via The Internet Archive, Captured 1/26/11] 

On WNPR, Greenberg Described Islam As "A Cult In Many Respects," And Said, "I Don't Believe In All Manner That Islam Is A Religion Of Peace." “Mr. Greenberg, a Republican candidate in the 5th Congressional District, appeared on WNPR's ‘Where We Live’ program last week. On the air, he described Islam as ‘a cult in many respects," and said, ‘I don't believe in all manner that Islam is a religion of peace.’ Such remarks ought to embarrass anyone, especially someone running for public office. How the world's second-largest religion, with at least a billion adherents, can be referred to as ‘a cult’ is a mystery. And as for Islam's not being ‘a religion of peace,’ evidently Mr. Greenberg isn't familiar with even the basics of the faith; perhaps he should take a brief course in comparative religion before commenting further. The show's host, John Dankosky, tried several times to allow Mr. Greenberg to temper his remarks, suggesting that extremists in any religion are hardly representative of the faith. The candidate would have none of it, continuing to insist that Christianity and Judaism are ‘more peaceful’ than Islam, and referring several times to America's ‘Judeo-Christian values,’ apparently as contrasted with Islamic values.” [Editorial, Hartford Courant, 07/24/12] 

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