The son of New Hampshire Governor and Democratic Senate candidate Maggie Hassan has long been central to her political career. Ben, who has born with cerebral palsy, prompted her to press his public school to accommodate his needs. Her continued efforts in disability rights led to her recruitment for elective office. And she placed her son's story at the center of her successful gubernatorial campaign.
So for Hassan's first television spot in her Senate race, she begins again with Ben.
While we see her take care of him, Hassan tells the story of when Ben first started school: "...we were really worried if he'd fit in. Twenty or thirty years earlier, we would have been pressured to put him in an institution ... I had a lot of anxiety. Would he find friends? Would they understand how smart he is? Would he be fully included?"
"When the school bus pulled in and the wheelchair lift came down and we wheeled Ben on the bus ... I found myself thinking ... about all the families that came before the Hassan family: teachers and champions for kids like Ben and families like ours who made his inclusion possible."
It's such a powerful bio spot, that conservative writer John Podhoretz tweeted, "I don't even know what words to use to describe how wonderful this Maggie Hassan ad is." Looks like a strong start for what will be a hotly contested race.
So for Hassan's first television spot in her Senate race, she begins again with Ben.
Maggie Hassan Talks About the First Day of School
"All families have challenges," Hassan narrates, as we get a peek at a Hassan family dinner. "What's really important is that they also have community."While we see her take care of him, Hassan tells the story of when Ben first started school: "...we were really worried if he'd fit in. Twenty or thirty years earlier, we would have been pressured to put him in an institution ... I had a lot of anxiety. Would he find friends? Would they understand how smart he is? Would he be fully included?"
"When the school bus pulled in and the wheelchair lift came down and we wheeled Ben on the bus ... I found myself thinking ... about all the families that came before the Hassan family: teachers and champions for kids like Ben and families like ours who made his inclusion possible."
Maggie Hassan Ties Her Personal Story to Her Politics
She concludes by connecting his story to her politics: "That's one of the reasons I got involved in public service, because it made it so clear to me how much you can accomplish when you work together."It's such a powerful bio spot, that conservative writer John Podhoretz tweeted, "I don't even know what words to use to describe how wonderful this Maggie Hassan ad is." Looks like a strong start for what will be a hotly contested race.