State Democratic Party leaders are expressing anger that one of their "trackers" was kicked out of Wednesday's Belknap County Republicans' meeting despite the fact that it was used as a campaign stop for two congressional candidates.

Ben Arsenault, the son of Democratic State Representative Beth Arsenault of Laconia and a candidate for the State House in the upcoming election, was set to videotape the Republicans' meeting at the Shang Hai restaurant on South Main Street when he was asked to leave the session.

The Citizen and other media outlets were invited to attend the meeting, which also was videotaped by Doug Lambert for use on his conservative-minded www.GraniteGrok.com website.

Arsenault was quietly standing in the corner of the room with a video camera in hand when Rep. Frank Tilton, the chair of the Belknap County Republicans, approached him and made it clear that he was not welcome.

Arsenault pointed out that Republicans send trackers to Democratic Party meetings, but Tilton insisted he leave.

Immediately after Arsenault left, a state-level Republican Party official asked Tilton in jest if Arsenault decided he didn't want to attend the meeting, which featured speeches by First District Congressional candidate Jeb Bradley and Second District candidate Robert Clegg.

Tilton responded, "I didn't give him that option."

N.H. Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley caught wind of the incident and expressed anger at what he characterized as the Republicans' unwillingness to be open.

The meeting also included discussions of party philosophy and strategy in the upcoming elections.

Buckley said Republican trackers are regularly in attendance at Democratic meetings and are not asked to leave.

He cited one example where a Republican tracker attended a recent Belknap County Democrats meeting and posted a video of him speaking on the file-sharing website YouTube entitled "NH Horror: Moonbats in the Majority" — a production that was taped by longtime "card-carrying Republican" Doug Lambert of Gilford.

While neither Clegg nor Bradley were responsible for Arsenault being asked to leave, Buckley said he believes the incident speaks volumes about the attitude of Republican Party leaders.

"I'm curious as to what these candidates have to hide. Either a meeting is public or it's not. If you want to have a closed meeting, have a closed meeting ... they can't have it both ways," said Buckley, noting that established media were welcome to attend.

Buckley went on to issue a statement saying, "Clearly they don't want voters to see video of them telling their fellow Republicans that they support the failed Bush policies that have entangled us in Iraq and led to recession at home. But maybe, instead of hiding from being held publicly accountable for their positions, they should change their positions to something more in line with what mainstream New Hampshire voters want."

Tilton stopped short of saying the Democratic worker was "kicked out" but he assured that he had made it clear he was not welcome.

"This has been going on for several months and he obviously was not there as a member of our group," said Tilton, noting that such people often have "ulterior motives".

Tilton said the event was not private, noting that "we invite the media", but he said some try to attend meetings to fish for provocative comments or statements that can be taken out of context and used against candidates.

N.H. Republican Party Chair Fergus Cullen said he was unaware of the incident, as he didn't attend, but he called the move perfectly legitimate in his eyes.

"Good for Frank. This was not an undecided voter showing up to see if they would like to support a Republican candidate. This was someone spying and a paid Democratic operative is not welcome at a Republican meeting," said Cullen.

Arsenault, 20, said he is an unpaid volunteer for the New Hampshire Democratic Party and was taping the meeting like both parties often do and would have turned it over to party staffers for their review.

He said Tilton was polite about it but assured he felt like he was being "kicked out".

Cullen noted that such meetings are used to discuss candidate recruitment and strategy. He said a Republican operative wouldn't be welcome at a Democratic meeting unless it was open to anybody.

"A public event in a public setting involving candidates is something different ... this person was not an innocent bystander. If a candidate wants to have a press conference, that's fair game ... a strategy meeting is not," added Cullen.

However, those who are following both sides of the ticket say Republicans have been less willing to allow people outside the party at their meetings.

Lambert, a self-described "citizen-journalist", helps run the right-leaning GraniteGrok blogging website and said he has found Democrats willing to allow him at their meetings even though he is a conservative and regularly "rips them".

He said his "Moonbats in the Majority" is an example of Democrats being open to his videos even though they are often being used against those being recorded.

"I have been graciously welcomed at Democrat events and meetings," said Lambert, noting that he appreciates the ability to disagree with Democrats and still be included in the discussion.

Lambert said he understands that party leaders might not want individuals taping the business portions of meetings but said they must conduct such affairs in private.

"When it comes to the candidates, I think [the Republicans] are blowing it when they are asking people to leave," said Lambert. "There is a difference between party business and campaigning. As a person who does wear two hats, I am concerned about what they have been doing on the matter, because I fear a backlash and people like myself will be denied access [to Democratic events]."

He said Republican and Democrats should welcome all individuals unless they make it clear a gathering is a "closed meeting" not open to the press or people outside the party.