Bettencourt targeted by National Organziation on Marriage (NOM)

To Answer Your Question, I Can't Spell It... (0.00 / 0)

...and even needed to look it up.  

David Bettencourt was one of the majority of House Democrats and Republicans voting against repeal of gay marriage last year, in February.  

On this issue, he has shown courage and he is on the side of protecting all the rights of New Hampshire citizens.  It shows that he has balance to his views while still taking a "conservative" position -- because conservatives as well as liberals and anyone else should be on the side of individual liberty and rights.

We're going to keep equality by earning the support of several dozen Republicans, so let's rejoice when we see any of them stand for equal rights. This can't become a "Democrat" vs. "Republican" or party vs. party issue, because the numbers aren't with us if that happens, and if we lose marriage equality many people will be hurt.

I like David, and have said so a number of times, but I take issue with him on other positions he has.  When he's on the right side, from my point of view, I say "thanks."  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 18:31:37 PM UTC

Jim, David has sided with power that wants to obliterate freedom for all (0.00 / 0)

In the name of Liberty no less.
I was 'friends' with the Speaker for a while on FB, not knowing where all this is headed. I am no longer. Back in October his Liberty Alliance pals were bandying about a new title on his page...they wanted to Call him Extreme Speaker if elected...well I think that's a fine appellation and until something shows me different, DJ works for and serves him as his 'extreme' youth cadre leader. Feh. Blech. Yich.
He was the public face sticking it to Brunelle, so screw him, etc.

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 19:15:55 PM UTC

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Jim, David has sided with power that wants to obliterate freedom for all (0.00 / 0)

In the name of Liberty no less.
I was 'friends' with the Speaker for a while on FB, not knowing where all this is headed. I am no longer. Back in October his Liberty Alliance pals were bandying about a new title on his page...they wanted to Call him Extreme Speaker if elected...well I think that's a fine appellation and until something shows me different, DJ works for and serves him as his 'extreme' youth cadre leader. Feh. Blech. Yich.
He was the public face sticking it to Brunelle, so screw him, etc.

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 19:15:55 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

We Can Defeat Our Opponents On Issues... (4.00 / 2)

...without first trying to demonize them.  

Voters will best support us if we show that we can fight for our causes without making it personal.  

Besides, making it "personal" takes away from the focus of our message.  Personality battles almost always produce more dirt and mud than light and reason.

Haven't we learned that yet.  or, when will we?

In addition to all that, fact is we can't keep marriage equality without the support of dozens of House Republicans.  Since I want to keep marriage equality, I've been talking with a number of Republicans as well as Democrats.  We have to do this in a very bipartisan manner, because Democrats alone didn't pass House Bill 436, and Democrats alone can't stop repeal.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 19:32:37 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The politics of personal destruction is balanced by the (0.00 / 0)

politics of personal adulation.  It's what people who are focused on who/what a person is, rather than what he does, understand.  They do not understand issues in isolation from the people who champion them and to whom they apply.
Think of talking to a color-blind person about the color green.  To accommodate his ability to distinguish the intensity of light, you have to talk about the location of a green signal.  

I would still argue that the registration of marriages is about people working for the state doing their job as the Constitution demands.

Of course, getting people to understand that the purpose of government is not to deprive, but to provide assistance, is going to be hard.  Because that government aims to deprive is the preconceived notion which fuels their antagonism towards government in the first place.  And, they have reason.  Deprivation under cover of law has been the tradition for far too long.  Everybody knows slavery was legal.  So, they're afraid some people are going to be out for revenge.

If you've treated someone unjustly, there's a great temptation to double-down, lest they take their revenge.

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by: hannah @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 19:59:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Jim -- (4.00 / 1)

-- I haven't said this nearly enough, but thank you. You are, as always, an island of committed sanity in this process.

I happen to know a Republican or two (in the House and Senate), including some "extremists," and they are nowhere near as uniform on this as one might think.

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by: Hampshire Ite @ Fri Jan 21, 2011 at 21:29:11 PM UTC

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okay but they appear in the light of the leadership they chose n/t (0.00 / 0)

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 13:01:23 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

when he became the spokesman (0.00 / 0)

when I saw DJ speak for the Leadership on the Brunelle matter I got the impression that he was the young face of fascism...first we gun up the statehouse to scare away those who don't believe in armed conflict to pass laws...then we cut off debate in hearings, and now we cut of Brunelle...all spoken in a calm lawyerly fashion...well I called my local 'former rep' the only kind we have around here. I said 'I've heard nice things about this kid, but he appears to be the _____ Youth'.(scatological phrase that might upset people deleted) She said 'oh no' I've worked with him, he's a nice person. (sound of me foaming at mouth)I responded that W seemed nice when he was Governor of Texas working with a Democratic Majority in the Texas House. Smart pols in minority who want power don't necessarily reveal their aims, until they get power. In fact not revealing their extreme aims is a way to take over. I am appalled that we let the voters fall into this trap.
D.J. voted for the new strangulation Bill and against repeal of Marriage Equality.Obviously he has a good thought or two in his head about Civil behavior. However he is owned lock stock and barrel by his boss, the Speaker. In effect the Speaker gave him a job, trained him, and made him his boy. I have no respect for people who want power so much they become willing dupes.

note to close readers: this might be sarcastic so think twice before reading to candidates for use in their attacks on each other

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 13:12:16 PM UTC

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Agree with JIm Splaine and the use of the term 'fascist' below is both uncalled for and unwise. (0.00 / 0)

"But, in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope." Si se puede. Yes we can.  

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by: Paul Twomey @ Sat Jan 22, 2011 at 14:00:02 PM UTC

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