Best headline of the day ...

I doubt it was the kilts (4.00 / 3)

But in a rare move, reconsideration passed and the bill was approved by a one vote margin.  

Kudos to the Speaker for standing up to the Republican efforts to reframe the discussion.  This from the UL:

Early in the debate, Speaker of the House Terie Norelli, D-Portsmouth, took the unusual step of leaving her podium and speaking in favor of the bill. She said she was disappointed in debate two weeks ago, and by "the muddying of the waters" on the issue.

"New Hampshire and the New Hampshire General Court has always stood against discrimination. Somewhere along the way, that message got lost on this bill," she said. "We're not asking you to open up bathrooms to sexual predators. We're asking you to stand tall against discrimination."

http://www.theunionleader.com/...

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by: chris pappas @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 13:40:37 PM CDT

(I was writing my post when Chris posted this) n/t (0.00 / 0)

2012 starts today.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 14:05:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I too was cutting and pasting this quote (4.00 / 2)

when I saw you had done so.

Thank you Speaker Norelli for standing tall against the haters.

birch, finch, beech

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by: Dean Barker @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 14:59:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I guess so but... (4.00 / 7)

I guess I am getting tired of the jokes and the way the Republicans have made this issue seem comical.

This really is a very serious issue for those who are transgendered and it deserves to be treated seriously.

This is about NH citizens being able to keep their job and a place to live. The public accommodations provision is hardly the point of the bill but it is still an important point.

Last year we had a transgendered young man working on the election. Not one person ever realized that he was anatomicaly still female. The Republicans like to joke about this but seriously, if he had to use a public bathroom they want this young man to be forced to use the ladies room. And the opposite is true as well. It would be very unsafe (and most likely uncomfortable for everyone)for a transgendered woman to go into the men's room.

Of course John Sununu likes to frighten folks by creating all sorts of unfounded scary scenarios that simply are untrue.

John Sununu's use of the term "bathroom bill" is shameful, just a few weeks ago the voters in Gainesville, FLA defeated a Sununu-style campaign of hate to repeal their transgendered rights provision. And they did it by a wide margin, rejecting the same use of the term "bathroom bill".

Similar laws are on the books across America - I challenge John Sununu to provide any evidence that any of his statements are true.

But then again this the same John Sununu that signed into law the ban on gays adopting and serving as foster parents. Actually the law was more insidious than that, it actually banned adoptions or foster families that included a gay member who would be in the home - even for a visit! And it also prohibited gays from serving as legal guardians.

And it is the legal guardian provision that was particulary painful for me back in my freshman year as a member of the legislature.

In 1988 when Sununu's ban took effect I was 28, and my three youngest sisters were all under the age of 16. If my parents had been killed - NH law prohibited me from being considered eligible to serve as their guardian - even though as the oldest in the family I could have easily moved back home and provided them with a stable family home. Which would have allowed them to stay in their own home and schools. Did John Sununu care one bit about my family or anyone's family? Of course not, it was all about the cheap political points he tries to score...just like today.

Oh, by the way, kudos to the House for passing the bill today and not letting John Sununu's phoney scare tactics win out.


2012 starts today.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 14:04:09 PM CDT

thanks you for these excellent points, Ray (4.00 / 1)

It's really good to hear such sane and principled things being said, what with all the mud being slung.

BTW I posted a diary about this over at dailyKos.

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by: beverlywoods @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 15:16:59 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thanks Beverly (0.00 / 0)

Feel free to cut and paste my post over there, I don't have a dkos account.

2012 starts today.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 15:27:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I couldn't agree more (0.00 / 0)

I know that the connection between kilts and the transgender bill would be irresistible to a reporter, but calling transgendered people "men in skirts" is tasteless.

Thank you, Ray, for pointing out that this is a very serious issue and we shouldn't let people demean it intentionally or otherwise.

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by: brianrater @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 17:00:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Och aye, laddie, a' yet nae. (0.00 / 0)

I understand your point 100%, but I also think that part of what the headline conveyed -- possibly intentionally -- to legislators was, "Dude, you're wearing a plaid skirt with matching accessories, and you're gonna believe some guy saying that men that have taken on the appearance of women are a terrible threat to society that we all need to be on a constant vigil against?  Really?"

In all seriousness, I do believe that, whether it was the sight of them on others, or the feel of them on oneself, the kilts won the day.

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by: Tim C. @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 18:19:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

^ what he said (0.00 / 0)

Classical Liberal since 1983

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by: Reverend Ryan @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 18:23:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

UL-TV? (0.00 / 0)

I just caught the 5:30 WMUR newscast, and their coverage of the passage of this bill was replete with B-roll of bathroom doors, toilet paper rolls, urinals, and toilets, etc.  In fact for 20-30 seconds as the reporter finished her piece these images scrolled on a giant flatscreen television behind her head.

I thought WMUR was better than the UL, but on this story it has lapped up and spit out the right-wing talking points just as eagerly.

This "bathroom" talking point shows both a lack of understanding and a blatant lack of concern for the trauma and discrimination that transgendered people face on a daily basis.  It is insulting and degrading, and for that WMUR should be ashamed.

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by: chris pappas @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 16:54:50 PM CDT

Wow (0.00 / 0)

I just saw the video clip on wmur's web site and that was seriously one of the most disturbing hatchet jobs I've ever seen.  I think that we should start referring to WMUR as the Toilet Station.

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by: brianrater @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 17:08:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Some of their employees should talk to the news director n/t (0.00 / 0)

2012 starts today.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 17:09:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

"women and children at risk" (0.00 / 0)

That was essentially the message with video tape of a bathroom stall at the top of six pm news.

How absolutely absurd!!

If someone knows who and how to contact the management of WMUR please let us know!

2012 starts today.

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by: Ray Buckley @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 17:17:21 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

All I can find.... (0.00 / 0)

WMUR-TV Broadcast Center
100 South Commercial Street
Manchester, NH 03101
(603) 669-9999
FAX: (603) 641-9005

And parent company:

Hearst-Argyle Television, Inc.
300 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019-3789
Tel: (212) 887-6800
Fax: (212) 887-6855

Classical Liberal since 1983

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by: Reverend Ryan @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 17:44:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

One plus (0.00 / 0)

The O'Brien caption identifying a roll of tp....

Classical Liberal since 1983

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by: Reverend Ryan @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 17:45:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Do reporters write their own headlines now? (4.00 / 3)

Way back when it wasn't so - there was an editor who counted ems and ens of the right point size to fit (and a compositor who fixed up the editor's mistakes on the lead Linotype).

Etaoin Shrdlu, y'all!

But it's been entirely possible for reporters to submit the headline for a couple of decades now. I just don't know whether it's happening.

I'm assuming that GREAT headline - up there with HEADLESS BODY IN TOPLESS BAR - is Lauren's. But kudos to the author in any case.

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by: elwood @ Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 20:57:08 PM CDT