A Little Courage

It's mostly integrity, not courage (4.00 / 7)

New Hampshire doesn't vote people out of office for supporting equality.

The grassroots revolt after civil unions was the biggest non-event since Y2K.

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by: elwood @ Wed May 20, 2009 at 21:10:41 PM CDT

The moderate republicans who were decimated after voting for an income tax during the second Shaheen term might disagree. (4.00 / 2)

But that was in a GOP primary, so the general point holds true for November elections. I think that in matters that really will effect the lives of people across the board -- like taxes--- there is always a danger of lasting and increasing resentments that can be dangerous to incumbents.

But in areas like equal marriage, it seems that when people initially opposed see that it literally has no bad effects on their lives, they cease to get worked up about it long before the next election and there is rarely any retribution for votes in the legislature.

So Elwood is right, legislators, and Democratic ones in particular, dont have to dig too deep in their bag of courage to support marriage rights.

"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 @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 06:35:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

the above would apply to governors also of course. (4.00 / 2)

"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 @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 06:36:51 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm not saying NO vote is courageous or risky. (4.00 / 1)

I'm saying the marriage equality issue is not risky and doesn't demand great courage. Most of the people who oppose it wouldn't have voted for a Democrat; most of the remainder recognize that reasonable people can disagree.

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by: elwood @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 17:56:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Why I Didn't Vote (4.00 / 11)

A Little Courage is a great name for this diary. What happened yesterday on the Marriage Equality vote had a little to do with courage, but a lot to do with grandstanding.

My reason for not being at the session is actually neither of these. I was absent from session because I took my son to CHaD in Lebanon for an urgent medical appointment. It caused me great distress to miss this vote, however, as a father, my son needed me to care for him.

I had initially notified the House that I would not be in attendance at yesterday's session. When it became clear that HB73, including changes requested by the Governor, would be before the House, I attended the morning session. In doing this, I fully expected that HB73 would be before us first thing in the morning. It was yesterday morning, when I spoke with Jim Splaine, that I realized HB 73 would not make it to the House until after lunch. I needed to leave Concord by 1 PM to be at CHaD; the House did not reconvene after lunch until 1:45 PM.

To Dean's question of "what have you done and what will you do"...I have voted for Marriage Equality several times this session, and I intend to continue voting for Marriage Equality. I have spoken with Jim Splaine numerous times and offered my assistance in any way that he felt would be helpful. Since Jim has been leading the debate, I respected his ability to manage the debate and followed his lead.

I have also responded to each constituent who has emailed me, those in support of Marriage Equality and those opposed to Marriage Equality. I responded to each email explaining that I support Marriage Equality as a matter of equal rights. Many constituents were unhappy with my response, but protecting the rights of minorities is always the right thing to do.

I wrote:

English settlers first came to America seeking fredom of expression  and religion. Nearly 400 years later, their descendents continue to fight for equality and freedom of expression. The signs affecting my ancestors "Irish Need Not Apply" and the signs affecting other minorities "coloreds only" were tolerated once. When intolerance of these beliefs grew, the response has been "it is not time" or "people are not ready". So it comes as little surprise when gay men and women seek the freedom to express their love and commitment to the adult of their choice, the response becomes "it is not time", "society is not ready".

As a society, we are rarely "ready" for any change. Overcoming the inertia of society is difficult, but necessary. One of the most important responsibilities of a legislative body, is to ensure the rights of any minority. In this case, there are many citizens who do not have the option of marrying the person of their choosing.In righting this injustice, it is possible to enahnce the rights of the minority, without infringing on the rights of the majority. It is indeed rare that both objectives can be accomplished. Therefore, I see no other conclusion except to pass Marriage Equality and remove existing inequities.

I believe that those Representatives who have framed this debate, Splaine, Pierce, Butler have presented a compelling case for passing Marriage Equality. I do not believe that injecting myself publicly into this debate now appears to be anymore than pandering, which is why I have not issued public statements. If I am asked to by the debate organizers, I will speak publicly in support of Marriage Equality. I will continue lobbying legislators to support Marriage Equality. If anyone has ideas about other things that should be done, I am happy to talk.  

"Never doubt that a small group of dedicated people can change the world...it's all that ever has."
~Margaret Mead

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by: johndejoie @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 07:59:21 AM CDT

thank you (0.00 / 0)

as a medical student who might one day be pediatrician, i very well understand your situation and would like to thank you again for your support. please keep up the hard work. and i hope your son is better now.

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by: daftdaoud @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 11:35:39 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

John DeJoie Has Helped Us (4.00 / 3)

John DeJoie has helped us every step of the way since the first critical votes two months ago on House Bill 436.  Everything he says in his comment is accurate, and when we talked on Wednesday morning on the House floor he told me about his need to leave at 1:00 PM.  I told him there is no greater priority than family, and fully understood his need to be with his 14 year old son.  It must have been tough on his son to undergo his tests, and John was being a good Dad.

Interestingly, John also said to me that it would be great distress to him if he was the deciding vote.  

I know John will continue helping our cause and will be there to help us as we continue working for House Bill 73.  Our thoughts also should go to his son.  Remember, this is all part of the process of legislating and one "pause" in the action, as Bishop Gene Robinson called it yesterday, does not a defeat make.  We will win this, thanks to work from John DeJoie and many others.

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 14:46:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Vertebrae? (0.00 / 0)

For more years than I care to remember, I've been saying to prospective office holders: Voters are really hungry for candidates to stand up for what they believe in. They want candidates with backbone.
People would always tell me I was the only Democrat they voted for. When asked why, they'd consistently say, Well I don't always agree with you but at least I know where you stand.
Try it, it works. And you feel good too!

No'm Sayn?

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by: BurtCohen @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 08:32:36 AM CDT

I will concur (in the generic) (4.00 / 1)

This "backbone", of which you speak, please let me add. As a citizen/voter, a get miffed, even pissed, when a pol votes contrary to my opinion. In my smug sense of righteousness, I then take a wait and see attitude because I figure, right or wrong, that the pol knows something that I don't. This is odd since I tend to be cynical.

What drives me nuckin' futs are mealymouthed, waffle wimps that vote and then try to gather support from those they alienated.

I can respect someone that takes a position contrary to mine, if that opinion is based in logic. So, this "backbone" is a character trait that I look for in a leader.

Many folks that I have chatted with casually, have expressed a similar conviction.

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 09:14:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

the legislature had a good turnout actually (0.00 / 0)

374 of 397 members voted on the main HB73 vote... and a 375th turned up for the last two procedural votes.

(I said "of 397" because there are two vacancies, and the 400th seat is held by the Speaker, who votes only if there is a tie.)

Some of these were "strategic" non-votes... where the member doesn't want to endorse his or her party's position but doesn't want to vote with the other side.  Instead of voting, sometimes a member will be convinced to "take a walk."  I see at least 3 Democrats who no-voted because they opted to go for a walk when the bill was voted on.  (There were at least 3 others, on the other hand, who walked last time and showed up this time.)

An surprising no-vote on the Republican side is the Deputy Minority Leader David Hess.    

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by: TimothyHorrigan @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 19:09:16 PM CDT

Let's focus on the 12 (4.00 / 1)

who voted Yea before, and were absent yesterday.

One was appointed to a top state job and left the legislature; John DeJoie had a trip to the hospital. That leaves ten.

Why were they AWOL?

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by: elwood @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 20:08:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Let's Encourage Them To Be There... (0.00 / 0)

It really doesn't matter why they were not there yesterday.  "Yesterday" is a long time ago when June 3rd comes.  Let's focus on encouraging them, and other Democratic House supporters, to be there June 3rd, or whenever the Committee of Conference vote comes.  Let's think "next time," not what happened last time.  That's how we win this.  

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by: Rep. Jim Splaine @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 21:09:25 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Respectfully disagree. (0.00 / 0)

It does matter why they missed the vote. They owe the people of the state an explanation.

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by: elwood @ Thu May 21, 2009 at 21:21:19 PM CDT

[ Parent ]