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Anti-Gay Extremist Running for Governor

by: Dean Barker

Sun Nov 29, 2009 at 08:03:17 AM EST
Karen Testerman is trying to re-invent her image along fiscal issues, and Shira let her.

About thirty seconds of Teh Google pulled this up:

Testerman drew sharp criticism for her comments on a New Hampshire Public Radio talk program, comparing gay men and lesbians with "shoplifters and drug addicts." She also played a major role in helping the governor build support among legislators for the new law that requires minor girls to notify at least one parent or guardian before getting an abortion. In an interview Tuesday, Testerman defended her criticism of the gay community. "We all have behaviors that may have an inclination to harm society, and we try to keep them under control," she told The [Nashua, N.H.] Telegraph. "When we have restrictions on those behaviors, then there is less activity. Homosexuality is a method by which there is some threat to society because of the disease it promotes. We cut men's life short because they cause AIDS and become more susceptible to pneumonia. I would raise the concern that homosexuality is not good in that it is a threat to the overall health of the society as a whole."

During Grok-Gate, much attention was focused on the "f"-word.  But the rest of the statement is what mattered more to me:

"Yeah you Faggot. [Pause.] That's right I said it and I meant it. You are reprobate. How the people, the Democrats, I think of some of the gray haired ladies and older people from the old party would stand behind you is beyond me. You are a disgrace to yourself to humanity to mankind and to your party.
How much space, really, is there between these two views? And can the NHGOP in good faith encourage the former to run for governor, while condemning the latter?

The other Republican gubernatorial candidate besides Ms. Testerman is Jack Kimball, who is stockpiling ammo.

This the the New Hampshire Republican party of 2009.
Dean Barker :: Anti-Gay Extremist Running for Governor
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Anti-Gay Extremist Running for Governor | 12 comments
My theory of the moment is that so-called conservatives are (4.00 / 1)
convinced that the primary purpose of government is punitive.  They call it defense, but what they are really about is punishment (capital) and threats of punishment (deprivation of rights and torture).  And, in part because they are lazy cowards, the part mother nature plays in this scenario is that, by distributing negatives rather randomly, she provides real time examples of what's being threatened, thereby saving the powers that be the bother of having to provide some examples themselves.  Besides, if more people die sooner and more quickly in the prime of life, they won't be wanting a pension later or demand Medicare--i.e. if mother nature prunes the dead-wood, the healthy/wealthy survivors will be better off.

You see, there is method in the deprivators' agenda.

The fatal flaws in this prescription is to be found in the belief that threats are sufficient to prevent negative behavior and that mother nature has a long term interest in promoting the survival of humans.  If humans don't care for each other, they are toast.

The Republican Party Keeps On Giving... (0.00 / 0)
...gifts to the Democrats, that is.  And I think Hannah is right on, that so many of those so-called conservatives think that the purpose of government is to punish and discipline, not do good things and serve.  

It will be good seeing Republicans fight it out in the next few months.  While it might bring some attention and interest to Republicans, we can hope that it will also be divisive and that after September's primary, many will stay home or will vote Democrat in November.  

If it's the one I think it is (0.00 / 0)
Then it is indeed a gift to the Democrats.
There was one woman whom I observed in action and her rabid, obsessive anti-gay focus IMHO greatly helped the marriage bill become law.
Not sure if it is Testerman.

Great GOP in 2009.  

No'm Sayn?

To answer your question: (4.00 / 1)
How much space, really, is there between these two views?

One of them is the view of a repentant jerk who recognizes and regrets the malice in his heart.

One of them is the view of a self-satisfied Pharisee, a whited sepulchre in utter resolute denial of the malice churning in her heart and entirely incognizant of any need for repentance.  (Also an intellectually dishonest victim-playing fraud, but that's a different story.)

The former is in self-imposed exile from public life.

The latter is a valued member of the self-named "conservative" faction of New Hampshire politics who is certain public life needs more of her, and who is taken by the Republican party of New Hampshire as a respectable, albeit very long-shot, candidate for the nomination for Governor.

Yes. (0.00 / 0)
I've been asking that question in my head all day and coming to the same conclusion.

There is space between those two views - but not the one assumed rhetorically.

One was brutal, short, targeted at one person and had major consequences.

The other is polite, faux-academic, targeted at a whole class of humanity, and gains one the consequences of positive attention among the extreme right-wing.

That second one is far worse.

birch, finch, beech

[ Parent ]
What decade is this? (4.00 / 3)
I'm perplexed to find there are still people who think AIDS has something to do with sexual orientation.

--
"Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past; you must fight just to keep them alive!"

@DougLindner

When I was a kid, (4.00 / 3)
this is what Reagan's America had me believe.

It led to an official ignoring of AIDS that devastated entire communities.

But Ronald Reagan should be on Mt. Rushmore, I'm told!

birch, finch, beech

[ Parent ]
The Worst Ever? (4.00 / 1)
According to many historians, Reagan owns that title.

No'm Sayn?
[ Parent ]
Reagan (0.00 / 0)
is the worst president, in my view, because these sorts of things, as well as his fundamental dismantling of a properly functioning government, has been long-lasting and difficult to overcome.  His right-wing agenda transformed (or distorted) the way people see government even to this day, though I believe that is changing somewhat.  Lots of people have been saying that W. was the worst, and he's created a huge mess and deferred a lot of maintenance, and it will take a long time to correct, but I think the damage was quite as deep or systematic as that done by Reagan.
[ Parent ]
Amazing, Huh? (0.00 / 0)
...she doesn't like me much.  I don't know why.
[ Parent ]
Yet another ditch the Gipper dug us into. (4.00 / 1)
What else is new?

--
"Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past; you must fight just to keep them alive!"

@DougLindner

[ Parent ]
From Sinfest (0.00 / 0)



Anti-Gay Extremist Running for Governor | 12 comments

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