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Cornerstone President Kevin Smith said a gay marriage repeal and the re-enactment of a parental notification law for minors who seek abortions are now the top social priorities. He said "a clear majority of the voters are with us. They never wanted gay marriage in the first place."
A clear majority!
"Most people in the electorate don't want to see (action) on social issues they don't support." [Andy Smith] said recent polling showed 41 percent of Republicans either supported or didn't care about gay marriage - and 47 percent of Republicans said the issue had no impact on their lives one way or another.
Someone... I dunno, maybe a reporter like John DiStaso or something, could fact check the one Smith's assertions against the other Smith's data.
Although, when Kevin Smith's group Cornerstone put a picture of Governor Lynch next to a line-up of sex offenders in mailboxes across New Hampshire and called it "Introducing Team Lynch," all DiStaso could be stirred to write was "tough stuff." So I'm not holding my breath.
My old friend and neighbor Peter Burling sends his thoughts on John Stephen's campaign style:
In his concession speech Tuesday night, John Stephen said he was proud of his "positive" campaign for Governor. I was stunned to hear his characterization. The Stephen campaign has been mendacious from the start. His statement put the final cap on the false narrative that characterized his entire effort.
Here is the truth: John Stephen and his storm troopers attacked Gov. John Lynch repeatedly for the past nine months, misleading the voters on the budget, on taxes and on public safety, lying about Gov. Lynch's leadership style, and telling whoppers about Stephen's own record.
To push his radical social agenda onto the rest of us, of course.
The Lee Atwater of New Hampshire politics declares his intentions:
"Number one: gay marriage, which will be pushing for its repeal; And number 2, is a parental notification law, and we think the majority of people like the parental notification law and never wanted that repealed, so maybe we can get that passed."
Do make sure to click the link and read the grafs above it too. House Speaker wannabe Bill O'Brien is all for this game plan as well.
Adding: Wannabe House Speaker Bill O'Brien heads up the House Republican Alliance. It's well worth your time getting acquainted with HRA's legislative to-do list.
"It is very clear from this ruling in California today, coupled with the recent DOMA decision in Massachusetts, that out-of-control liberal activist judges will stop at nothing to redefine marriage for the rest of the country.
I think I am going to make SOTD a new series.
Candidates for the series will include statements that are so hyperbolic that they evince a laugh, thus nullifying their power to persuade.
Oh dear. But really, we all knew Shrub's religious right pander was basically a horse and pony show for votes:
For a commencement address at Furman University in spring 2008, Ed Gillespie wanted to insert a few lines condemning gay marriage. Bush called the speech too "condemnatory" and said, "I'm not going to tell some gay kid in the audience that he can't get married."
No worries though. Civil Rights Leader Kevin Smith will tell that kid he can't by telling him it's the same as marrying his sister:
The other side wants to say this is about discrimination, but there's already discrimination built into marriage. You can't marry your cousin, you can't marry your cousin's sister, you can have polygamy, and on and on. The whole issue runs hollow if you scratch below the surface."
Ask and ye shall receive. Grant's got today's shows YouTubed. Here's the first half of Civil Rights Leader Kevin Smith vs. NHDP's Mike Brunelle. Below the fold is the second half, and then a second segment with Peter Sullivan v. Grant Bosse:
Jim's take on this is here. Me, I think Mike did an outstanding job on the show of communicating a message intelligently, clearly, and within the time parameters.
(And on a related note, watching the first clip reaffirmed to me that those who do not want to live in of the shadow of Mel Thompson do not have a leading voice to represent them in either major party in New Hampshire.)
It was pure entertainment. I wouldn't even call it "political entertainment" -- it was just pure entertainment.
I'm talking about Sunday's WMUR Close Up with New Hampshire Democratic Party Executive Director Mike Brunelle and Kevin Smith, who is director of some non-think-tank that is best known for its failed attempts to continue discrimination in our state by fighting Civil Unions two years ago and marriage equality this year.
The topic was taxes, government, budgets, and baloney. Smith was out-witted, out-spoke, out-gunned and out-maneuvered by Mike Brunelle. Mike gave no quarter to Smith as the latter tried to make political hay out of the upcoming discussion that will be held in October by the House Ways and Means Committee.
Mike pointed out that the discussion isn't about creating a new income or sales tax but is rather about how to make sure that our taxation policies are fair, equitable, and benefits small businesses and doesn't burden our citizens. How we create jobs and expand our economy and keep jobs here is worth discussing. Smith would rather play politics for 2010. Mike Brunelle obviously wants to make the state better. Smith talked baloney. Brunelle made him eat his words.
I've been on radio and television programs opposite Kevin Smith. I don't deny he can be effective for his constituency, and therein lies his value for those who share his point of view. It's fun to see when he is put in a corner and can't wiggle out. Mike Brunelle did that to him. It was all sort of a combination of Jay Leno, Dancing With The Stars, and America's Got Talent. A couple of laughs, some twists and turns, and a talented Democrat winning the day.
If Kevin Smith does decide to run for something in a few years, perhaps on Sunday's show we saw an opponent who will be able to smash him at the polls.
(Civil Rights Leader Kevin Smith is at it again. - promoted by Dean Barker)
Notorious anti-civil rights crusader Kevin Smith of Cornerstone Policy Research (and sadly, a member of the NH Advisory Board to the US Civil Rights Commission) did his best Glenn Beck impersonation this week when he issued a press release wondering if Governor Lynch intended to take all the money held by non-profit organizations in this state, and asking the Governor to pinky-promise he wouldn't it. Seriously.
Both the Governor and Speaker's comments raise a significant concern that they each believe that if an organization has a tax-exempt status, the state has the right to 'steal' any surplus balance that they own. This belief would be of concern to any tax-exempt non-profit, such as a church or charitable organization with "excess" money in the bank.
The reasoning behind notorious anti-civil rights crusader Smith's "concern" is purportedly the Governor's statement about the court decision on the JUA malpractice insurance issue. The Governor's remarks to which Smith takes umbrage were:
These surplus funds belong to the citizens of New Hampshire, who created the Joint Underwriting Association and gave it tax-exempt status.
Really very awfully nice Civil Rights Leader Kevin Smith weighs in on the idea that New Hampshire could conceivably join Massachussetts in the lawsuit challenging DOMA:
"It is our sincere hope that Governor Lynch does not waste any more of the taxpayer's time and money on the issue of gay marriage...
..."It is quite amazing though how this Governor went from publically opposing gay marriage as recently as April and now continues to support the repeal of DOMA. Perhaps this is another reason why his poll numbers have plummeted in the last few months - his word simply cannot be trusted."
Of course, it is quite amazing - to the point of incredulity, really - how someone so focused on defeating HB436 could not know that Lynch has long talked about the unfairness of DOMA in reference to NH's marriage equality. It makes you wonder if Smith's words can be trusted. And funny how a civil rights leader such as he would be so opposed to the civil rights of gays and lesbians in the first place.
But maybe I'm overthinking it. Maybe it's just that he's an instinctively partisan, career paid political operative. I get it: he doesn't like Lynch, but he just loved Craig Benson:
Finally, Gov. Benson, the elves know I'm your number one fan,
Your legacy shall live in New Hampshire lore;
They've carved out your profile to replace the Old Man."
(Cornerstone strikes again. Thanks, Matt - this is interesting, indeed. - promoted by susanthe)
As Tom DeRosa reports at RedHampshire.com, today Cornerstone Policy Research publicly called on Governor Lynch to veto HB 648. In an email to the organization's action list, CPR executive director Kevin Smith is quoted saying: "We call on Governor Lynch to veto this bill because of the severe fiscal impact it will have on the state budget should it be signed in to law."
"When you change the definition of marriage to any two persons, you are making the distinction men and women are the same in every way," Smith said. "That's undeniably not true from a biological or social standpoint.
"You're also saying that you don't need a mother and father as the ideal way to raise children. This goes against common sense and it goes against social science. The other side wants to say this is about discrimination, but there's already discrimination built into marriage. You can't marry your cousin, you can't marry your cousin's sister, you can have polygamy, and on and on. The whole issue runs hollow if you scratch below the surface."
But seriously: if you find this appointment as jaw-droppingly insulting to the very concept of civil rights as I do, please head over to Granite State Progress, which has an action item up.
The awfully very nice Kevin Smith rained down robocalls on three senate districts:
Kevin Smith of Cornerstone Policy Research said he plans robo-calls to voters in three Senate districts this weekend: those of Sen. Deb Reynolds, Betsi DeVries and Lou D'Allesandro. Reynolds flipped from opposing to supporting gay marriage in a week's ' time, Smith said. D'Allesandro was the lone Democrat against gay marriage, but "we're looking to have his constituents ask him to please do the right thing again."
Uninvited and automated intrusions into your home through the phone. How polite!
Can we now put aside the dopey article from last week touting what a nice guy Kevin Smith is?
Opponents of same-sex marriage panned Lynch's announcement, and Kevin Smith of the conservative group Cornerstone Policy Research called Lynch's proposed changes "sugarcoating."
..."This is the governor giving in to what I think is the radical left of his party," Smith said.
I've got a thick skin, and I've heard all manner of smears about me and BH that roll off my back like water, but it offends me, Mr. Smith, to be called a "radical" for supporting the right of some of my friends, patriotic Granite Staters all, to marry.
