How We Thwarted NOM’s Attack Plan in New Hampshire
The National Organization for Marriage’s top-secret strategy documents disclosed Monday in a state investigation highlight that, along with working in the most cynical fashion imaginable to “drive a wedge between gays and blacks,” NOM also wanted badly to strip away the freedom to marry in New Hampshire. In fact, no state was a higher priority for NOM. Of its “$20 Million Strategy for Victory,” a full $2 million was dedicated to repealing the freedom to marry in the Granite State. Yet last week, we beat back NOM, defeating the repeal bill by a margin of 211-116, bringing over a majority of Republican lawmakers, 119-115, to our side.
Sixteen months ago, that triumph seemed next to impossible.
In November 2011, New Hampshire had just seen the largest Tea Party/GOP sweep in the country, with the legislature soon to be sworn in as 75% Republican. Though gay rights and marriage had next to nothing to do with the elections, NOM nevertheless boasted of flexing their electoral muscles.
NOM had a willing axe-man in New Hampshire, new House Speaker William O’Brien, a right-wing social conservative who promised to prioritize repeal. “[New Hampshire] will be the next battleground,” NOM President Brian Brown said the day after the elections, “and we are confident of victory.” His partner-in-crime, NOM Board Chairwoman Maggie Gallagher, said, “NOM’s next immediate challenge is to get a vote reversing gay marriage in New Hampshire – to show… that history is not unidirectional.”
http://www.advocate.com/Politics/Commentary/Oped_How_We_Thwarted_NOM_Attack_Plan_in_New_Hampshire/
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