Good As You

Probably his plan all along; he demanded the protections to keep his street cred with the religious nuts, while still appearing to be in support of equality.

Now he gets to pass the blame for the bill's failure on the House.

Wow! I have mixed emotions about this. I want to say Bravo! to the house for seeing the extra protections for the religiots as being waaaaaaaay out of line. But on the other hand, what is their compromise? Are they going to offer up some more focused language that doesn't eviscerate other non-discrimination statutes?? Hopefully that is the case.

Yea, Dick, I'm still trying to hear every vote-switcher's reason for going against it. And I, like you, can respect someone for speaking out against the unnecessary protections.

That's why for me, all blame lies in Lynch's lap. These "protections" are not only unneeded: they are offensive. Why do *our* civil marriages need special protections?!

They will Never Be Satsified.

There is no concession nor compromise that will ever pacify the religious extremists.

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Governor+not+ready+to+sign+gay+marriage+bill&articleId=e21fd341-951c-4d6e-85f5-6ef29cb91d7b

From a few days ago, search "Steve V," it's there in the comments. Should make it clear that this is now a game of political football between Gov. Lynch and NH House GOP members.

I was a little surprised as I've read in many places that most gays are kinda "meh" about the extra religious protections -- assuming that they are redundant restating of already established case/civil law.

Nice find, Bruno! I'm adding it in an update.

Jason: Well yea, many see it as pure strategy and are willing to play along if that is what it takes to get these deserving couples their equality. That's basically the stance that this site took, since the protections are essentially meaningless anyway. If that was the only way the governor would sign, then we would begrudgingly go along.

But when you consider what these protections mean, and how they are forcing unfair qualifiers onto gay people's CIVIL, FAITH-OPTIONAL equality, they are absolutely maddening. We should not be appeasing those who insist on making this, a matter of civil equality, all about religion. Now with this development today, we are seeing how doing so can actually hurt us.

Plus, as Jon mentioned, the anti-gay side won't be satisfied anyway --y have been the biggest critics of Lynch's amended language!

Oh, I should give credit where it's due for that...a Pam's House Blend reader: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showComment.do;jsessionid=84D62085D7401DC2F946DB92322EE140?commentId=133496

the house was short by 26 people today. I can't help but wonder if the absentees had been present that this current mess could have been avoided

I thought the bill was moved to committee to work out a compromise - via Box Turtle Bulletin:

The Wall Street Journal clarifies:

Opponents tried to kill the bill, but failed. The House then voted 207-168 to ask the Senate to negotiate a compromise. - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124284564246640215.html

Yes, that's right, Alvin -- it's going back to committee. And yes, they will hopefully work it all out. But the point remains that without Lynch's unneeded request, none of this would be going on

Oh, I didn't realize this was just before the NOM one...

Here: This from a long term Northeastern activist.

"My friends in Concord NH, who have been active for many decades, knows the landscape and said clearly that Lynch contrived this
bait and switch with fellow fauxDems in the legislature where he served.
Lynch found a way to punt it back, knowing that the conservaDems and their homophobic GOP, could have another bite at the apple and defeat or emasculate it.

It puts Lynch out of the line of fire for dumbasses and the woosy gentrified HRC and Marty Rouse types. Don't get me started on Marty Rouse and his MassEquality and HRC his new home. Without GLAD and KnowThyNeighbor...and Tom Lang...we would not have CM in MA.

I have been in the fight for years, and can smell betrayal with an olfactory ability that defies empirical evaluation. LOL"

Interesting, LOrion.

My instinct on this one has always been to focus on Lynch.

I've been trying to compare the roll call votes and see who switched and how. But haven't gotten around to it yet.