New Hampshire lawmaker apologizes for calling bishop a ‘pedophile pimp’

[Playinghardball]

Source: Raw Story

New Hampshire House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt (R) has apologized for calling a Catholic bishop a "pedophile pimp" after the bishop said the proposed House budget would hurt some of the neediest citizens of the state.

During a rally at the New Hampshire Statehouse, Bishop John McCormack said he was concerned about "drastic impacts on the poor and most vulnerable in our state, those who are least able to cope with cuts in our State budget," as well as the "restriction of the collective bargaining rights of public employees."

"Would the bishop like to discuss his history of protecting the 'vulnerable?'" Bettencourt, a practicing Roman Catholic, wrote on his Facebook page. "This man is a pedophile pimp who should have been led away from the State House in handcuffs with a raincoat over his head in disgrace. He has absolutely no moral credibility to lecture anyone."

McCormack was responsible for the handling of sex-abuse cases in the Boston area before being named bishop of Manchester in 1998.



Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/06/new-hampshire-lawmaker-apologizes-for-calling-bishop-a-pedophile-pimp/

[Webster Green]

1. Too bad.

This might be the first time I agree with a rethug.

[ingac70]

2. Really. But he has to ass kiss....

Religious assholes are the "base" after all.

[Rage for Order]

4. And clearly that bishop was a "religious asshole"

What, with his concern for the "drastic impacts on the poor and most vulnerable in (New Hampshire), those who are least able to cope with cuts in (New Hampshire's) State budget," as well as the "restriction of the collective bargaining rights of public employees."

Yep, gotta pander to those religious assholes.

:eyes:

[ingac70]

7. He IS an asshole. The Repub was spot on.......

http://www.bishop-accountability.org/docs/boston/birmingham/doc_list.htm

Of course, he got pissy with him for the wrong reasons, but what he said was correct.

[Rage for Order]

9. Ok, help me out here

I've read through some of the exhibits attached to Bishop McCormack's deposition but I'm not seeing anything that rises to the level of "pedophile pimp". Admittedly I haven't read all of the documents, but would you be so kind as to point me to the documents that you believe support the charge of "pedophile pimp"?

[Beartracks]

13. And the "pedophile pimp" was not spot on?

If the priest logged on to DU and anonymously typed his opinion of conservative policies, people would be all: "Yeah, what he said!"

But since he happened to make the statements publicly so his identity was known, they're all: "What an asshole!"

I think the Repub is an asshole for "defending" himself with the old "Yeah, but my critic is a __________" ad hominem attack. The policies he supports are still gonna harm many of the state's citizens.

Red herring, anyone?

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[Wilms]

3. I didn't think he'd have to resign over it.

I mean, after all,...

[alp227]

5. at least this ain't as severe as the other NH lawmaker who said send the disabled to Siberia

that would be Martin Harty, who resigned over that statement.

[Beartracks]

6. Damn, I'm tired of ad hominem attacks.

Ideas and facts can be valid no matter who presents them. Now, while I'm certain the Bishop has his own dark history, did he lie or was he mistaken in his assessment of Republican policies?

Look -- here's what the comments sound like when a forthright, ethical, progressive, person-of-the-people says them:
"I am concerned about the drastic impacts on the poor and most vulnerable in our state, those who are least able to cope with cuts in our State budget."

And here's what the comments sound like when a corrupt, patronizing, criminal man-of-the-cloth says them:
"I am concerned about the drastic impacts on the poor and most vulnerable in our state, those who are least able to cope with cuts in our State budget."

See the difference?

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[msongs]

8. yeah the man in the cloth is more likely to be lying? nt

[Rage for Order]

10. Only if he's black?

By the way, if I put a question mark at the end of my comment does that somehow mitigate the inherent bigotry of the post?

:silly:

[valerief]

11. I like the label. nt

[Mopar151]

12. Bettencourt is an idiot

Teabagger through and through, and a loudmouth ass to boot. This will not be the last you'll hear of this goober fucking up......

[countmyvote4real]

14. Different choirs, but same page:

It is so much easier to f*ck the poor and vulnerable.

[DeSwiss]

15. He is apologizing for telling the truth. n/t

[naaman fletcher]

16. to bad,

probably the only thing he has every said that was correct

[zbdent]

17. he had to apologize ...

if not, he wasn't going to get his $$$ for his "abortion stance" ...