Rhode Island

Gina Raimondo's Curious Speech at the Manhattan Institute (VIDEO)

Submitted by Josh Glasstetter on January 10, 2012 - 10:37am

Rhode Island Treasurer Gina Raimondo appeared at the Manhattan Institute on Thursday to receive that organization’s Urban Innovator Award. Raimondo was being recognized for her efforts to reform the state’s public pension plans. While Raimando is not the first Democrat to receive the award, her appearance at the right-wing think tank is likely to raise eyebrows back home because of what she said and where she said it.

For instance, in response to a question from Charles Brunie – a founder of Oppenheimer Capital and former chairman of the Manhattan Institute – Raimondo seemed to indicate that she’s open to privatizing, or selling outright, state assets. She also suggested that, due to her private sector background, she outworks lawmakers and other public servants and employees at the state house.

To be sure, the substance of Raimondo’s speech was the importance of core government services and the need to sustain them financially for future generations. She highlighted Rhode Island’s pension reforms as proof that government can work and closed by arguing that the debate over whether government is too big should be supplanted by a debate over whether government is effective. However, the venue for her speech raises questions.

The Manhattan Institute, perhaps best known as the “brain trust” of the Giuliani administration in New York, has a long history of working to privatize, undermine, and cut public schools, social services, and public transportation. These are the very services that Raimondo cited as essential in her life and to all citizens of Rhode Island.

More broadly, the Manhattan Institute pushes a right-wing agenda that is only partially obscured by the intellectual veneer it projects on its work. Whether it’s equal rights for gays and lesbians, immigration reform, equality between men and women, or affirmative action for minorities, the Manhattan Institute is working against it. In fact, the think tank’s best known “scholar” is Charles Murray, co-author of the discredited Bell Curve, which claimed a genetic link between race and IQ – e.g. blacks are genetically less intelligent than whites.

It is unclear what Raimondo hoped to accomplish by accepting the award. The motivations of the Manhattan Institute, however, are far less opaque. Their aim is to cut government spending on social programs – not to make it more effective – but rather to achieve their utopian free market vision of society. Partnering with a Democrat like Raimondo enables them to put forward a reasonable, bi-partisan face. The day after her speech, no less than the Wall Street Journal editorial page – no fan of Democrats or government – heaped praise on the treasurer for leading the Rhode Island “miracle.”

You can watch selected clips below and the full speech on the Manhattan Institute’s Public Sector Inc. website.

Intro video featuring Dick Cheney praising the Manhattan Institute’s “fresh thinking”:

Raimondo on getting locked in the state house:

Raimondo Q&A with Charles Brunie:

Raimondo on the importance of government:

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NOM: “Chafee Wants to Impose Gay Marriage on Rhode Island”

Submitted by Brian Tashman on February 3, 2011 - 4:46pm

First, the National Organization for Marriage attacked Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee for not winning enough votes in the 2010 election, now NOM slams Chafee for allegedly “wasting time trying to redefine marriage.” NOM is no stranger to aggressive ad campaigns and actively tried to smear politicians and judges who support marriage equality in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Washington DC. After Chafee, an independent who was elected Governor in November and replaced a Republican who opposed marriage equality, has become one of NOM’s top targets. Today, the anti-gay group released a new ad criticizing Chafee for backing marriage equality, which NOM believes would impair his ability to focus on economic issues:

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The War on Christmas Lives On: Resolution to Ban References to “Holiday Tree”

Submitted by Brian Tashman on January 14, 2011 - 1:01pm

It’s never too late (or too early?) to fight the “War on Christmas,” even in January. Five Republican members of the Rhode Island State House have introduced a resolution to protect the name of the Christmas tree by preventing the state from using terms such as “‘holiday tree’ or other non-traditional terms.” The First Amendment Center first reported on the efforts of the five legislators to make sure that Rhode Island’s state employees don’t refer to Christmas trees by any other name. The resolution declares:

RESOLVED, That it is the policy of the state that state officials and departments refer to the tree customarily erected or displayed in celebration of the period from Thanksgiving of each year to January of the following year as a ‘Christmas tree’ and not as a ‘holiday tree’ or other non-traditional terms; and

RESOLVED, Further that the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to send a duly certified copy of this resolution to each state agency and department.

The Right’s anger over the so-called “War on Chrismtas” has died down since December, when Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe boycotted his hometown of Tulsa’s annual parade because it used the word “holiday” instead of “Christmas,” Liberty Counsel introduced a “Christmas Action Pack,” and the American Family Association went after “Companies Against Christmas” such as NASCAR, Starbucks, and Barnes & Noble. But as the case in Rhode Island suggests, the fight against the “War on Christmas” abides.

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NOM To Spend $100K Opposing Marriage in Rhode Island

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on January 11, 2011 - 10:27am

In his inaugural address last week, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee declared his support for marriage equality in the state.

In response, the National Organization for Marriage's state affiliate has decided to launch a $100,000 ad campaign against him, claiming that Chafee is an "accidental governor" who has no mandate to "impose" marriage equality on the state:

“Lincoln Chafee got just 36% of the vote in the recent election, and fewer popular votes than the Cool Moose Party’s candidate for Lieutenant Governor,” said Christopher Plante, Executive Director of NOM-RI. “Our message is that getting 36% of the vote is no mandate to redefine the institution of marriage for all of Rhode Island society.”

Chafee signaled in his inaugural address last week that imposing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island is a top priority, and called on the legislature to move quickly to enact it. He opposes giving Rhode Islanders the right to vote on marriage, even though public opinion polls show that 80% of voters want the right to decide this issue themselves.

“80% of Rhode Islanders want the chance to vote on marriage, just as voters in 31 other states have done,” the ad states. It calls on Rhode Islanders to call Chafee’s office, and that of House Speaker Fox and Senate President Paiva-Weed to express their views.

“In some ways, Lincoln Chafee is an accidental governor for Rhode Island, elected in the most unusual of circumstances,” Plante said. “Yet he expects legislators to follow him off the cliff in pursuit of same-sex marriage. This is what happened in neighboring New Hampshire and before that in Maine. In both those states, politicians who followed their so-called leaders have been replaced with pro-marriage legislators and same-sex marriage has been repealed, or is on its way to being repealed. In Iowa, three judges who voted to impose same-sex marriage were summarily thrown out of office by voters. If legislators in Rhode Island wish to redefine marriage, they should put this issue on the ballot where the people themselves can decide if they wish to abandon one of the most fundamental institutions of society.”

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Right Wing Groups Heading to Rhode Island

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on February 12, 2010 - 11:59am

The Family Research Council announces a day long summit is being held in Rhode Island at the end of the month featuring a variety of right-wing groups:

Don't miss this valuable opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge family, life and marriage issues affecting Rhode Island and all New England! Experts from the Family Research Council, National Organization for Marriage Rhode Island, Alliance Defense Fund, and Family Policy Councils from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut will discuss the latest state legislative trends affecting you and your family. Don't miss this opportunity to get informed as to how you can make a critical difference in your community!

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NOM Rhode Island Director Shrugs Off Card's Extremism

Submitted by Kyle Mantyla on August 27, 2009 - 2:49pm

EDGE has an interesting interview with Christopher Plante, Executive Director of the National Organization for Marriage's Rhode Island chapter, discussing his perspective on NOM’s mission in the state, as well nationwide.

During the conversation, EDGE's Joe Siegel asked Plante what he thought about NOM board member Orson Scott Card, who has stated that "many homosexuals first entered into that world through a disturbing seduction or rape or molestation or abuse" and his vow last year that, should Proposition 8 fail in California, he would "act to destroy that government and bring it down so it can be replaced with a government that will respect and support marriage."

Plante's reponse was telling:

For his part, Plante says he was unaware of Card’s involvement with NOM and denied that NOM is a hate group. "I don’t believe that at all," Plante said. "Do I think that there are extreme people on both sides of the movement that can say hateful things? Absolutely. NOM is here to defend marriage, to protect it, and to encourage it."

Of course there are extremists on both sides of the debate ... and one of them happens to serve on the Board of the leading anti-marriage organzation in the nation by whom Plante just so happens to be employed.

As far as we are aware, NOM has steadfastly refused to comment on Card's connection to the organization, and if this is the best response anyone affiliated with them has been able to come up with, it's pretty obvious why.

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Anti-Gay Group Takes Their "Traditional Marriage Crusade" on the Road

Submitted by Anonymous on July 16, 2009 - 1:24pm

It looks like yet another group from the religious right plans to take their show on the road. The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP) will be launching what they call a "traditional marriage crusade" in three states: New York, Maine, and Rhode Island.

The American TFP is a standard right-wing organization and plans to use the same tired right-wing tactics in their "crusade." It will be filled with the usual anti-gay rhetoric, along with a handout that "offers 'Ten reasons why homosexual 'marriage' is harmful and must be opposed."

"Like counterfeit currency, homosexual 'marriage' is not true marriage. It is morally wrong, sinful, offensive to God and a violation of natural law,"

"Parents don't want their children in grade school to be told that the homosexual lifestyle is fine, but that's already happening," said Ritchie. "It's part of the homosexual movement's concerted effort to force the sexual revolution into the mainstream culture and banish God and His law from the public square."

Be sure to find a "crusade" near you.

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Club for Growth Faces Several Elections-Law Investigations

Submitted by Anonymous on November 27, 2006 - 6:04pm

Over large contributions and expenditures in Michigan GOP primary and elsewhere. Also: Club’s Toomey fires parting shot at Chafee.

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A (White) Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Submitted by Anonymous on November 21, 2006 - 5:05pm

In a telling display of the right wing’s contempt for affirmative action, College Republicans in Boston have decided to take a break from limiting the rights of gays, women and non-Christians to stand up for one of our society’s most down-trodden and ignored groups: white people.

Looking to draw attention to what they call the "worst form of bigotry confronting America today," Boston University's College Republicans are circulating an application for a "Caucasian Achievement and Recognition Scholarship" that requires applicants be at least 25 percent Caucasian.

Just in case any students of a non-pure blood attempt to swindle money from needy white Republicans, the scholarship application requires students to provide a written essay describing their lineage. Applicants are also required to write an essay describing “what is means to be Caucasian-American today.” Will applicants bemoan the lack of prominent white role models in government and business? Or, will they opine on the unequal treatment white people often receive from the criminal justice system? Perhaps, applicants will discuss their dream of a day when being white is not such a hardship.

The Boston University group is not the first to offer scholarships to white folks. Two years ago a group of College Republicans in Rhode Island offered a similar scholarship, though their application required a photograph to “confirm whiteness,” and asked applicants to write an essay extolling white pride. Former RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie criticized those white only scholarships.