Fired NH Radio Host Doug Lambert Takes Leave from Blog

Conservative New Hampshire radio host Doug Lambert, who directed a tirade of homophobic abuse at gay New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley into a webstream at the end of his show over the weekend — and was  dropped from his station for it — announced that he is taking leave from the blog at which he writes, GraniteGrok.com.

Wrote Lambert: "I plan on spending my time in prayer and reflection, looking inward to the unhealthy malice in my heart, for which I will ultimately have to face my Maker , begging for His undeserved mercy. One last point-- and then I ask for peace and privacy in this matter. In addition to those listed in my original apology statement, I owe my great friend Skip Murphy the most sincerest of apologies for all that has resulted from my inexcusable actions. Through no fault of his, all that has been built with great effort and heartache is now mostly all gone. In an instant. Like that… Let this be a lesson to those who harbor such hatred as I have demonstrated—think about it. We must love EVERYBODY as we do ourselves. And all the world is a camera. There is no hiding anymore. I engaged in a WHOLE lot of free speech around here. With that, comes responsibility. Use it wisely."

NH Radio Host Fired for Calling Gay Democratic Party Chair a 'Faggot'

Over the weekend I reported on New Hampshire radio host and blogger Doug Lambert, who directed a vicious homophobic diatribe at gay New Hampshire Party Chair Ray Buckley into a web stream at the end of his show.

NH Political Report reported on Sunday: "After his radio show 'Meet the New Press' ended today, GraniteGrok.com co-founder Doug Lambert looked into a live web-streaming camera, mockingly wished state Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley a Happy Birthday and then called Buckley a 'faggot' before basically wishing him dead....After co-host Skip Murphy said that he should probably shut off the feed, Lambert looked into the camera and said, 'Speaking of gays, Happy Birthday Ray Buckley. Are you going to Holland or taking another trip with your buddies?' He then dances in a way meant to mock a gay male and says: 'Yeah you Faggot. [Pause.] That's right I said it and I meant it. You are reprobate. How the people, the Democrats, I think of some of the gray haired ladies and older people from the old party would stand behind you is beyond me. You are a disgrace to yourself to humanity to mankind and to your party. Other than that Happy Birthday Ray and many more -- not,' Lambert continued before the feed was quickly shut off."

Lambert has been fired by WEMJ 1490 am, the radio station which carries his show: "The decision was announced Monday afternoon in a written press release by Nassau Broadcasting Regional Manager Rob Fulmer. In addition, Ed Engler, the editor of the Laconia Daily Sun, announced his newspaper would no longer carry Lambert's weekly column. Both decisions are the fallout from Lambert's Saturday tirade in which he called Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley 'a faggot,' further insulting him and other homosexual men by mimicking the way gay men are purported to walk. Although Lambert was off the air during his rant against Buckley, he was in WEMJ's studio and his comments were streamed live over his Internet site, GraniteGrok. '... [W]e find the comments by him to be completely out of line and unacceptable and we will not allow Mr. Lambert the opportunity to continue to air his show on our radio station,' Fulmer said."

At a press conference in Concord yesterday, New Hampshire Freedom to Marry Coalition Executive Director Mo Baxley condemned both Lambert and the silence from New Hampshire GOP Chair John Sununu.

  Said Baxley:

"I’ve called this press conference to denounce the hateful remarks made by the prominent Republican activist and right wing radio host, Doug Lambert, on his show this past Saturday....This is not the first time Doug Lambert has made offensive remarks of this nature. As the Laconia Citizen pointed out today, following black comedienne Wanda Sykes' comments at the annual White House Press Corps Dinner in May about former Vice-President Dick Cheney, Lambert wrote, 'May she choke on a chicken bone or a watermelon rind. What ever gets the job done?'

While some Republican candidates and public officials have denounced Lambert’s offensive remarks, the silence from John H. Sununu, Chairman of the State Republican Party, on these hateful slurs is deafening. But his silence comes as no surprise. Over the past few months, he has crisscrossed the state using rhetoric not dissimilar from the hateful things Lambert said on his show. Although he has not used the specific slur mouthed by Lambert, John H. Sununu has continually railed against gay and lesbian families. He has described marriage equality as garbage, called on Governor Lynch to 'veto the garbage,' and accused Democrats of trying to impose a San Francisco agenda on NH dozens of times.

Make no mistake, Sununu’s repeated claims that equal rights for everyone would ruin NH is just coded language. And the sentiment he seeks to foster is no different from the politics of hate and fear expressed by Lambert on his show this past Saturday.

As a frequent guest on Lambert’s show, Sununu should denounce his despicable comments, pledge never to go on the show, and vow never again to use the issue of equal rights as a weapon to gain political advantage. Additionally, the Belknap County Republican website, which is run by Doug Lambert, should post a statement denouncing his comments and remove him from his position of authority. And the radio show WEMJ, which hosts Lambert’s 'Meet the New Press' radio show, should remove him from the air immediately.

I also want to make it clear that this press conference, and the actions we demand, are not about any one person. This is about a greater culture that has been created by John H. Sununu at the New Hampshire Republican Party. He has sought to marginalize the gay and lesbian community over the past several months by using hurtful rhetoric, and should stand against such discrimination. A failure to respond by Sununu, the Belknap County Republicans, and WEMJ would speak volumes. New Hampshire has a long tradition of rejecting discrimination and promoting equality. The libertarian streak in our state lends itself to freedom, and not hate. This type of behavior should be discouraged by all political persuasions—a simple apology is not enough.

Radio Host to Gay NH Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley: 'Yeah you Faggot. That's right I said it and I meant it.'

Gay New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley was called a "faggot" by the host of a well-known New Hampshire right-wing radio show yesterday. NH Political Report via Blue Hampshire:

After his radio show "Meet the New Press" ended today, GraniteGrok.com co-founder Doug Lambert looked into a live web-streaming camera, mockingly wished state Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley a Happy Birthday and then called Buckley a "faggot" before basically wishing him dead.

...After co-host Skip Murphy said that he should probably shut off the feed, Lambert looked into the camera and said, "Speaking of gays, Happy Birthday Ray Buckley. Are you going to Holland or taking another trip with your buddies?"

He then dances in a way meant to mock a gay male and says: "Yeah you Faggot. [Pause.] That's right I said it and I meant it. You are reprobate. How the people, the Democrats, I think of some of the gray haired ladies and older people from the old party would stand behind you is beyond me. You are a disgrace to yourself to humanity to mankind and to your party.

"Other than that Happy Birthday Ray and many more -- not," Lambert continued before the feed was quickly shut off.

Lambert's remarks were condemned by Rep. Jim Splaine: "Ray Buckley has put up with a lot since he let others know he is gay.  All of us who are openly gay are at times on the receiving end of such disgusting comments.  Some of us receive hate mail or calls for what we do on our fight for equality.  But in this case, Ray and the many others who have worked hard this year and in years past to achieve marriage equality in New Hampshire have a louder voice than this GraniteGrok co-host character.  The majority of people in New Hampshire are on the side of equality and love, not hate and discrimination."

Lambert apologized soon after the slur, but not before NH-01 Congressman Jeb Bradley (R) and current GOPer NH-Sen explorer Ovide Lamontagne, who were on his show today, distanced themselves. Said Lambert: "To be blunt, what I said is something that never should have been said in any kind of a public setting, or, quite frankly, in a private one either. Being human, and an honest person that is used to freely speaking my mind, my passion got the best of me."

Anti-gays Eye Repeal of Marriage Equality in New Hampshire

The recent victory of bigots in Maine has cause some anti-gay lawmakers in New Hampshire to consider a repeal of that state's marriage equality law, which was signed by Governor John Lynch in June.

Foster's Daily Democrat reports:

"Two proposals are being drafted in the N.H. House: One would repeal the law Gov. John Lynch signed in June and re-establish civil unions; the other is a constitutional amendment that would charge voters with deciding if 'the state shall only recognize the union of one man and one woman as marriage.' Supporters of same-sex marriage are strategizing and gearing up for a fight, said Rep. Jim Splaine, D-Portsmouth, who sponsored the gay marriage law. He said momentum doesn't rest with gay-marriage foes.' The momentum is on our side and those of us who support equality and love over hate,' he said Wednesday. Even so, 'we have a fight cut out for us in January' when the Legislature reconvenes, he said. 'But I think virtually everyone in the House and Senate who voted for marriage equality will stick with us and I'm hoping we'll pick up some others.'"

According to the paper, "Only the proposed repeal would go to the governor's desk in order for it to become law. Constitutional amendments head straight to the voters for two-thirds support upon being passed by the same margin in the Legislature."

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #522: Town Hall Mob Edition

WITH A BULLET: At the Obama town hall yesterday, the New Hampshire Republican Volunteer Coalition made its voice heard: “Why are we bankrupting this country for 21 million illegals who should be sent on the first bus one way back from wherever they come from. We don’t need illegals. Send them home once. Send them home with a bullet in their head the second time. Read what Jefferson said about the Tree of Liberty — it’s coming baby.”

SWASTIKA: Congressman David Scott (D-GA) finds swastika on a sign outside of his office after Scott accused people of hijacking a meeting about transportation to talk about health care.

ARREST: Man arrested for having gun and knife at Obama town hall event (not the guy bearing the gun from yesterday).

MISSOURI: Senator Claire McCaskill's health care town hall gets unruly.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Gun Flaunted by Protester Near Obama Town Hall in New Hampshire

A man with a gun in a holster protesting near the Obama town hall got the attention of MSNBC today. Apparently this is legal in New Hampshire. The man, who is apparently not a law officer but a civilian, held a sign with a portion of a quote from Thomas Jefferson. The full quote is:

"And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure."

According to The Young Turks' Cenk Uygur, this quote was also referenced on a T-shirt worn by Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh shortly before carrying out the attack on the federal building there.

Anybody have a clue why he'd be wearing an earpiece? Some on YouTube are saying Secret Service.

UPDATE: Chris Matthews talked to the protester on Hardball.

Both clips, AFTER THE JUMP...