While state lawmakers pride themselves on being plainspoken, ethnic remarks made on the house floor by Hopkinton representative Richard Kennedy, raise questions about just how plain that speech should be.
Deep into the floor debate of a bill to amend that state?s right to know laws, Contoocook republican Stretch Kennedy argued that terrorism should not force New Hampshire into restricting its own freedoms. Among other things, Kennedy offered this gloss on Osama Bin Laden.
'The sole fact that some psychopathic raghead with a lot of money was able to pull something off and make a big stink was fine. But we have those people who are capable of handling the situation.'
According to House democratic leader Peter Burling that remark, as well as another Kennedy made where he described the deceased US Senator SI Hayakawa as a ?jap in a funny hat? has no place at the statehouse.
'There?s a decorum?There?s a two hundred and twenty five year history of appropriate comment and we seemed to have slipped the bounds and wandered off into everybody gets to say whatever the heck they want.'
But according to Kennedy, he uses language with precision and in context. He says he?s an admirer of Hayakawa?s?..And as for calling Bin Laden a ?raghead,? Kennedy insists he?s simply telling it like it is.
'Look at the guy??What?s he look like?..What in the hell does he look like.'
Hussein Ibish of the American anti-Arab discrimination committee says Kennedy?s words are obvious slurs.
'Calling someone a raghead denigrates an entire ethnic group. It?s a little like calling someone one of the more colorful epithets that are traditional in the United States. These are derogatory comments that simply have to be challenged.'
Democratic leader Peter Burling agrees and says House speaker gene Chandler should have confronted Kennedy as soon as the remarks were made.
'I was surprised that the speaker didn?t rule it out of order why it was happening and I know my caucus was terribly disappointed.'
While House speaker Chandler has yet to return several phone calls on the matter, Majority Leader David Scanlan promises Kennedy?s conduct will be examined?..And though Scanlan claims he was unaware the remarks even took place, he admitted he wasn?t particularly surprised at who uttered them.
'I would just say that the republican party is very diverse and there are some members that get up and you kind of expect that you will hear phraseology like that from them. And if tt goes across a line that it?s certainly something we have to address. But with that said too you kind of have to look at the individual and make a determination as to whether that?s them or whether there actually crossing the line.'
And as for the man responsible for the controversy?..Rest assured Representative Kennedy remains incredulous??..and unbowed.
'Jesus Christ?...People get excited over a few words?.but if they want to pick on someone they can pick on me?..I?m big enough.'
House leaders on both sides of the aisle say they will be discussing the matter in caucus before the house?s next meeting on March 4th.
