Playing the Gay Card in Vermont
By Paul Beaudry, 5/30/2007

I am writing in response to a commentary published in the Burlington Free Press by Bill Lofy, a communications consultant for the Vermont Democratic Party.  I find it amazing how the far left in Vermont can change the issue of mandatory minimum jail time for child sexual predators into one of bigotry and gay bashing.  On the other hand, it all makes sense when you discover the people behind the accusations, Bill Lippert, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Bill Lofy.

The real issue here is Jessica’s Law.  This law is on the books in 40 states, with Vermont as one of 10 yet to pass it.  Jessica’s Law has a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years for people who rape children.  It was sponsored by 3 Republicans and 3 Democrats.  Rep. Lippert has a track record of blocking legislation that requests mandatory minimums.  Review the legislative record for 2006/ 2007 and you will see that Rep. Lippert doesn’t believe that a person convicted of raping a child should go to jail for 25 years.  In fact he is so opposed to mandatory minimums that he didn’t let even allow it go to vote within the Judiciary Committee. 

During the last day of this year’s legislative session, a reporter from “The O’Reilly Factor” approached Mr. Lippert in the state house cafeteria and introduced himself as Jesse Watters from the O’Reilly Factor and shook Mr. Lippert’s hand.  It was all very friendly until Mr. Lippert took offense to a question that was asked.  The question was “How come you passed the Gender ID Law and not Jessica’s Law?  It seems that your priorities are out of line.”  Of course, Mr. Lippert’s first response afterwards was to say that O’Reilly singled him out because he’s gay.  No, you were singled out because you blocked Jessica’s Law, period!   Playing the gay card won’t work this time. 

Next, Mr. Lofy calls both Bill O’Reilly and me, Paul Beaudry, host of True North Radio, bigots and gay bashers.  Only in Vermont can this type of accusation take place.   I am neither a bigot nor a gay basher, but rather Vermont’s “Jessica’s Law” activist.   Please note that O’Reilly supported the Gender ID bill on his show during the interview segment.

In response to Mr. Lofy’s criticism of True North Radio, since when is a show that is dedicated to lower taxes, reduced government spending,  Jessica’s Law, fiscal responsibility in the schools,  “A Veritable Hate Fest?”  Why does the left feel it necessary to use hateful words and accusations to divert attention from the real subject?  When Rep. Ann Donahue (R) called in to defend Mr. Lippert and the line suddenly went dead, you accused me of hanging up so I could take a call from someone who called Lippert a “sicko and pervert.”  The line did in fact drop on WDEV due to an engineering problem, which can be verified.  Further, I called Rep. Ann Donahue and set up a time for her to come on as a guest. 

As to accusations that I have had an obsession with Mr. Lippert over the last 2 years, I plead guilty as charged.  As long as Mr. Lippert continues to block Jessica’s Law and mandatory minimums for child molesters, I will continue to broadcast it to my listening audience.  As to the accusation that I believe Mr. Lippert sympathizes with pedophiles simply because he’s gay, I respond that this is nothing but a bold faced lie designed to create hate and anger towards me and my radio show. 

In closing I encourage everyone who reads this to go to The O’Reilly Factor on-line and watch the video of the interview. I also encourage everyone to tune into True North Radio Monday – Friday 11AM to Noon to hear the truth about politics in Vermont!

Paul Beaudry
True North Radio