Only in NH: Anarchist Democrat Elected as State Rep in Manchester

[muzzled dogg]

Congratulations to Free State Project participant Tim O’Flaherty for winning his state representative race in Manchester. Tim self-describes as an anarchist and has won as a Democrat in a race against a small government Republican, who happens to be Tim’s roommate, Dan Garthwaite, another early mover for the FSP.

Comedy central even ran a campaign profile on Tim. http://www.indecisionforever.com/bl...-oflaherty-state-representative-manchester-nh

http://freekeene.com/2012/11/13/only-in-nh-anarchist-democrat-elected-as-state-rep-in-manchester/

 

[Keith and stuff]

Well, anarchist Republicans also win in New Hampshire. This is different because he is a Democratic and he publicly said he was an anarchist. He also said he is into S&M and indicated that his roommate is gay. I don't know if those things are true. It is nice to see a self-described gay anarchist elected in New Hampshire, though.

On another note, a self-described transgendered person was elected as a state rep. in New Hampshire.

People don't get it but New Hampshire is a very socially tolerant place. It has the highest self-described LGBT population (per capita) in the country. The exit polls showed people support same sex government marriage 65% to 35% - I'm pretty sure the highest margin of the states with exit polls. Even the Republican candidate for governor said he was open to talking about the idea of getting the government out of marriage altogether.

New Hampshire's proud transgendered state rep. elect, Stacie Laughton.

Marla Brettschneider, a University of New Hampshire political science professor, said Laughton’s election is a remarkable moment in terms of the election itself and that it took until 2012 for a transgender person to crack the Statehouse.

“It’s very important,” Brettschneider said. “It’s a really historic moment for (Nashua) and New Hampshire and the nation to start to really reimagine what citizenship and leadership can look like.”

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news...e-representive-win-laughton-states-first.html

 

[Keith and stuff]

You can Like Tim's Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/PublicPage.of.TimothyRyanOFlaherty

 

[Smart3]

It's stuff like this that make me really want to move to NH.

 

[pochy1776]

It's stuff like this that make me really want to move to NH.

I really don't see how thsi is a good thing for new Hampshire. Oh Well, As long as they don't shove "rights" down my throat.

 

[Keith and stuff]

I really don't see how thsi is a good thing for new Hampshire. Oh Well, As long as they don't shove "rights" down my throat.

What is wrong with Tim? He is a nice Irish guy.

 

[trey4sports]

liberty is alive and well in NH.

I saw Andy Sanborn won as well. That is great news. Keep it going guys.

 

[Warrior_of_Freedom]

Well, anarchist Republicans also win in New Hampshire. This is different because he is a Democratic and he publicly said he was an anarchist. He also said he is into S&M and indicated that his roommate is gay. I don't know if those things are true. It is nice to see a self-described gay anarchist elected in New Hampshire, though.

On another note, a self-described transgendered person was elected as a state rep. in New Hampshire.

People don't get it but New Hampshire is a very socially tolerant place. It has the highest self-described LGBT population (per capita) in the country. The exit polls showed people support same sex government marriage 65% to 35% - I'm pretty sure the highest margin of the states with exit polls. Even the Republican candidate for governor said he was open to talking about the idea of getting the government out of marriage altogether.

New Hampshire's proud transgendered state rep. elect, Stacie Laughton.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news...e-representive-win-laughton-states-first.html

Gender identity isn't very convincing in photo

 

[Cabal]

Anarchist. Democract. Elected.

<insert jackie chan meme here>

 

[pochy1776]

What is wrong with Tim? He is a nice Irish guy.

I was talking about gay rights and social "tolenrance" i am aware that won't seep into their policy making.

 

[angelatc]

It's stuff like this that make me really want to move to NH.

I was there until the second picture. Dude, if you're going to look like a lady, at least try.

 

[Keith and stuff]

I was there until the second picture. Dude, if you're going to look like a lady, at least try.

I think Stacie considers herself a woman. Anyway, she isn't part of the FSP or a liberty person or anything. I just brought her up to point out that anyone can get elected in NH. You can be an anarchist, an atheist, or transgendered. The people of NH tend to be very socially tolerant compared to pretty much everywhere else I've been.

 

[Smart3]

Anarchist. Democract. Elected.

<insert jackie chan meme here>

 

[Dr.3D]

What next?
Anarchist Democratic Republican Atheist Baptist elected?

 

[John F Kennedy III]

Well, anarchist Republicans also win in New Hampshire. This is different because he is a Democratic and he publicly said he was an anarchist. He also said he is into S&M and indicated that his roommate is gay. I don't know if those things are true. It is nice to see a self-described gay anarchist elected in New Hampshire, though.

On another note, a self-described transgendered person was elected as a state rep. in New Hampshire.

People don't get it but New Hampshire is a very socially tolerant place. It has the highest self-described LGBT population (per capita) in the country. The exit polls showed people support same sex government marriage 65% to 35% - I'm pretty sure the highest margin of the states with exit polls. Even the Republican candidate for governor said he was open to talking about the idea of getting the government out of marriage altogether.

New Hampshire's proud transgendered state rep. elect, Stacie Laughton.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news...e-representive-win-laughton-states-first.html

That is awesome

I <3 NH

 

[John F Kennedy III]

What next?
Anarchist Democratic Republican Atheist Baptist elected?

Black Transgender Satanist Republican elected Governor of Arkansas.

 

[AGRP]

Well, anarchist Republicans also win in New Hampshire. This is different because he is a Democratic and he publicly said he was an anarchist. He also said he is into S&M and indicated that his roommate is gay. I don't know if those things are true. It is nice to see a self-described gay anarchist elected in New Hampshire, though.

Probably the funniest description Ive read in quite a while, if ever.

 

[Murray N Rothbard]

"Anarchist democrat"...

The more bizarre these libertarian candidates get the greater hope I have people are waking up. The more "reasonable" moderates and centrists have historically usually been the most destructive elected officials.

 

[itshappening]

Larry McDonald was a Democrat.

The last good one in Congress.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_McDonald

 

[Keith and stuff]

A whole article about Tim in the New Hampshire state newspaper.

November 14. 2012 11:20PM
Mark Hayward's City Matters: Anarchy in Ward 5? Well, not exactly
MARK HAYWARD
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20121115/LOCALVOICES08/121119494

Only parts of the article are posted. Click on the link to read the full article.

Consider Tim O'Flaherty, a Manchester resident of 11 months who was elected a state rep in the inner city Ward 5. O'Flaherty, a Free Stater who describes himself as an anarchist, has raised alarm bells.

"We believe the Free State Project is extreme, and Tim O'Flaherty is one of the most extreme examples of the movement we've seen," said Zandra Rice Hawkins, director of Granite State Progress, an organization backed by labor, voting rights and abortion-rights groups.

She points to blogs where O'Flaherty said he doesn't support Social Security, Medicare, the armed forces or public roads. He has blogged that he's an anarchist, and that there should not even be a state.

O'Flaherty said he was surprised to win the Democratic primary over Richard Komi, a former state rep who was voted out of office in 2010. O'Flaherty won the contest by one vote. He said Komi may have suffered from name problems; his name is similar to Joseph Kony, the Ugandan guerilla leader whose capture was encouraged by the Kony 2012 effort, a viral Internet video.

O'Flaherty's campaign literature calls for reduced spending, individual responsibility and protection of constitutional liberties. The backside encourages people to donate to Shire Sharing, an effort to raise money for the needy. Nowhere is Free State or anarchy mentioned; O'Flaherty said one doesn't get elected campaigning as an anarchist.

Granite State Progress dropped fliers in Ward 5 on election day to alert voters to O'Flaherty's beliefs, but he easily won, coming in second in the race for two seats.

"I feel it strange they should want to demonize Free Staters so much," he said about Granite State Progress. "We have a lot of common ground with the political left."

Ed Osborne, the longtime alderman in Ward 5, said a Free Stater ran against him last year. Like O'Flaherty, Mike Segal didn't mention his Free State allegiance, Osborne said. He said many people in his ward, especially Democrats, vote party line.

"I don't think 75 percent (of voters) know what the Free State Project is. Free Stater, free skater - I don't pay much attention to it either," Osborne said.

O'Flaherty said he grew up poor, the only child of a single mom who works in a florist shop in Reading, Pa. He worked in the hotel industry before moving to New Hampshire in 2009 as part of the Free State movement. He said his anti-war leanings drew him to the Free State movement.

Since moving to Manchester, he's been mugged, but he did not report the crime to police. ("What's the best outcome? A prison cell? It's torture; it would not restore justice at all.")

He also spent a weekend in jail; he said he did not realize his driver's license expired. ("It's pretty ridiculous to be arrested for not having your paperwork in order.")

Kathy Sullivan, a New Hampshire Democratic leader and Democratic National Committee member, has criticized Republicans in the past for their embrace of Free Staters. But Donald Manning, chairman of Manchester City Democrats, said he's met O'Flaherty and that his critics should sit down and talk to him.

Although O'Flaherty has a libertarian streak, Manning said he does not think he wants to tear down state government.

"I think he's right in step with the people of Ward 5," Manning said. "I have no reason to suspect otherwise."