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	NH GOP Leader Bettencourt Sought Support after Pimp Comment By Norma Love Foster's Daily Democrat April 13, 2011 http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110413/GJNEWS_01/110419775 The Republican leader of the New Hampshire House emailed GOP representatives the day after he called a Roman Catholic bishop a "pedophile pimp," apologizing for his choice of words and seeking their continued support. State Rep. D.J. Bettencourt's April 2 email to the Republican caucus is among several dozen supplied to The Associated Press in response to a right-to-know request. Bettencourt, of Salem, wrote Republican lawmakers that his comment about Bishop John McCormack was undiplomatic and a better choice of words was warranted. He apologized for his comments diverting attention from their work. "To be sure this is a difficult time for me, but I hope that you will stand with me and I can retain your support. It would mean a great deal to me and my family," wrote Bettencourt. "I don't ask that you agree with my statements or the severity of my sentiments but there are challenges and hard work that remains and I would like to continue as your majority leader." McCormack was an aide to Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston, where the Catholic sex abuse scandal began. He was in charge of investigating sexual misconduct allegations. In an April 1 Facebook posting, Bettencourt called the bishop a "pedophile pimp" who should've been led from the Statehouse in handcuffs after criticizing cuts to social services in the House budget at a rally the day the House passed the spending plan to the Senate. Bettencourt wrote online McCormack had no business urging lawmakers to protect the vulnerable given his role in the abuse scandal. Bettencourt sent McCormack a letter April 2 saying that upon reflection, his comments were "undiplomatic and a better choice of words was both warranted and appropriate." But Bettencourt also said that for many Catholics, McCormack's "presence as bishop is an ongoing reminder of an evil that was perpetrated on those most vulnerable and innocent." A week after posting the comment, Bettencourt apologized to McCormack in a private meeting. Bettencourt's plea to GOP lawmakers drew support and agreement from some and spawned a debate about whether he should apologize. The comment drew a mix of support and criticism from outside the Statehouse. Some called Bettencourt immature and demanded he apologize while others applauded him for putting their feelings about McCormack into words. "I am a Catholic and I stand with DJ. McCormack has always been a corrupt scumbag in my book," House Legislative Administration Vice Chairman Timothy Comerford, R-Fremont, wrote the day the comment was posted. Comerford said no apology was necessary. "Why should we kowtow to a corrupt hack of a Bishop?" he wrote. William Manthey of Manchester thanked Bettencourt "for expressing what many people in New Hampshire and elsewhere think about John McCormack." "I am so proud of you," wrote Beth Curran of Nashua. "Finally someone has the guts to say what has needed to be said for years." But state Rep. Steven Lindsey, a Keene Democrat, wrote that "the dignity of the House demands something here" "This reflects badly on all of us, no matter what political party or what opinion we hold," he said. John Lamond, who identified himself as a lawyer from Reading, Mass., criticized Bettencourt for confusing "a negligent enabler with the actively enabled," which made him just "another cheap politician looking for headlines." "You have in your maladroit and wholly inappropriate comments about Bishop McCormack inadvertently accomplished the previously impossible task of rehabilitating him into a relatively sympathetic figure," wrote Lamond, who said his comment was besides his own dim view of McCormack. Pamela Sleeper of Manchester said Bettencourt had "made me ashamed to call myself a member of your political party and of your church." "You definitely owe the Bishop and all Catholic voters in NH an apology. I pray you are man enough to do so," she wrote. After nearly a week of publicity, Republican House Speaker William O'Brien weighed in with an admonition. "Recent comments are distracting from all of our legislative accomplishments. Please, no more emails, comments, interviews, discussions or any of the like concerning the Catholic Church, priests, church scandals, etc. If you feel you must make a comment, contact me first," wrote O'Brien, who included his cell number.
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