New Hampshire Legislator Apologizes for Anime Comment

[rocklobster]

read the article here

On March 24, the conservative Republican website Red Hampshire reported on a comment made by New Hampshire Democratic State Representative Nickolas Levasseur on his personal Facebook page regarding anime. According to Red Hampshire, the Facebook comment read: "anime is a prime example of why two nukes just wasn't enough....."

A local New Hampshire news station, WMUR-TV, ran a segment on March 25 and 26 regarding the controversy surrounding Levasseur's posting. In the segment, the reporter said that the New Hampshire Republican party called the remarks "hateful," and asked Democratic Governor John Lynch to request that "members of his party stop participating in such shameful behavior." In the news segment, the reporter also said that Levasseur apologized for the posting, saying it "has no place in private or public discourse."

ANN contacted Levasseur regarding his Facebook post, and his emailed response follows below:


I would like to deeply apologize for the insensitivity of this post. It was a poorly thought out comment, posted in jest, on my private facebook page. This, of course, does not excuse the comment. This type of statement has no place in public or private discourse. It does not represent any true opinion, political or personal. My record in the New Hampshire House shows a commitment to equality and social justice. It is a record of which I am most proud. This comment is a disappointment not only to the people of New Hampshire, whom it has been my privilege to serve, but also to my own beliefs and moral code.

Shameful. Just shameful.:shake:

[Mr. SmartyPants]

If someone's gonna even joke about that, it reveals a part of the condition of that man's heart. Despite his apologies, I still feel hesitant to believe that he doesn't hold anything against a different people group.

Can't say I'm to pleased by that man's behavior.

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Especially this bit:

It does not represent any true opinion, political or personal.

No. Not at all (sure mate). You just gave your personal opinion. Of course it's true to you. Suck it up and be responsible for your own stupidity, please. I hate it when people weasel out of things.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Especially this bit:

It does not represent any true opinion, political or personal.

No. Not at all (sure mate). You just gave your personal opinion. Of course it's true to you. Suck it up and be responsible for your own stupidity, please. I hate it when people weasel out of things.

I know you don't come from my great nation, so I'll just fill you in on something for future context. See... Public Apology in America is a great thing where you can say you're sorry and don't have to tell the truth, take actual responsibility, or anything like that in order to be completely and totally sincere. It's like apologizing in Bizarro land. "Me am sorry me didn't say nice comment about Japan. Me am worlds best politician." *facepalm*

So, this'll quiet the furor, but I hope people realize what a reprehensible person he likely is.

[Nikolai Melodie]

That's disgusting. Absolutely disgusting. And for the record, in my belief, two bombs were too many to begin with. :/ Bollocks...

[Nate]

That depends on what your definition of "is" is.

[Cognitive Gear]

....

Am I the only one that noticed this was a facebook comment? This was a joke made in poor taste. Sure, he's a politican, so he should have been a bit more careful about how he made this joke, but..... it's facebook.

In short

[ShiroiHikari]

I was offended by his comment, but I can appreciate that he had the cajones to own up to it and apologize (MANY people don't). How many of you guys have carelessly said something mean or stupid in the course of your lives? I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't want somebody holding all the stupid things I've said over my head. He apologized; let the guy alone.

[goldenspines]

@Cogi: Sadly, someone in that high of position doesn't have the freedom to make jokes in poor taste like that, online or not. He has the responsibility to uphold the trust people have put in him.
Facebook is not all fun apps and stupid memes (I mean, heck, people got fired over stuff they posted on Facebook. If a person is going to act like a dork online, what makes you think they won't act like that in real life?). If you can't take it seriously to some extent, then why have a Facebook at all?

That's just my opinion. I do agree that not everything should be "Srs bsns!", but this case seems to call for it. Not over anime though, but rather over insulting Japan.

EDIT: Nette, you post too fast. D: I agree with you to a certain extent. Because he is in the spotlight, his comments and views on things will be taken more seriously and should be taken more seriously than the average person (because he holds such a high position in society). But I do agree that people need to accept his apology(since he did give one. didn't he?) for his stupid behavior and move on.

[Atria35]

....

Am I the only one that noticed this was a facebook comment? This was a joke made in poor taste. Sure, he's a politican, so he should have been a bit more careful about how he made this joke, but..... it's facebook.

In short

It may be facebook, but that's the thing- since he's a public figure, people are going to be watching. And it's the internet- it can never be erased completely. Which is probably why he should never have put it there in the first place.

[Fish and Chips]

It disappoints me to think that the majority of the Internet is going to jump on this guy for suggesting that Anime is bad, but not that nuking the Japanese is good.

[Cognitive Gear]

I suppose that I should explain myself more fully.

It's not that facebook is a place for nothing but silliness, it's that facebook is not a serious political platform, nor does it cater to or try to be such. Again, this joke was made in poor taste, and honestly wasn't even a good one.

What I am getting at is that I don't think this joke is indicative of his own personal beliefs as people have been suggesting. It's ok, and understandable, if you are offended by the statement, but to make assumptions about his character based on a single joke posted on facebook, in spite of his otherwise good record, seems like a little much to me.

[Zarn Ishtare]

I refuse to hold a political figure to a standard I do not meet myself.

I also refuse to use the stumblings of such figures as a "feel-good" moment for myself, so that I can indulge in self-righteousness and critique of a man I'll never meet.

Disgusting, Immoral, Innapropriate, however you label it, it doesn't deserve this level of attention. Little does. This is just another example of people angry that politicians are just as human as they are.

[ShiroiHikari]

It disappoints me to think that the majority of the Internet is going to jump on this guy for suggesting that Anime is bad, but not that nuking the Japanese is good.

Internet, I am disappoint. However, if he'd simply made a joke about anime being lame, it likely wouldn't have gotten this far in the first place.

What I am getting at is that I don't think this joke is indicative of his own personal beliefs as people have been suggesting. It's ok, and understandable, if you are offended by the statement, but to make assumptions about his character based on a single joke posted on facebook, in spite of his otherwise good record, seems like a little much to me.

I agree with you. We shouldn't be judging people's character based on one incident. We don't know what's truly in his heart. Judge not, lest ye be judged. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Et cetera.

[minakichan]

All I can say is that I'm incredibly disappointed that Cog used a Prince of Tennis musical pic that isn't first or second generation Tezuka. Everyone after Shirota Yu doesn't matter.

But yeah, gjob NH Rep. I don't think people who normally loved the guy will hate him now, but moderates will probably be like lolwuti'mnotvotingforthisjerk.

[Mr. Rogers]

If you are a public figure of any type, you even have to be careful on Facebook. I know people who are teachers and do not have their Facebook listed because they are, in a way, public figures and have to be responsible.

[Kaligraphic]

Honestly, I'm with Zarn. The dude's human. He made a facebook comment in poor taste. He doesn't like anime. He's not suggesting we actually nuke Japan or anything like that. There's no cause for alarm.

[blkmage]

The same stuff has happened to public figures who made remarks far less incendiary than this one and in settings far less public than Facebook. The reaction we're seeing should not be a surprise.

[Nate]

He's not suggesting we actually nuke Japan or anything like that.

"anime is a prime example of why two nukes just wasn't enough....."

He's not suggesting we actually nuke Japan or anything like that.

I refuse to hold a political figure to a standard I do not meet myself.

I also refuse to use the stumblings of such figures as a "feel-good" moment for myself, so that I can indulge in self-righteousness and critique of a man I'll never meet.

Disgusting, Immoral, Innapropriate, however you label it, it doesn't deserve this level of attention. Little does. This is just another example of people angry that politicians are just as human as they are.

[rocklobster]

Why is it politicians are so prone to gaffes? Do they actually enjoy making fools of themselves?

[Nate]

It's not that they enjoy making fools of themselves. Not really, anyway. The truth of it is that politicians are as dumb as us regular people. They just get more exposure. I mean if every stupid thing I said was broadcast all over the country, well, I'd probably curl up in a hole somewhere and die.

I say something ridiculously stupid every day. It's just the number of people who see it are very few, because I'm not really famous. With politicians, you have huge numbers of people watching them constantly, so when they mess up, these people notice and proceed to turn it into national news.

There's a lot of reasons for this. One is that with a sharply divided two-party system, one side is always going to want to make the other side look bad. So when someone from one side screws up, the other is going to report it to make them look stupid and wrong. Then that side goes "OH YEAH WAIT UNTIL ONE OF YOUR GUYS MESSES UP" and proceeds to do the same when it happens.

Another reason is that we hold our leaders to a higher standard than our neighbors and friends...AND FOR GOOD REASON. Let's put it this way. Would anyone want me to become a Senator or President? No, because I am not up to the standard. I'm rude, sarcastic, crass, and a lot of other things. I'm not a good role model. Because that's who these people have to be: role models. You wouldn't want a teacher coming in and spouting out the f-word every other word they say, right? Because it's not a good role model for the kids. They're not setting a good example.

Nobody is saying leaders have to be perfect. Nobody's perfect. But they do need to be held to a higher standard, and they are. That's why this is made out as a big deal. This guy is saying "We should've nuked Japan into the ground." Maybe he meant it as a joke. But that doesn't excuse it. If I make a remark about "women should be in the kitchen" I'm going to be seen as sexist, doesn't matter if I'm joking or not. If I make a remark about "black people are criminals" I'm going to be seen as racist, doesn't matter if I'm joking or not.

So for the people on this guy's "side" politically, it is more of a "We do not want this kind of guy representing us." For the people who are opposed to him, it is a "Look how horrible the people on the other side are."

Anyway that's about the long and short of it (mostly long).

[Dante]

Wait... Blinks. Two nukes just isn't enough? And he's only apologizing about the anime facet?

[Mithrandir]

All I can say is that I'm incredibly disappointed that Cog used a Prince of Tennis musical pic that isn't first or second generation Tezuka. Everyone after Shirota Yu doesn't matter.

This made me actually LOL. In the midst of all the other posts, seeing this made getting online tonight worth while.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

On behalf of Godwin, I'd like to thank everyone here that we've kept this strictly to the topic of Japan, Nukes, and anime being the source of said nukes.

[EricTheFred]

On behalf of Godwin, I'd like to thank everyone here that we've kept this strictly to the topic of Japan, Nukes, and anime being the source of said nukes.

Agreed. I entered this thread fully expecting to find it had already been closed (I had already read about the comment elsewhere.)

My .02: There is, in America, absolutely no forum whatsoever that isn't 'serious' when it comes to politicians. This is a reality we will just have to live with now that our political system must do its work in front of 21st century technology. Many a cellphone video catapulting comments from the small arena onto our television sets has already proven this. Our pols will just have to learn to clean up their humor, 24/7, because there isn't any other defense.

[Bobtheduck]

It's not that they enjoy making fools of themselves. Not really, anyway. The truth of it is that politicians are as dumb as us regular people. They just get more exposure. I mean if every stupid thing I said was broadcast all over the country, well, I'd probably curl up in a hole somewhere and die.

I say something ridiculously stupid every day. It's just the number of people who see it are very few, because I'm not really famous. With politicians, you have huge numbers of people watching them constantly, so when they mess up, these people notice and proceed to turn it into national news.

There's a lot of reasons for this. One is that with a sharply divided two-party system, one side is always going to want to make the other side look bad. So when someone from one side screws up, the other is going to report it to make them look stupid and wrong. Then that side goes "OH YEAH WAIT UNTIL ONE OF YOUR GUYS MESSES UP" and proceeds to do the same when it happens.

I agree with what Orange Kitten said here. Though I think this politician just spent too much time logged in as an anon and forgot he wasn't anon anymore, and that comments like that are taken seriously.

[TGJesusfreak]

The truth of it is that politicians are as dumb as us regular people. They just get more exposure.

I agree completely.

He made a stupid comment, we all do that, and like Cog said; it's facebook. Making a judgmental comment like that is all the worse when you're in the public eye, he should've been more carfull than he was (I'm sure we all already have figured that one out XD).

[Whitefang]

Leaders need to be more level-headed and, frankly, more intelligent than "us regular people". When they say things like, "We should have nuked Japan so that they would not have produced anime", they need to be at least ridiculed and shamed, if not removed from their office.

Our relations with Japan and the Japanese people are more important than forgiving the legislator. It's unfortunate for him, but that is what happens when you do stupid things.

And I also agree I do not like the way in which the statement was brought to the public, but such is the nature of politics.

[mechana2015]

[quote="Whitefang (post: 1384943)"]Leaders need to be more level-headed and, frankly, more intelligent than "us regular people". When they say things like, "We should have nuked Japan so that they would not have produced anime", they need to be at least ridiculed and shamed, if not removed from their office.

Our relations with Japan and the Japanese people are more important than forgiving the legislator. It's unfortunate for him, but that is what happens when you do stupid things.
quote]

Precisely. Our senators and representatives have enough say that their comments are international fodder,and that they get used as diplomats on occasion, so they really do need to watch what they say, all the time.

[Psycho Molos]

The NH guy is right...two just isn't enough....


...let's drop a third on his house!!