Bi-partisan support for NH Rebellion: John Broderick, Brad Cook speak at ‘We the People’ rally

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WATCH: Rally highlights reels with Daniel Weeks, John Broderick and Brad Cook.

MANCHESTER, NH — The group of rebels wearing tricorn hats have a simple list of six demands for the next U.S. president:

We the People Pledge outlines six initiatives.
We the People Pledge outlines six initiatives.
  1. Expose secret donors and require full transparency
  2. Ban bribes from lobbyists and government contractors
  3. Ban Super PACs and overturn Citizens United
  4. Establish small-donor, citizen-funded elections
  5. End gerrymandering and modernize voter registration
  6. Close loopholes and enforce campaign finance laws

Highlights from the NH Rebellion ‘We the People’ rally Nov. 5 at City Hall included remarks by Former NH Supreme Court Chief Justice John Broderick, who said after four decades of living in New Hampshire and observing the political process, “change is necessary” due to the corruption that exists today.

“There was a time … when one hundred dollars made a difference, when $1,000 from a citizen was a huge contribution. We don’t matter as much now as we used to. It ought to trouble every single American that 158 families, according to the New York Times, have contributed half the money that’s been raised by both parties thus far in the presidential primaries,” Broderick said.

“My question is this: Why would someone donate $100 million — dark unaccountable money — to an independent group, a superpac, unless they were buying something, or believing they were buying something,” Broderick said.

“You gotta deal with that reality. They’re not doing it for good government; they’re doing it for their personal interests.  And the other thing that should trouble us is what to they think they’re buying, and who’s selling it? Who’s selling it?” Broderick said.


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Daniel Weeks, Executive Director of the NH Rebellion, said getting money out of politics may not be the most important issue, but it’s the first issue that needs to be addressed before the United States can move forward.

Manchester Attorney Brad Cook, a Republican, also spoke, saying  he disagreed with Weeks and Broderick, who said that getting money out of politics isn’t the most important issue facing our country, but that it should be the first issue addressed.

“I disagree, that  it’s not the most important issue. It’s the frame around the picture. It’s the thing that surrounds the whole process. It is the question, Cook said. “Ask [those running for president] specifically, will they support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. If you get anything other than a one-word answer, they’re obfuscating with you.”

NH Rebellion was founded by Larry Lessig, a Harvard law professor who recently ended his brief run for president, after being “shut out” of the Democratic debate process due to a rule change by the Democratic National Committee, according to campaign consultant Steve Jarding, as outlined in this Huffington Post article.

Watch Lessig’s statement about ending his campaign here, via YouTube.

Based on Thursday’s rally in New Hampshire, the rebellion goes on, with or without Lessig’s presidential bid.


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About this Author

Carol Robidoux

PublisherManchester Ink Link

Longtime NH journalist and publisher of ManchesterInkLink.com. Loves R&B, German beer, and the Queen City!