'Nicest Protestors in the World' Picket Gov. Swift Gov. is Required to Obey the Constitution and Call the Legislature Back to Vote; First Hearing in Lawsuit on October 2 MassNews Staff August 30, 2002 The "nicest protestors in the world" picketed Gov. Swift this week outside her office on the third floor of the State House wearing large stickers saying, "Obey the Massachusetts Constitution." "Everyone was very friendly," said the President of Mass. Citizens for Marriage, Sarah McVay Pawlick, who, along with seven other picketers, reminded the Governor that the state Constitution requires her to call back the Legislature now that they have left without voting on the Protection of Marriage Amendment.

Although the guards are polite, the protestors were admonished yesterday by one of them that they are not to smile or attempt to say anything to anyone passing in and out of the office.

"She moved very quickly from the elevator to her office with no real acknowledgment of our presence. A couple of her aides spoke to us, but she is obviously troubled by the spotlight. It's too bad she doesn't call the Constitutional Convention back and get it over with."

The Governor secretly left by a back door on Wednesday afternoon in order to avoid having eye contact with the protestors. Although the guards are polite, the protestors were admonished yesterday by one of them that they are not to smile or attempt to say anything to anyone passing in and out of the office.

"I'm sure our Constitutional lawyers could have a good time with that one," said Pawlick, "but who has time to bother with that foolish behavior. Regardless, she now knows the world is watching."

Meanwhile the first hearing in the lawsuit that Pawlick brought against Sen. Birmingham could be held October 2.

The lawyer at the Attorney General's office, Atty. Peter Sacks, who will represent Sen. Birmingham and the Secretary of State, who were sued by Pawlick in an attempt to get some clarification from the Supreme Judicial Court as to Birmingham's duties on referendum issues, has agreed with the MCM lawyer to inform the Court they will be ready to argue the case before a Single Justice of the SJC on Oct. 2 if the Court agrees.

Former Senator Edward Kirby appeared as a picket yesterday with his sticker urging the Governor to "Obey the Constitution." Although both he and Jane Swift had been Senators together when there very few Republicans in the Senate in the 1990s, she made no acknowledgment of him when she hurriedly walked by yesterday.

Pawlick noted that the negative ratings of Sen. Birmingham are sky-high because of his violation of the state Constitution on referendums. "But he still doesn't appear to understand why this is happening to him. Perhaps Jane Swift might realize before she, too, leaves office with a cloud over her head."

Even Senator Kerry and Robert Reich have indicated their disapproval over the way our government has been damaged by the failure of Sen. Birmingham and others in the Legislature to follow the Constitution when implementing the referendum process. After 130,000 people followed all the necessary procedures to get their question put on the ballot for the voters to decide, they feel it is unfair for one man to throw all their petitions into the trash can.

They have expressed their concern that this is causing tremendous damage to our government.

Pawlick expresses her belief that they will win this vote regardless of what the SJC does.

"Although it would be nice if the Supreme Court would clearly state what the law is, the law is already so obvious that everyone knows, even Sen. Birmingham. All we ask is that he obeys the law."

Tuesday January 13, 2004 News Links World Net Daily **Agape Press * TownHall.com * FreeCongress.org FoxNews.com *Media Research * CNSnews.com * Human Events **