Concord
“At any time any member says anything or does anything that holds this body in disrespect, it affects each and every one of us,” said Democratic House Minority Leader Steve Shurtleff, who called for the inquiry.
But the inquiry’s scope is limited to this term, meaning it won’t include many of the online comments Rep. Robert Fisher, R-Laconia, previously made about women’s intelligence and whether men should videotape sexual encounters. Fisher has said his comments have been taken out of context by the media and that he has no plans to resign.
The Daily Beast recently reported that Fisher created “The Red Pill,” an online forum that bills itself as “discussion of sexual strategy in a culture increasingly lacking a positive identity for men.” The article linked to comments Fisher previously made online that appeared to normalize rape and insult women’s intelligence.
Fellow lawmakers and Republican Gov. Chris Sununu have called for him to resign, and several dozen people gathered outside the Statehouse before the vote on Thursday to demand Fisher’s ouster.
“My friends and family know full well I’m not in favor of rape. It’s such an absurd position, I’m actually surprised anybody bought into it,” Fisher wrote last week in a piece published in his local newspaper, The Laconia Daily Sun.
He voted on Thursday in favor of the inquiry.
“I think the truth will be out at the hearing,” Fisher told the Concord Monitor.
The legislative committee will begin its investigation on Tuesday and eventually will make a recommendation to the full House on whether action — such as asking Fisher to resign — should be taken.
As a tit-for-tat of sorts, Republicans successfully moved to have online comments made by Democratic Rep. Sherry Frost looked into as well. Republicans have criticized tweets by Frost, including one that says, “We have a terrorist problem, all right, and they’re mostly white, Christian men.”
Frost voted in favor of the inquiry, saying she has nothing to hide. But fellow Democratic Rep. Jackie Cilley slammed the body for comparing Fisher’s and Frost’s comments.
“This is an absolute false equivalency,” she said.