O'Brien rewrites history: "The people of N.H. didn't reject our efforts when we were in the majority'
In 2012, Republicans lost control of the New Hampshire House and their controversial leader was relegated to the back bench. Led by Speaker Bill O'Brien, the GOP entered the election with an overwhelming 288-103 House majority. When the dust had settled, Republicans had lost over 100 seats and Democrats had been returned to power.
Despite that electoral shellacking, O'Brien insists “the people of New Hampshire didn’t reject House Republicans’ efforts when we were in the majority.”
“Contrary to myths invented by Democrat operatives,” he told Republican House candidates, “our efforts were appreciated by the people of New Hampshire.”
In an email seeking support for another term as Speaker, the Mont Vernon Republican explained why he stepped down after the GOP lost control of the House.
“Having spent so much time in Concord during those two years,” O'Brien wrote, “when we didn’t gain a majority, I decided to leave the caucus leadership to those who, having seen the good that could be achieved through energetic, conservative leadership, I hoped would continue the journey.”
“Unfortunately, we didn’t see the type of liberty-focused leadership that many had hoped for,” O'Brien complained. “With a rather narrow majority, Democrats were able to get many liberal agenda items, such as increasing the gas tax and expanding ObamaCare here in New Hampshire through the House without the type of fight principled conservatives should have delivered,” he wrote.
O'Brien promised to make New Hampshire “a model of reform for the nation.” He concluded with a rhetorical flourish. “We stand at the cusp of what should be a great election for Republicans because the philosophical foundation of the liberal philosophy once again has been shown to be built on a malevolent quicksand of lies, socialistic misconceptions, and European concepts of individual subservience to government.”