A few weeks ago, we learned that New Hampshire State Rep. Robert Fisher, a Republican atheist, was also the creator of Reddit’s “The Red Pill,” the subreddit for men who think they have it waaaay worse than women. Feminism, to them, is a dirty word, and they believe women are susceptible to their pickup-artist (PUA) techniques.

While creating a subreddit like that isn’t illegal, it shed light on how Fisher sees women. Could he really be trusted to represent women fairly when he’s oblivious to the things they have to deal with? Did he really think his female constituents were just waiting in the wings to falsely accuse men of raping them? Did he really believe, as he wrote in 2014, that “feminists wish they were hot enough to be rape-able”?

It’s not the sort of thing anyone would want to defend, and it didn’t help the image of his Republican colleagues, either.

Last week, he testified in a hearing about the things he had written online. While he admitted to creating the subreddit, he said he hadn’t been active on the page in several years. The Daily Beast, however, reported that he had commented on the forum as recently as 2016. It could be argued, then, that he was committing perjury.

There were 8 Republicans and 6 Democrats on the House Legislative Administration Committee who were tasked with investigating Fisher’s connection with the subreddit and making a recommendation about a possible punishment to the entire House. (He could’ve been reprimanded, censured, or kicked out of the legislature.)

And wouldn’t you know it: All 8 Republicans voted to do absolutely nothing.

Women in the crowd weren’t pleased…

Reaction by women in the crowd after the party line 8-6 vote to take no action against Rep. Fisher. #nhpolitIcs pic.twitter.com/1NKjaLbnRw — David Meuse (@JdmMeuse) May 17, 2017

After the vote, House Democratic Leader Steve Shurtleff blasted the Republicans for providing “cover for Representative Fisher” and said he would be speaking with the Attorney General over the potential perjury charge.

It’s all moot now. Rather than wait around for his colleagues to decide his fate, Fisher announced his resignation.

Fisher explained his resignation Wednesday afternoon, without apology. “Unfortunately, the falsehoods, lies and comments of an overzealous blogger and some of my colleagues have created a situation where I must genuinely consider the safety and well-being of my girlfriend, my family, and myself,” he said in an email. “It is with a heavy heart that I will be unable to complete my term.”

I know, I know. I’m surprised, too. How the hell did he get a girlfriend?

Keep in mind that none of that is an apology. He doesn’t regret anything he said or wrote about in the past.

Ah well. Good riddance to him. Let’s hope the politician who eventually takes his seat makes far better use of his or her free time.

And congratulations to The Daily Beast‘s Bonnie Bacarisse for her incredible detective work that culminated in Fisher’s outing and eventual resignation.

(Thanks to Brian for the link)

