Advertisement Updated: Sununu says resignation ‘in order’ for GOP lawmaker connected to misogynistic online messages Rep. Fisher admits saying ‘some injudicious things’ about women Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Gov. Chris Sununu on Wednesday told WMUR that the resignation of state Rep. Robert Fisher "is certainly in order" following a report on the online website The Daily Beast that the two-term lawmaker was involved in the creation of a misogynistic message board and made disparaging and derogatory comments about women. "Representative Fisher's comments are horrendous and repulsive and his resignation is certainly in order," Sununu said in a statement emailed to WMUR by his office. He was referring to posts attributed to Fisher on the "Red Pill" message board on Reddit.com by The Daily Beast. Sununu joined House Speaker Shawn Jasper in saying that Fisher's resignation would be appropriate (see our report below). WMUR reached out to Fisher on Wednesday seeking his response to the comments by Sununu and Jasper. On Tuesday night, Fisher said in a statement provided to WMUR that he had no intention of resigning. Fisher is a two-term lawmaker who resides in Laconia and represents his home city and the town of Belmont. See our full initial report, first posted Tuesday night, below. (Tuesday night, April 25:) A state legislator identified in an online report as a creator of a misogynistic website that espouses contempt for women admitted Tuesday he has said “some injudicious things about the opposite sex following a bad breakup.” But Rep. Robert Fisher, R-Laconia, said that many of the posts attributed to him in a story published on The Daily Beast website are untrue or taken out of context. Those, he said, include a post on a 2008 message board post, in which he allegedly wrote: “I'm going to say it. Rape isn't an absolute bad, because the rapist I think probably likes it a lot. I think he'd say it's quite good, really.” Fisher, in a statement provided to WMUR, called it a “gross misquote.” “Of course rape is a horrible crime,” Fisher said. “That was an out-of-context quote from a nearly decade-old debate about the failings of moral relativism. This kind of journalistic malpractice does a disservice not only to me, but to the women and men who are victimized, by perpetuating a false notion that the government doesn't care what happens to them. This discourages them from coming forward, which emboldens perpetrators to harm others.” The Daily Beast, in an exhaustive report, investigated a forum known as “Red Pill” on Reddit.com. It found that Fisher, writing as “pk_atheist,” created the forum in 2012, posting: “Let's talk about exactly what it means to be a sexual man in the era of feminism,” and, “In a culture where the only thing standing between you and prison is whether the last girl you (expletive) decides to lie about rape, these are REAL questions that I think are being ignored.” The Daily Beast probed what it called Fisher’s “online aliases” on forums dating back to his high school days. House Speaker Shawn Jasper, R-Hudson, told WMUR in an interview he was “absolutely disgusted” by the posts attributed to Fisher in The Daily Beast report. Jasper said that because Fisher has not broken any laws, he cannot call on him to resign from his seat, but the speaker said, “I wish he would resign. It would be the honorable thing to do under the circumstances.” “I would imagine that his constituents will see this information and I can only hope that this is addressed at the ballot box,” Jasper said. Fisher told WMUR in a brief telephone call, however, that he has no intention of resigning. He declined to discuss The Daily Beast story, preferring to communicate by email. In his email, the lawmaker wrote: “Here's my message to the public: I am not disappearing. I will continue to stand strong for men's rights and the rights of all, and I intend on introducing new legislation in 2018 to push back in the New Hampshire courts and finally bring relief for New Hampshire parents and citizens who face these very real but under-reported issues.” Fisher, 31, was elected to the House in 2014 and re-elected in 2016, representing Laconia wards 1-6. He served on the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee in his first term, but in his second term, he requested not to be assigned to a committee. The graduate of Winnisquam Regional High School in Tilton has sponsored or co-sponsored 14 bills in the current session, ranging from reducing the rates of the state’s business taxes to allowing therapeutic use of marijuana to aid in the treatment of opioid addiction. In his email, Fisher wrote that while he was in his early 20s, he “went through some very uncomfortable experiences that I do not wish to detail publicly, except to say that false rape accusations became a very real concern of mine. “I know it's not something most people think about, but I lived through a nightmare situation. That sort of experience wasn't easy for me, it brought me to a very low place in my life. It was only natural for me to try to seek out support. I have since come out the other side much stronger and smarter, and am glad that I'm in a position in Concord that can help others who have suffered.” Fisher said he would not address “every supposed ‘statement’ being attributed to me, but those who know me can read for themselves and judge if that sounds like something I believe. Like anyone, I've said some injudicious things about the opposite sex following a bad breakup, but the conclusions the author attempts to draw border on slanderous. “I'm disappointed that this sort of attack has replaced real news, but it strengthens my position and resolve that fighting for equal rights is more important today than ever. Some in the media seem to enjoy trying to make big issues from out-of-context quotes and wielding them to try and destroy their political adversaries rather than shining light on the underlying tough issues people face,” Fisher wrote. Fisher declined to disclose his occupation and would not say whether he created “Red Pill” and posted as “pk_athiest.” He said he is not the moderator of any forums on Reddit.com. He emailed WMUR that he asked not to be assigned to House committees because his “work requirements had increased due to new changes in my market right after I was re-elected, and I decided the best way to serve New Hampshire was to put my time into hearings and support bills I’ve sponsored or co-sponsored.” He also acknowledged missing a large number of votes on the House floor. “This term is significantly different from last term,” Fisher emailed. “We are meeting twice in a week rather than once, which has made it close to impossible for those who depend on their jobs to pay rent.” Jasper said he did not recall ever speaking to Fisher and said Fisher’s request not to be appointed to a committee “is in itself is troubling. The most important thing about a state representative is participating in the process sand being part of a committee.” The speaker, in a follow-up statement, wrote that while Fisher has violated no laws, “his words and actions clearly rise to the level of conduct unbecoming of a legislator. I was sickened by what I read. “As is true with any legislator, if their constituents are upset with the actions of their representatives, the only way to respond is at the ballot box by not re-electing them. With the immediacy of today’s social media, legislators should realize that any comments or actions of this nature will spread like wildfire and will only serve as a distraction to the work we do at the State House.” “Actions such as this overshadow all of the good that the majority of our members do while serving in the New Hampshire House,” Jasper said. Also Tuesday, House Democratic Leader Steve Shurtleff of Penacook said, “I am shocked and disturbed by the report linking Rep. Robert Fisher to deeply offensive statements and the creation of a misogynistic online forum. The posts linked to Rep. Fisher, which include chilling comments in defense of rape, are beyond reprehensible and have absolutely no place in civilized discourse. "If these allegations are true, I urge Speaker Jasper to join with me in requesting that Representative Fisher resign his seat in the New Hampshire House of Representatives," Shurtleff said. Meanwhile, the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said, “New Hampshire is one of the few states in the nation that appropriates zero dollars to sexual assault prevention and intervention. When you have a state legislator actively promoting sexual violence against women and girls, the need for these services couldn’t be any more clear." State Republican Party Chairman Jeanie Forrester on Tuesday called the behavior attributed to Fisher, “disappointing, and it’s certainly not behavior becoming of a legislator, or anyone, for that matter.” Forrester said it is up to Fisher’s constituents, and not her, to say whether he should continue as a member of the House. But on Wednesday, after Sununu issued his comment, Forrester issued a stronger statement calling on Fisher to resign. Forrester said she had seen all of the reporting on Fisher on Tuesday night, but had seen that reporting by Wednesday afternoon and so felt "very comfortable making a stronger statement."“I echo Gov. Sununu’s call for Rep. Fisher to resign,” Forrester said. “His comments are offensive, and the fact that he made them under the shadow of Internet anonymity tells you he knows they are offensive.” State Rep. Amelia Keane of Nashua, executive director of the New Hampshire Young Democrats, said Fisher's alleged behavior "is nothing short of repulsive. He should be ashamed of himself." (Wednesday Update:) On Wednesday, former state Republican Party Chair Jennifer Horn strongly criticized Fisher and called on politicians of both parties to make ending sexual harassment and ending violence against women a priority. “These are despicable comments," Horn said. "Rep. Fisher's attempts to cast himself as the victim is beyond the pale. Having a state representative who actively advocates violence against women is an embarrassment to our state and contributes to a society that minimizes sexual assault and makes it more difficult for women to report these crimes and seek justice. Frankly, I am sick and tired of the repetitive nature of these stories and the way that too many in politics dance around this issue." “This is not about free speech, partisan ideology, or anything else," Horn continued. "This is about violence that primarily victimizes women and it has to stop. The only way that will happen is if politicians on both sides of the aisle make this a priority in our state.”