New Hampshire House Speaker William O'Brien Says 'Foolish' Students 'Vote With Their Feelings'

In a recent speech, New Hampshire state House speaker William O'Brien called student voters foolish and implied that they only vote liberal because they lack life experience, reports the Washington Post.

In an address to a tea party group in Rochester, O'Brien spoke about proposed updates to New Hampshire voting laws, including a bill barring election day registration and one requiring students to declare residency prior to elections if they intend on voting in their college towns. Although supporters of the reform contend that it is intended to reduce voter fraud in the state, some critics fear that the new laws target college students -- a concern that was heightened when footage showing O'Brien accusing students of "voting with their feelings" went viral.

In his speech, O'Brien pointed to Plymouth, New Hampshire as a town that saw many out-of-state students vote and "tak[e] away the town's ability to govern themselves."

According to the Post, Democrats see the proposed bills as a strategic GOP attempt to disenfranchise a demographic that traditionally votes left.

Thinkprogress reports that similar movements to restrict voting have emerged in 22 states.

Below, watch O'Brien's now-infamous speech. Relevant statements begin at around 9:45.

What do you think of O'Brien's words? Share your feelings in the comments section.

Comments

[ZeraLee]

08:32 PM on 03/10/2011

This comes very close to endorsing a Literacy Test.

His assertion is especially hypocritical considering that the republican party has clawed it's way back to power purely on emotional appeals to fear and prejudice.

[Pass the Jam]

08:28 PM on 03/10/2011

Foolish T-baggers vote with the books in the back of those pews.

[brodog84]

06:11 PM on 03/10/2011

It looks like politicians foolishly opine with theirs.

[samm2202]

12:47 PM on 03/10/2011

So will he eventually just start saying Women, Minorities, gays and democrats in general just vote with their feelings so they should be barred as well?

Typical GOP & TP stupidity!

[StewII]

09:11 PM on 03/09/2011

This t-bagger nut case is an embarrassment to those of us in NH.

[yourmotherwasahamster]

05:22 PM on 03/09/2011

Let's make sure no feelings ever go into any decision making, starting with greed.

[krummlaw]

04:47 PM on 03/09/2011

And, since the Tea Party votes because of its feelings of rage, does the Speaker propose barring them from the ballot box?

[Pere Coutee]

04:40 PM on 03/09/2011

I think that Rep. O'Brien verbally stated how most conservative lawmakers feel. If I'm mistaken, can someone please direct me to a video or article where other conservatives are speaking against Mr. O'Brien's words? If he is genuinely concerned with the youth vote, then Rep. O'Brien should reach out to young people with town hall meetings to explain how policies that he supports or proposes would benefit the current and future students of America. But that's impossible. His party is currently unleashing the largest assault on education ever, state-by-state! Republican governors nationwide along with their counterparts in D.C., are proposing budgets that reduce funding at all levels of public education - from Head Start to college. Federal funding for Pell Grants is expected to decrease...all amidst high unemployment, soaring food and gas prices, and not least of all, ever-increasing tuition rates. At a time when their constituents need them the most, this "select" group chooses to propose and enact legislation that benefits themselves and their "donors." These are the reasons why young people tend to "lean left" come election season Mr. O'Brien....not because they "lack life experience" as you so eloquently stated. You don't know what these hard-working Americans have gone through in attempt to better themselves and their familes through work and education. The ignorance, intolerance, callousness, hypocrisy, and overall lack of shame that some elected officials openly display never ceases to amaze me.

[hagagaga]

03:54 PM on 03/09/2011

Isn't that what you're supposed to vote with?

I wouldn't mind some sort of civil service obligation in order to vote or a basic-level constitutional law exam given when attempting to register, but this is ridiculous.

[Peace Walker]

03:00 PM on 03/09/2011

Sure... because of course everyone knows you should be voting completely without feeling; devoid of compassion or empathy --- or failing that with only acceptable emotions - fear, hatred and greed!

[josiahfelicia]

02:54 PM on 03/09/2011

The audacity of this elected politician to say that "those" citizens shouldn't be allowed to vote because they don't agree with him.

[ninjasrolled]

02:46 PM on 03/09/2011

My friend teaches college classes at Mississippi State in sociology while getting his PhD in criminology. He says that the students have a very difficult time debating any kind of controversial issue - they are taught from a young age that it is not polite to discuss such things. When he does get them to talk about things, they always cite their "feelings". Gay marriage is wrong because it "feels" wrong. (These are the same students that have no problem screaming, "Get that N-word off the field!" at football games)

Left, right...I think we're even on the "feeling" side of things.

[Hank10303]

02:42 PM on 03/09/2011

Okay, so we know O'Brien did not vote for President Obama.  The next calculated conclusion is that the voted for McCain, yet I doubt if he can list 3 things that he can support with documentation that McCain and/or Sara Palin would have done to prevent a national depression that would have actually worked.
 
With that in mind, if neither Mccain or Palin could have handled the 3:00 a.m. call; then they weren't qualified.  But, he voted for them anyway, because they are republican.  So he voted based on his feelings and beliefs in a party ideology.  Yet, students attending a school that he himself could not have qualified to attend vote based on their feelings.   That may be right; but its not wrong when your feelings against anti-abortion legislation are strong; or your feelings about equal marriage rights for all Americans are nearly as strong or if you even believe that the tax burden is disproportionately resting on the shrinking middle class.  That its time the rich pitch in and pitch in big.

[Bloodhound41]

02:24 PM on 03/09/2011

"Young people vote with their feelings." If the past election is any example, a lot of people voted "with their feelings". Sure didn't show much intelligent thought. "Most vote liberal because they lack experience." Well, here's one "inexperienced 70 year old who's voted liberal far more often than conservative and, as things stand at present, wouldn,t vote conservative if it were my own brother running. First the right wanted to prevent the african americans from voting, then the poor, now the young. Whose next, the old? Why don't they just try to make it illegal for any Liberal to vote and show the world where they realy stand on democracy.

[Pamski]

02:27 PM on 03/09/2011

That IS where they stand on democracy.

[AejB]

02:12 PM on 03/09/2011

Of course OBrien would say this because an educated mind is much harder to decieve and manipulate than an uneducated one. Education typically encourages people to think for themselves.
Also, both sides vote with feelings. If that wasnt the case than all the hype of death panels, illegal immagrants stealing Americans jobs, and the religion of the President would cease to be talking points for pundants. These issues are hot buttons for people and stir emotions and feelings.