Speaker O’Brien: The Most Unkindest Cut of All

Bill O’Brien’s reign as state House Speaker has been described as “a self-drawn caricature of vindictiveness and power run amok.” He has berated lawmakers who disagreed with him and removed those who challenged him from committee assignments and leadership positions. As retribution for political differences, he has even refused to accommodate those with physical disabilities.

But then GOP Rep. Seth Cohn defended Rep. Steve Vaillancourt for responding to the Speaker with “Sieg Heil” salute.

Vaillancourt spoke truth to power, and I wish he and others including myself had stood up sooner… its taken me much of this year to realize that when dishonorable people lead, even the right directions, its only a matter of time before they throw all of the honorable folks under the bus. Steve not only deserves reelection, he’s more honorable than most of the House who have excused too much dishonor at the top.

For this act of disloyalty, the Speaker exacted the ultimate revenge. He defriended Cohn on Facebook.