As some members of their own party continue to celebrate the assassination of Republican activist Charlie Kirk, Democrats in the New Hampshire House went on the attack Monday over a message from House Majority Leader Jason Osborne (R-Auburn) to his caucus that urged Republicans to “turn up the heat,” and referenced a “war.”
The New Hampshire House Democratic Caucus posted a statement from their leader, Rep. Alexis Simpson (D-Exeter).
“In this moment, when our state and our nation are reeling from political violence, it is appalling that House Majority Leader Jason Osborne would call to ‘turn up the heat’ and tell young Granite States that they ‘have been conscripted into war.’ This is not leadership. Words matter, and dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric like this puts lives at risk.”
“The question every Granite Stater should be asking is this: will Gov. Kelly Ayotte and the Republican leaders denounce Osborne’s extremist words, or will they stand by in silence and endorse them through their inaction,” she added.
Osborne’s call to “turn up the heat” was included in last week’s official House leadership newsletter to the caucus and party supporters, which goes out on Fridays. In it, Osborne writes about Kirk’s murder, adding:
“We mourn his loss, but we must not shrink from the fight. This should not be a partisan political battle. It is the current manifestation of the multi-generational struggle of good versus evil. Western culture was built by vigilantly suppressing such evil, defending liberty, and uplifting truth.”
After noting that the filing period for legislation from the House was beginning the following Monday, Osborne added, “It’s time to turn up the heat. Live free or die.”
Osborne echoed many of the same themes in an op ed for NHJournal last week.
Osborne’s reference to young people being “conscripted into war” comes from a Twitter/X message he posted in response to a news story about people celebrating Kirk’s assassination. Someone had spray painted “KILL ALL CHARLIE KIRKS” on a sign in Seattle, Wash.
“To my 15-year-old son and every young man in America: You are all Charlie Kirk now,” Osborne posted. “You have been conscripted to war.
“It may not be your choice, but is your opportunity. Be like Kirk. Be bold and courageous, be kind and be gracious. Only you can save the Republic. Godspeed.”
Democrats, both locally and nationally, are struggling to find an effective way to talk about the Kirk assassination. The suspect is affiliated with leftwing antifa ideology that is embraced by some extreme parts of the party’s base. And as for offensive political rhetoric, Democrats regularly use the words “fascist” and “Nazi” to describe President Trump and members of his party.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire Democrats have yet to denounce members of their own party who have celebrated Kirk’s murder. In Nashua, longtime Democratic operative Sonia Prince described the assassination as “karma for a white supremacist bigot Charlie Kirk!”
Prince is a diehard advocate for Hillary Clinton. She worked to get write-in votes for Joe Biden, and she was a backer of former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig in the 2024 Democratic gubernatorial primary. She’s perhaps best known for posting attacks on Craig’s opponent Cinde Warmington featuring antisemitic images.
While most Granite State Democrats have avoided doing anything other than offering general condemnations of violence, one exception is U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.). The U.S. Senate candidate was one of just five Democrats who reportedly attended a vigil for Kirk inside the U.S. Capitol Monday.
Meanwhile, Osborne is pushing back on the Democrats’ attack, comparing himself to Kirk.
“Democrats haven’t learned their lesson. Or have they?” he posted.
“Using the exact same M.O. of selective misquotation that resulted in the public execution of a peaceful husband and father, Democrats are now putting that target on my chest.”
Asked about the Democrats’ messaging, Osborne told NHJournal, “The violence and terrorism have gotten out of hand. It is high time for Americans of all persuasions to come together in unity — against the Left.”
