O'Brien to Co-Host Weekly TV Show with Dem Gidge

Starting Thursday, State Rep. Bill O'Brien, R-Mont Vernon, will join State Rep. Ken Gidge, D-Nashua, as co-host for "Art of Politics," on Access Nashua community TV.

The concept is a simple one – two NH State Reps – one leaning left, one leaning right – who come together each week to talk about the issues with guests from one side of the aisle or another.

O'Brien will be taking over where State Rep. Dave Robbins, R-Nashua, left off. Robbins decided to give up the TV gig after losing his seat in the last election, says Gidge.

"If any Democrat were to choose anyone to be the opposite of them in New Hampshire, it would have to be Bill O'Brien. That's why I asked him to do the show. He is comfortable with me, and so we're going to give it a try," said Gidge.

O'Brien said he's hoping to have a provocative yet productive conversation about New Hampshire politics, week after week.

"The hope is to be able to attract a good cross-section of folks who are involved in politics – and outside of politics – and to interview them, with Ken. I appeared on the show a couple of times and thought it was refreshing, that there was a willingness  to bring people in and talk about views based on politics rather than personalities," O'Brien said.

The collaboration between Gidge and O'Brien is so new they haven't had a chance to book guests yet, so Thursday's launch will be just the two of them.

"Anyone who wants to come on can contact Ken or me. One thought I had was doing a show with both a Democrat and Republican from the State House who voted against their party on central issues. Part of the theme is to open up discussion so we're all talking to one another," O'Brien said.

"People have a desire to step back from the entertainment of a verbal train wreck and get to the point of having a politician say, 'I respect where you're coming from. Can we meet in the middle?' We're going to try to get past the name calling and demonization and get to the point where we are trying to do the right thing for the people of New Hampshire, see what commonality there is there," O'Brien said. "And of course, we'll need to have a good sense of humor."

Gidge said he expects it to be a bit of a hard sell to his fellow Democrats, off the bat. But he's also hoping that over time, representatives from both parties will want the chance to participate in some lively political discourse.

"Bill O'Brien is sharp. He's a razor, not a butter knife. He's a very intelligent man and knows how to speak and react, and knows his facts and has the numbers. It puts me at an enormous disadvantage.  I am not 50 percent as intelligent as he is, so it will be a balancing act for me. I hope he has mercy on me. I hope I can get some other Democrats on the show to help," Gidge said.

Gidge and O'Brien are actively seeking guests from within politics, business or private citizens with a political bent to join them. Contact Technical Director Richard Gagnon accessnashua@gmail.com 603-345-4004 to be on the show.