For Immediate Release
August 1, 2008
David Scannell
(603) 836.0930
 

Buckley: McCain Abandons New Hampshire
NH Dem Chair Calls GOP Delegate Decision 'Slap in Face'

Statement from New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley on the decision of the Republican National Committee to cut New Hampshire GOP delegation's voting power in half.
 
"Yesterday we learned that John McCain has broken his pledge to New Hampshire and its first in the nation primary.  Back on March 13, according to the Union Leader, McCain said he disagreed with the Republican National Committee's decision last year to punish New Hampshire, Michigan, Florida and South Carolina Republicans for holding primaries prior to the Feb. 5 date allowed by an RNC rule.
 
"The RNC cut those states' convention delegations in half, but McCain said, 'I want them seated...They were driven by circumstances beyond their control, in that all the other states were moving their primaries earlier. I will do everything I can to seat those delegates.'
 
"We now learn that McCain is playing word games, claiming that he is living up to his promise by giving chairs, but not votes, to all the members of the New Hampshire delegation, while allowing only half the members to be real voting delegates in St. Paul.
 
"This is a slap in the face to all New Hampshire voters.  Never before has a nominee of either party demonstrated such disrespect for New Hampshire and its voters.
 
"McCain's promises are proving to be empty.  On October 23, 2007, he told the Union Leader,  'I understand the value and purpose of the primary and realize the influence candidates can wield to ensure it is respected and maintained.' He said he will do 'everything in my power to protect New Hampshire's unique and traditional first-in-the-nation primary, and I call on all candidates to use their influence to do the same.'
 
 "This so called 'compromise'  is a sham and flip-flop.  If McCain can't be trusted on something as simple as giving all of New Hampshire's delegates full voting rights, how can we trust him on
anything else?   What is McCain's next flip flop? What will be his next broken promise? Fortunately, it appears that New Hampshire has already wised up to McCain's plan to impose a third Bush term.
 
"It also is shocking that John Sununu is so passively allowing McCain to break his promise to support our primary.  Sununu should demand that McCain keep his word and give full delegate rights to New Hampshire at the convention. Anything less is unacceptable to the people of New Hampshire."