July 7, 2009
Posted: July 7th, 2009 05:47 PM ET

From

WASHINGTON (CNN) – National Democrats wasted no time in accusing Sarah Palin of abandoning her state after the Alaska governor revealed Friday that she was resigning from office.

Five days later and 4,600 miles away, the New Hampshire Democratic Party chairman is leveling the same charge against New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, who announced Tuesday she would soon leave office to explore a Senate bid in 2010.

New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley's sharp criticism of Ayotte is not surprising – he is trying to discredit, perhaps, the strongest candidate the Republican Party could field in this open seat race next year. But what is interesting is that Buckley compared Ayotte to Palin.

"We're seeing a national trend where Republicans have abandoned their responsibilities to their constituents in favor of political gain," Buckley wrote Tuesday in a fundraising message sent to the state party's e-mail list. "From Alaska to New Hampshire, Republicans just can't seem to honor their commitment to the public. Not unlike Sarah Palin, Kelly Ayotte has broken her promise to the people she represents and put politics before public service."

While Republicans debate what role Palin might have in the party, some Democrats believe that she is a political liability for the GOP. And a top Democratic operative, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that going forward Democrats "won't be shy in tying Sarah Palin to other Republican candidates where it makes sense."

Filed under: New Hampshire • Sarah Palin


jeremy.....Dallas...Texas   July 8th, 2009 9:26 am ET

Greed........greedy republicans at it again. Pure self seeking party. Yes we now know what the party philosophy is.....me first country second. God bless USA.

Demo-Rats!   July 8th, 2009 12:33 am ET

Well of course they are!Why should things now be any different from when they were using her on a daily basis!Liberals like Katie Couric actually get rewarded for helping destroy someone and who does anything about it?Welcome to Obama's america folks!Palin made the right decision for her state and,most importantly,her family!And I think it's time to leave her and her family alone!

gl, Pittsburgh   July 7th, 2009 10:40 pm ET

While Republicans debate what role Palin might have in the party, some Democrats believe that she is a political liability for the GOP. And a top Democratic operative, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that going forward Democrats "won't be shy in tying Sarah Palin to other Republican candidates where it makes sense."

Sara Palin will be dropping out the race after the first ad the Dems put her in becasue she would spend a week just fighting the ad like she did with David Letterman. She thinks she can fight them all and found out she could not and quit her job. She doesn't stand a chance now that she gave up her job becasue now she will spend day of day fighting with anyone that speak ill of her. She was very good at speaking nasty things about President Obama, but can not take her own medine. She have a very shape tongue with a double edge sword.

I am going to tell you why I dislike this lady. She call herelf a Christian, but have a shape tongue that she likes to use against any body to get what she wants. There are so many scripture in the Bible that warn us against using her tongue as a weapon and Sara Palin like using her tongue as a deadly weapon which make her a hypocrite. God would not like her using her tongue and that fashion maybe this is why she is going though what she is going though. God is letting her have her krama before being a hypocrite.

Carole   July 7th, 2009 10:38 pm ET

I am sure it will work. The first time in my life I donated to a Presidential Campaign was two weeks after McCain added her. I was terrified at the mere thoughts of her anywhere near 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Reformed Republican   July 7th, 2009 10:29 pm ET

Your seeing the new GOP election strategy – Quit your current office mid-term using the excuse "I'm doing it for a higher calling" while completely ignoring the fact that they are QUITTERS!
Trouble is the rethuglicants don't seem to understand that politics is not the "higher calling" of the religion they alone chose to be the overiding factor in our laws...

John Wagner   July 7th, 2009 10:22 pm ET

Well either way it should be easy for the opposition to link democrats to destroying the economy. You can't argue with 9.5% unemployment. But then again this is the country that elected Bush, I think we'll see Obama for another term. Should be interesting to see if he can get us to depression status. I just enjoy all of the bogus articles saying that the recession is starting to leave. Ha, it's just coming in.

Mark   July 7th, 2009 10:16 pm ET

Based on that logic. you better blame Janet Napolitano for quiting her job as Governor of Arizona to become Homeland Secretary.

Jesus Juice   July 7th, 2009 10:09 pm ET

All you gotta do is tell one joke about Republicans, and they up and give up cause they can't take it.

Now, THAT's funny!!!!

Sandra Day   July 7th, 2009 10:02 pm ET

What is it with these women abandoning their posts? What a bad example for women everywhere!

The Weatherman   July 7th, 2009 9:53 pm ET

Sure, she can stay in office and get paid to campaign for different job while not doing the current job. The other option is to be honest and do the right thing. Democrats do not understand how to do anything at their own cost. They work for taxpayers so they can suck the blood of taxpayers.

The Closet Republican   July 7th, 2009 9:45 pm ET

The real news is that Ayotte PROMISED that she would serve her FULL TERM when appointed.

She broke that promise.

What else is new?

Shawn - GA   July 7th, 2009 9:43 pm ET

WAY too soon, you have no idea what she has planned (Palin) She may have some huge good tings up her sleeve and then this will backfire on you.

Good comparison.....   July 7th, 2009 9:16 pm ET

Sarah Palin will be in the White House in 2012.....

Obama's numbers are sinking like a stone as he shows no ability to fix the economy, stem unemployment, or curb foreclosures....

Further he is bankrupting the country with his out of control spending...

Further he has no credibility with Iran, N. Korea, China, or even Honduras.....

Tell me again why we need Obama????

evman   July 7th, 2009 9:16 pm ET

I had no idea how low the Republican ship could sink !!! VERY LOW !!!

got to be a scare tactic   July 7th, 2009 9:10 pm ET

or humour, she is pretty funny

but most likely it is: she will be elected if you do nothing

do you want that?

that will scare action out of the dems

everthing old is newt again   July 7th, 2009 9:05 pm ET

didn't you get the memo? quitting = victory

ComradeObummer   July 7th, 2009 8:59 pm ET

DUMOcrats raising money.

I'm laughing at all these DUMOCRATS who are going to pay for all of Obummers new fees and taxes.

I, for one, have decided to cheat on my taxes.

I've got a great idea. Since DUMOcrats love to tax and spend, let's pass a new tax bill where DEMOCRATS pay more in taxes.

Bill   July 7th, 2009 8:55 pm ET

Couldn't they fine someone better?

AlwaysThinking   July 7th, 2009 8:54 pm ET

Got get 'em! And don't let up. The woman's a quitter, through and through.

I will be sooooooo happy when her 15 minutes of fame are over ...

FEMALES FOR FEMALES   July 7th, 2009 8:44 pm ET

She can't govern for all the harrassment from idiots like the Democrats, AAs and low mentality talk show hosts who dream of being funny.

indy   July 7th, 2009 8:11 pm ET

I have more respect for someone who offers to leave their current elected office if they want to pursue another one than someone who stays because it's easy. Why should taxpayers be paying their salary for a job they are obviously not doing? Aren't they saving people money? Maybe someone should counter the abandonment idea with the image of someone being responsible for a change. How much work for the state of Illinois did now President Obama accomplish while campaigning as the Senator of that state?

Lon, Richland, Wa   July 7th, 2009 8:11 pm ET

I find it amusing and an oxymoron that Democrats are accusing Republicans of abandoning their responsibilities to their constituents in favor of political gain.
i guess there are no mirrors on the democrat side of the aisle!!

joel palmer   July 7th, 2009 8:08 pm ET

In the Alice in Wonderland world of GOP politics, Quitting is NOT quitting; staying on and finishing is quitting!

Leaving mid term is "fighting on" (albeit from someplace else). A retreat is an "advance in another direction" and should not be confused with "cut and run"

What color is the sky in your world Sarah?

mw   July 7th, 2009 7:58 pm ET

If Palin is strongest GOP candidate, Dems are in good shape

Where's Sarah? AL -ASK- A   July 7th, 2009 7:43 pm ET

Good for New Hampshire. The GOPers apparently don't mind climbing over people to get ahead.

Royster   July 7th, 2009 7:39 pm ET

It seems recently that Republicans are trying to change or leave their political offices as fast as they are trying to leave or change their martial partners! Ensign, Sanford, Palin, and now Ayotte.

The "Moral" Party is morally bankrupt.

Nick - Kentucky   July 7th, 2009 7:33 pm ET

It might work in teh northeast but I would wager in the south and in the plains those words will be reversed on democrat canidates. It will be very hardto keep rural seats when you continue down the policy paths the dems have been pushing. But only time will tell.

owl   July 7th, 2009 7:19 pm ET

If Kelly Ayotte is the strongest candidate NH republicans can get, they're in more trouble than I thought. Combine her with their candidate for Congress in the 1st District, a man who ran from a bar fight when someone was badly hurt, and they're a sorry lot.

Brandon V in DFW   July 7th, 2009 7:19 pm ET

As a democrat this guy needs to cool his heels.

See it is one thing to announce your stepping down from one office to seek another office. That happens all the time. It sometimes is required to avoid ethics issues.

But it is something different to step down because you just don't want to do the job anymore. Or just because you don't want to be a lame duck, i.e. Sara Palin.

If Palin had announced she was seeking another office, I would feel some compassion for her. But she didn't, she just said she didn't want to be a lame duck or finish the job. Not the same.

nom deplume   July 7th, 2009 7:16 pm ET

When a democrat resigns to run for higher office, they call it principled.
When a republican does it, they call it quitting.
I wish I were back there to stuff Buckley in a box and mail him back to Cambrige.

GI Joe   July 7th, 2009 7:11 pm ET

Don't forget that she incited hate, fear, division and had some of her crowds yelling "KILL HIM".

She needs to go away and shut up. There's enough hate without her stirring up even more. But then, that's what that type of irresponsible women are good at (apologies to women everywhere that are NOT hate-mongers).

bozo the obama   July 7th, 2009 7:11 pm ET

the New Hampshire democratic party is starting to get scared stiff and this is just the start of things to come.

johnnie   July 7th, 2009 7:11 pm ET

the gop are the ones to make palin resign , because they are weak. steele cant do it ,and are very desperate.they cant out raise president obama. the gop is pathetic using palin again,like john mccain did

phoenix86   July 7th, 2009 7:03 pm ET

So New Hampshire dems wantsto use a governor in Alaska to help hide their fiscal disaster from New Hampshire voters. Can NH be so stupid?

Gerry   July 7th, 2009 6:48 pm ET

I wish our politicians in NH would abandon New Hampshire

makesUwonder   July 7th, 2009 6:48 pm ET

The leaches are at it again. Wonder how long it will be before they start attacking her family again.

Mark C. Eades   July 7th, 2009 6:48 pm ET

...And the more, the better. I hope Democrats across the country follow Ray Buckley's example. Pull no punches, take no prisoners. Republicans were hardly nice to us when they had the upper hand; we have no reason to be the least bit nice to them now. Above all, keep them in the minority and out of the White House until Hell freezes over.

republicans hate america   July 7th, 2009 6:43 pm ET

GOP cut and run

Too True For You   July 7th, 2009 6:41 pm ET

:...Republicans have abandoned their responsibilities to their constituents in favor of political gain...From Alaska to New Hampshire, Republicans just can't seem to honor their commitment to the public."

Truer words were never spoken.

Randi   July 7th, 2009 6:40 pm ET

Sarah's analogy to basketball shows how out of it she is. She still thinks of herself as a player on the team, passing the ball. But she is supposed to be in the role of leader, coach, by analogy. She is supposed to be showing everyone how it is done and leading by devising acts in the best interests of the state, not passing the "buck" when the heat sets in or because she views herself as unable to accomplish anything since she won't run again. When you think about the time lost traveling to campaign for VP and with one and one half years left, she hasn't actually lead her "team" through an entire season. Good luck applying for your next job. Call it what ever you want, but if it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck, it's a duck. You are a quitter.

Bill, Bloominton IL   July 7th, 2009 6:40 pm ET

be a democrat. Campaign for an office while not doing your current job that you were elected to do. It figures the GOP would have to step up on this issue. But democrats have always been about wasting taxpayer money.

dentri   July 7th, 2009 6:31 pm ET

COMunism is coming to America..Government,,,,Check Chavez,Castro.Hussein Obama praising Saudi...Sarah Palin agree or not she is a True American happend to be from Republican PArty.They destroy her ,Dispicable...But this is what AMerica Deserve.A comunism PArty...Big Governmet.Im not saying Republicans are better but They are far more better than This Comunist party ....OBamina...change .I don't have any change in my pocket under this Obamania.....America we pray for you and hope those in power to see the light..

Bill, Bloominton IL   July 7th, 2009 6:31 pm ET

kind of like Obama did to Illinois. We elected Obama to represent us and for the last two years he did nothing for our state except tour the country campaigning for president on Illinois's dime.

Brian G, Sugar Land, TX   July 7th, 2009 6:28 pm ET

Okay, now the Democrats are being as nasty as the Republicans.
I say we ship both groups off to the moon. Or perhaps the 7th planet.

Neither deserves a place on this good Earth.

Dennis   July 7th, 2009 6:22 pm ET

Before long tieing Democrats to Obama will be detrimental to their chances.

David   July 7th, 2009 6:11 pm ET

Why would anyone hire someone for a higher position, when they failed to meet the obligations of their previous position and quit? Their actions show that they cannot be trusted.

In the real world, those people are considered 'ineligible for rehire'.

Former Republican   July 7th, 2009 6:09 pm ET

If you like Palin you will love Ayotte.
So Ayotte has no prior experience in elective office?
I guess the U.S. Senate is an entry-level position in politics if you are blinded by ambition and have the right connections and super-wealthy supporters.
Will Ayotte ask Palin to campaign for her??? You betcha.

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