I just read Rep. Mike Moffett’s (R) recent Op-Ed in the New Hampshire Journal regarding New Hampshire’s First in the Nation primary (FITN). I found his article a little disingenuous.
He argued that if the voters made certain choices (Trump), it would disqualify us from being a discerning population, and hence, we would not merit being FITN any longer.
He has already concluded that if Donald Trump wins NH (and he will), our state loses all credibility because we have picked an “unworthy” candidate. He questions Trump’s eligibility based on his age, he unfairly compares him to Joe Biden in terms of mental capacity, and he accuses him of unfounded and untried crimes. Whatever happened to due process?
There is an argument to be made that NH will be reinforcing its long tradition of picking the ultimate winners for their party and that among all of the candidates, Donald J. Trump is the most eligible and most qualified to be President, considering that he held the job for four years previously.
The good representative has been blinded by the slime of a “Swamp” he has chosen to enter. He admits that he has endorsed Nikki Haley and was the first NH representative to do so (I believe the only one at last check). That is fine. She is a good and worthy candidate. So, campaign for her on her own merits. Why tear down the other candidates (Trump) and do the dirty work for the other political party? This will only hurt our party come general election time.
I am frankly tired of these establishment Republicans talking out of both sides of their mouths. On the one hand, they call for party unity and beg us all to refrain from attacking fellow Republicans. Then they turn around and attack the candidate they will be crawling back to on January 24. The denialism that I am witnessing in my party is astonishing. Numbers do not lie unless they come from wishful thinking “Anybody but Trump” factions. The supposed Haley surge in NH is just poll percentages being exchanged between non-Trump candidates; anyone can see that. Trump has a solid 45% republican base in NH and is guaranteed to get that percentage of the vote, if not more.
I do not doubt that Nikki Haley will probably be the number two vote-getter in the NH primary. She will be the only contender to stay in the race for the long run. But, in the end, her only path to being the Republican nominee will be for her to pull a “Ted Cruz.” She will have to argue at the Republican convention that Donald Trump is “unworthy” to be the nominee despite him having won the primary in every state that allowed him on the ballot.
So do not worry, Rep. Moffett. NH FITN’s reputation will not be tainted but solidified as we continue to pick winners and help lesser-known, lesser-qualified candidates make a name for themselves across our Nation.
Jose’ Eduardo Cambrils
NH State Representative
Merrimack County – District 4
Canterbury / Loudon
Finance Committee
NH Commission to Study Offshore Wind and Port Development
