On Tuesday, Ray Buckley, chairman of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, announced his intention to run for chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Buckley has a lengthy resume. He also has a history of creepy and erratic behavior, including exposing himself to associates, ranting about Americans, and even allegations of possession of child pornography. Those allegations were dismissed by the state attorney general’s office after an investigation.
In his announcement, posted on a new Facebook page set up for his campaign, Buckley writes:
To me, the Democratic Party’s message is simple: we firmly stand for the opportunity of every American to achieve the American dream. There should be no walls obstructing anyone’s success, both literally and figuratively. We are a dynamic, diverse party that represents the hopes and aspirations of millions of Americans. Our party must also continue to strive to include every voice and every idea from our grassroots.
I ask that you share with me your ideas – both big and small – for how the DNC can best do its job of helping to elect Democrats. Collectively we can be the change that is needed.
The five-term incumbent as state chairman in New Hampshire is vying in a crowded field to replace Donna Brazile and Debbie Wasserman Schultz for DNC chair. Both women resigned in disgrace this year—Schultz from the DNC and Brazile from CNN.
Buckley has a long list of accomplishments to burnish his reputation as a Democratic operative, including his current position as vice chairman of the DNC, as well as serving as state chairman. He proudly wears the title of the first openly gay politician to serve as president of the Association of State Democratic Chairs and as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. He also sponsored several bills as a state legislator that expanded rights for the LGBT community.
Local bloggers note, however, that Buckley has never held a job outside of politics and never attended college. More importantly, he’s had embarrassing personal scandals and behavior follow him his entire life, most of which have been in the public eye as an official in the New Hampshire Democratic Party.
A former roommate leaked a spliced-together video in which Buckley is shown engaging in some erratic behavior saying, “f**k Americans” and “The Hague? Hitler should have bombed it.” He’s also seen exposing himself in the video. The roommate clearly has an ax to grind, and the production value is less than stellar, but Buckley’s behavior is nonetheless creepy (NSFW LANGUAGE WARNING):
There is more context in this video (AGAIN, NSFW LANGUAGE WARNING):
The videos were posted in 2007 and 2008. The allegations of child pornography soon found their way to then-Attorney General Kelly Ayotte. Her office conducted a two-month investigation that turned up no proof to substantiate the allegations, though the police did note that they were not able to find the computer that was allegedly used.
Joe Kelly Levasseur, a Buckley foe and elected alderman in Manchester (who narrated the spliced-together video) told media outlets that, “I want the rest of the state of New Hampshire to know what Manchester knows … Ray Buckley is a creepy guy.”
Next page: There’s more creepy behavior
The observations of Buckley’s behavior don’t solely originate with one former roommate with an ax to grind, however. Buckley engaged in a Twitter war in 2013 with a Republican state lawmaker, who responded by calling Buckley a pervert.
Buckley’s behavior has veered from erratic to downright creepy. In 2008, he reportedly lied to a Gold Star mom that he had served in Vietnam and had friends who were POW/MIA. Of course, having been born in 1959 and having worked on the Ed Muskie presidential campaign in 1972 at age 12, he’d have been an awfully young draftee. According to an email account of the event by the Gold Star mother,
I turned around and in disgust commented that Carol had just lied. A man in the crowd chanted, “Where’s the proof? Prove it. Prove it!” I pointed to Natalie who was speaking with media and said. “She’s the proof. That’s the Mother who Carol refused to call.” I repeated to the man “Our son’s gave their tomorrows, their futures, so that she could have her today’s and she can’t even return a phone call? That’s disgraceful.
He then told me he had served in Viet Nam and had friends who were POW-MIA. I compassionately touched his arm thanked him for his service and told him I was sorry for his loss. I told him that no matter where you stood on the politics of the War on Terror that a Congressman or Senator out of respect should return a phone call to a Gold Star family member. He stated his disgust for what we were doing in Iraq and said “We’ve all lost things.” THINGS????? My son is not a thing. He was a hero who stood out in the direct line of fire 3 times that day and gave his life for this man and he has the audacity to compare his sacrifice with a thing???? I was livid!!! How dare him.
I could not believe what had just taken place. I knew I was wasting my time and started to walk away when the man I had the confrontation with told me “Your just being used by the campaign.” Oh my goodness again, I can’t believe the antics of this idiot. He obviously doesn’t know that nobody uses me. I turn around and tell him “NOBODY uses me!” You don’t raise a son to be a Navy SEAL by having a character that is used by people. Unbelievable! As I approached the other Blues Star Moms and campaign staff that was there they asked what had just taken place. I retold the confrontation with the condescending, heartless man. They asked me to point him out. I was informed that his name was Ray Buckley and that he was the Chairman of the Democrat Party in NH. I was even more appalled that the man who had disgraced my son and insulted me was a high ranking official in the Democrat Party.
From Stolen Valor to … running his car into protesters? This is from a campaign event for Hillary Clinton this year:
Local bloggers at GraniteGrok detailed this incident in a post here, including a second video of the altercation. It sure sounds as if Buckley is revving his engine for some reason.
Given his history of erratic and creepy behavior, it seems incredible that he’s been elected five times as his state’s Democratic Party chairman. It would be even more incredible if Ray Buckley were to lead the DNC as it tries to rebuild after its crushing defeats in the 2014 and 2016 election cycles.
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