Mitt Romney said a New Hampshire police commissioner who admittedly used the N-word in reference to President Obama ought to resign and say he’s sorry.
“The vile epithet used and confirmed by the commissioner has no place in our community,” Mr. Romney said in a statement to CNN. “He should apologize and resign.”
The police commissioner, Robert Copeland, 82, serves in Wolfeboro, where Mr. Romney and his family have a home.
Last week, Mr. Copeland stood defiant over his use of the term and refused to apologize during a town meeting.
He had previously confirmed in an email to other police commissioners that he used the epithet in reference to Mr. Obama earlier this year. His confirmation came after a Wolfeboro resident complained about Mr. Copeland’s use of the word in March to the town manager. She said in her complaint that she overheard Mr. Copeland speaking loudly at a local restaurant, Politico reported.
In his email to fellow commissioners, Mr. Copeland wrote, Politico reported: “I believe I did use the ’N’ word in reference to the current occupant of the White [House]. For this, I do not apologize — he meets and exceeds my criteria for such.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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