Story highlights The former Maryland governor and 2016 candidate has made a point to repeatedly call for more debates

O'Malley later flatly answered "yes" when asked whether the debate schedule outlined by the DNC is aimed at helping Hillary Clinton

Minneapolis (CNN) Martin O'Malley is unhappy with the number of presidential debates the Democratic National Committee has organized.

And on Friday, he made the point directly to the very party officials who made the decision, using most of his speech at the committee's summer meeting here to not only question the number of debates, but to question his party as a whole.

"Think about it. The Republicans stand before the nation, they malign our President's record of achievements, they denigrate women and immigrant families, they double down on trickle-down, and tell their false story," O'Malley said. "And we respond with crickets, tumbleweeds and a cynical move to delay and limit our own party debates."

O'Malley added, "Is this how the Democratic Party selects its nominee, or are we becoming something else, something less?"

The former Maryland governor and 2016 candidate has made a point to repeatedly call for more debates ever since the DNC announced earlier this year that there would be six sanctioned debates on its side. O'Malley -- who is receiving 2% of Democratic support in the most recent CNN/ORC poll -- has charged that the DNC is "circling the wagons" around Hillary Clinton, the party's front-runner.

Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career Former Democratic Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley addresses the 2015 International Association of Fire Fighters on March 10. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley has not been shy about potentially running in 2016, saying about potential competitors Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton that the presidency is not a "crown" to be passed through families. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career In some early 2016 polling, O'Malley is pulling single-digit numbers. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks during the 2015 Alfred K. Whitehead Legislative Conference and Presidential Forum on March 10. Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks at a Democratic fundraiser at Gibson's Bookstore and True Brew Cafe on March 6 in Concord, New Hampshire. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks during a ceremony commemorating the bicentennial of the writing of The Star-Spangled Banner at Fort McHenry National Historic Park on September 13, 2014. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley delivers remarks before Barack Obama takes the stage at a Costco store January 29, 2014 in Lanham, Maryland. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley addresses a conference commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Center for American Progress on October 24, 2013. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley speaks during the National Clean Energy Summit 6.0 on August 13, 2013 in Las Vegas. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley and his wife Katie O'Malley arrive for a State Dinner in honor of British Prime Minister David Cameron at the White House on March 14, 2012. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Moments from Martin O'Malley's career O'Malley campaigns for reelection on October 27, 2010, in Frederick, Maryland. Hide Caption 11 of 11

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