Good:
Charlestown, Massachusetts – Rep. Ed Markey released the following statement today denouncing Tom Steyer’s involvement in the Massachusetts Senate special election:
“As I stated when I first learned about Tom Steyer’s demands on Monday, these kinds of tactics have no place in our political discourse and should be repudiated. Mr. Steyer should immediately withdraw his threats and ultimatum, and stay out of this Senate race. This campaign should be about the people of this state, and I remain committed to giving Massachusetts voters a debate about the issues they care about most”
In case you hadn’t heard, California billionaire-turned-climate activist Tom Steyer had threatened to run attacks on Lynch if he didn’t renounce his support for the Keystone XL pipeline. Lynch responded in an op-ed today, turning the discussion (somewhat properly, I think) to Citizens United.
I appreciate Steyer’s concern, and think Lynch is dead wrong on Keystone; but this clearly violates the spirit of the People’s Pledge to keep outside interests out of the primary. The potential for backlash is considerable, and deserved. Now, if the Rove/Koch/Adelson/Friess carnival shows up in the general, I wouldn’t want to unilaterally disarm, and maybe Steyer could make himself useful, even though an airwave battle of billionaires would be distasteful, and ultimately the opposite of what we need.
Anyway, good on Markey for disavowing the attacks. Steyer should think better of the whole thing, and be more constructive and targeted in his actions.
Discuss
7 Comments . Leave a comment below.Charley, everyone on BMG should be aware of Steyer, I mentioned him in my post below.
http://bluemassgroup.com/2013/03/raise-your-hand-in-favor-of-americas-largest-infrastructure-project-i-have-two-hands-up/
While not a fan of Citizen United, I do believe the SCOTUS decided correctly, they are protected by the 1st Amendment. It is up to the voters to filter the good/bad info spewed by Rove or Steyer.
A member of the .001%. All the same warts on his resume as Mitt. Hasn’t always been such an enthusiastic environmentalist.
In today’s Globe.
At the same time, the Steyer affair has exposed Lynch’s disdain for the progressive wing of the party. His campaign adviser Scott Ferson spoke of “radical environmentalists,” language modified very slightly by Lynch who now refers to a “left-wing environmental faction.”
What this reveals:
Steyer’s tactic backfired.
Lynch is a terrible candidate who more than perhaps any other prominent Democrat in the state cannot unite the different wings of the state party.
Climate activists are fed up with being ignored as we careen toward a climate disaster. If this approach does not work (and it looks as if it does not) they will try others. Essentially, the media and political leaders want environmentalists to limit themselves to the occasional cautious statement and they shut up the rest of the time.
But there are way more effective/constructive ways to do it, particularly in the MA Dem situation with regard to the laudable People’s Pledge. For instance, why not spend that money embarrassing Republicans for their ignorance, — or indeed simply by doing the simplest public education, which the media is not doing?
Lynch’s response:
Enough with this baloney about welcoming Steyer. Crissakes, I even like Lynch better now.
These outside groups have no clue about Massachusetts and what people here do not like. This is an anvil around Markey’s neck. Markey’s job is now to get rid of him. The only thing that Steyer has done is give Lynch cache and free good publicity. The guy was running behind Markey with no momentum whatsoever. He best bet was something happening during a debate. This has clearly benefited Lynch.
are ugly and stupid. He should know better. It is climate change that is radical — we’re trying to preserve what we’ve got. And he defends Lynch by saying that he supports Obama’s energy policy, which is neither here nor there with regard to climate reality as it exists.
Lynch is inadequate on this and many other issues, and he’s not going to win.
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