Good morning Blue Mass Group!
It is my privilege to serve as the Democratic nominee for Congress in Massachusetts’ 6th district. I look forward to working with you to keep this seat blue in November, and I’d like to kick it off by answering your questions! I’ll be online from 9:30 to 10:30; if you’d like to post some questions in advance just leave them in the comments! Long-time reader, first time poster,
– Seth
Please share widely!
First of all, thanks for engaging with BMG. And congratulations on the impressive victory.
You have spoken of working with Republicans. Can you name some specific issues where you think we should work with Republicans, and how you will get them to agree?
Seth-
Thanks for coming to BMG. One of the topics that clearly separates R and D is the subject of what to do with the people in this country illegally. Do you support amnesty and citizenship for everyone, pending background checks?
On a note closer to home and to get a sense of your feelings on this topic, do you support driver’s licenses and in-state tuition for those undocumented people here in MA?
Not to steal Seth’s thunder on this. But I totally reject your premise…immigration clearly separates R from Rs and not R and Ds.
and when an R talks about it typically there are qualifiers. Please go back to RMG, this is for Seth to answer.
…a conservative Republican telling me, a liberal Democrat, to go over to Redmassgroup. BTW, Seth did answer your question. I just wanted to point out your flawed assumption that there is a split on immigration solutions between Democrats and Republicans. That is not true. The split is between Republicans and Republicans. And polling data clearly indicates that all Americans support immigration reform that is closer to the bipartisan solution passed by the Senate and stopped cold by the GOP in the House.
If that’s not true I apologize but I’m pretty sure it is. You almost never post here.
I disagree with your analysis of the US public’s view on immigration. This is one of those issues that when polling depends on how you ask the question.
…yes my RMG volume does outpace by BMG volume.
But I can’t help myself when I see a question unfairly framed as a D vs R thing, when it clearly a choice between a bipartisan solution the Senate offers and the simple “no” the GOP House offers.
and you were a Buttinski. You’re not the official judge of the quality of the questions and you should have refrained.
I support a path to citizenship, but not absolute amnesty. I support driver”s licenses for undocumented immigrants as a public safety measure. I also support in-state tuition for undocumented children, because the best way to lift anyone out of poverty, regardless of how they came to the US or what their legal status is, is to give them access to a quality education.
Thanks, Seth, for coming on BMG and engaging with the community. You’re welcome back any time.
Thanks Jim! If I were in Congress today, the first issue I would address would be fixing the VA. This should be a non-partisan issue, and it’s the least we can do for our veterans. It’s also an issue where I would have instant credibility even as a freshman in the minority party.
Immigration reform is another. As you know, I support comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship. But I also think it’s worth spending money on border security, which is something Republicans stress, in to get bipartisan support for the comprehensive immigration reform Democrats want and America needs.
Working across the aisle doesn’t mean compromising our Democratic values. But it does mean we need to be willing to look for common ground where possible.
Another area for potential cooperation is common sense gun reform. 96% of Americans support background checks, but Congress hasn’t been able to get it done. A big part of this is that many Republican Members of Congress are too afraid of the NRA to stand up for their constituents, but when this many Americans support something we simply have to figure out a way to get it done, and as long as we are in the minority in the House we will need at least a few Republicans to do it.
Locally, two examples come to mind. I talk a lot about the need for focused economic development in Lynn. Lynn has a Republican mayor, but that doesn’t mean we have to fight each other to make a difference for the community. I look forward to working with Mayor Kennedy to revitalize the city of Lynn.
There is also an opportunity to work together on reforming NOAA. Fundamentally, our fishermen want to fish. Republicans are always looking for opportunities to reduce regulations, and this is one place where I happen to agree with them. A sustainable fishery requires regulations, but the current regulatory environment is unsustainable for fishermen.
And I want to eat fish. But there have to be fish in the ocean to catch fish. Given that the northeast administrator of NOAA fisheries is a former New Bedford Mayor and is presumably sensitive to the economic effects of limits, how can we square that circle?
I’m concerned that telling fisherman what they want to hear *now* will decimate the fishing industry for future generations. I don’t see any way out of that. Tell me how that’s wrong.
At the end of the day, both the fishermen and the environmentalists want a sustainable fishery. The question is whether the current regulations and governance structure actually achieve that. I don’t think they do, and I look forward to working on behalf of the fisherman to improve it.
The science supporting the limits on the fishing industry is compelling.
There are scientific exchanges (and research) about whether the fishery is already dead or just comatose, but there is simply no way that the fishing industry can continue in anything like its current form.
This is most certainly NOT an area where reducing regulations is the correct answer. If more research is needed, then we should fund that research. In my view, ANY changes to the regulatory environment should come after, rather than before, that research, and must be consistent with it.
The science must come first, and the politics after that.
Without mentioning your sister, how do you really feel about labor unions?
I’ll mention my sister when I want to, thank you! She’s is living this every day, so I often turn to her for advice in the same way that I turn to my brother, a reporter, for advice on reporters. With regard to unions, I support the labor movement and its struggle to advance the rights of working people all across this country. Labor has played a critically important role in the growth of this country and it will play a critically important role in its future. In fact, I’m on my way to the AFL-CIO COPE Convention as I’m typing this.
Seth – the GOP in Congress seems dead-set on denial of climate change, and even when they don’t deny it’s happening they refuse to act. How do you intend to work across the aisle to get action on this? Do you take this denial at face value, or does it have more to do with tribal/cultural loyalties than actual factual disagreement? How does one deal with that?
There is no factual disagreement. And I say this as someone with a degree in physics and who has studied science for my entire life. Climate change is real. And I think it’s important to have someone who can speak to the science in Congress. The way to get Republicans onboard, however, is to put this in personal, human terms. We shouldn’t just talk about the ozone layer; we should talk about what smog does to cause asthma for our kids, and what pollution does to our businesses and the economy. It’s important to find ways to put our beliefs into language that is meaningful to them.
I’m also hopeful that younger Republicans will be more receptive, as they will have to live longer with the consequences of inaction.
“There is no factual disagreement.”
It doesn’t sound as though you’re paying attention to people like Senator James Inhofe. The meme that “Climate change is a hoax” is a core tenet of GOP dogma in both houses.
Humanization of the consequences may change the constituencies of GOP representatives, but attempting to change the opinion (and votes) of sitting GOP representatives is a lost cause.
President Obama wasted enormous political capital and gave away significant and needed aspects of US policy in his ill-advised and hopelessly naive desire to somehow sway GOP votes. He was rewarded with a long and uninterrupted sequence of rabidly partisan congressional responses. This was especially true for health care, war crime investigations, and of course climate change.
I think Massachusetts needs a congressional delegation that is unanimously, aggressively and courageously pursuing rational and science-based policy on climate change. The time for attempting to change the votes of sitting GOP representatives is long past.
…that the facts are beyond dispute to anybody who believes in starting with facts as the premise of any argument. Inhofe can bloviate all he wants, but that doesn’t actually change the facts.
Amnesty yes or no?
Also I want your answer on the driver’s licenses and in-state tuition because that will give me an idea of where you stand.
is the lamest non-answer. That could mean anything.
nt
Just wondering on that one.
Congressman Tierney fought for progressive values and working families for 18 years, and I would welcome his support in our fight to keep this seat blue.
How would you have gone about the redevelopment process at the Salem power plant site? Do you support the residual natural gas plant that is proposed or should a design with a smaller ecological footprint and greater local input be favored?
John Tierney had a significant amount of seniority, the kind of clout to get the President to make Salem harbor a national historic site in an executive order and a close relationship with Minority Leader Pelosi? While a fresh perspective and approach is always appreciated, as is outside experience, what kind of experience has shaped your approach to dealing with a divided chamber such as this and a leadership system that may be hostile to your relative youth and inexperience in the legislative arena?
Lastly, on civil liberties and foreign policy. Having grown up in a majority white community, one that has had it’s own history of racist policing in the past, how do you empathize with the minority communities, particularly Latinos in Salem and Lynn, that feel they are under the microscope of harsh policing tactics and what will you do to protect their civil liberties and civil rights? On the question of ISIS, should the President have to come back to Congress for another authorization or the action discussed covered by the 9/14/01 AUMF? Are we addressing the problem of instability in the entire region with a long term strategy or fumbling around with short sighted tactical approaches?
Thank you for coming here!
1. As a general rule, I support moving from coal to natural gas. Getting to solar would be even better. While it is important for the city of Salem to have the tax revenue from the plant, natural gas plants do not need to be on the water. I would support local efforts to relocate the plant elsewhere in Salem so we can make better use of our beautiful waterfront.
Are the beheadings of two American journalists sufficient reason to get drawn into another Iraq war?
To the horrific and tragic deaths of those brave men, and the anguish or their families … Is what Nelson says even close to true? Shall we let a few thugs bait us into another war? What are we willing to do and not do?
The beheadings are atrocious and demand a response. But we must, must ensure that we do not get into another ground war in Iraq.
It seems we have learned absolutely NOTHING from the horrific aftermath of our similarly wrong-headed responses to AQ and 9/11. Osama bin Laden played us like puppets on a string, and ISIS/ISIL is doing the same thing now.
The current rush to war is a delusional, suicidal, and completely wrong-headed response to those atrocities. A military response only worsens the situation — such a response is precisely WHY the videos were published.
A better response is for the world, led by the US, to say “Civilized people do not commit atrocities like this” — and then work to find a way to co-opt this movement as effectively as we have co-opted so many of our own homegrown “revolutions”. We are watching the middle east reject the partitioning imposed by western colonial occupiers and perpetuated by us in the service of affordable petroleum.
In my view, the most urgent immediate demand we should be making is for RESTRAINT.
2. These are very similar challenges to the one I faced in the Marines, especially the challenges of working as a junior officer reporting directly to the top commander in Iraq. Managing relationships with everyone between the rank of Captain and Four Star General was a big challenge, but I figured out a way to do it. Building relationships in Washington will give me the some of the important tools needed to better serve our district.
3. The situation in Ferguson last month is the clearest example of the huge problems a militarized police force present to our communities. We should not be providing military-grade equipment to civilian police, especially if they are not properly trained.
I’m not sure what the exact current boundaries are, but there is already Salem Maritime National Historic Site.
The executive order designated Salem as the birthplace of the national guard, and set aside some funding to promote that fact. Either way, Tierney asked for it from the President and got it, and my question was about how Seth planned to deliver for the district and build that trust and access, in spite of a bitter primary. I think he answered it decently.
Do you view the ACA as a net positive for you in your race vs Tisei? You make reference to a vague dissatisfaction with the law, but how is that specifically being felt in the district? How would you improve it?
Medicare’s finances are vastly improving? Isn’t this a success story rather than something one has to apologize for?
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/upshot/medicare-not-such-a-budget-buster-anymore.html?referrer=
The House is difubctional. Can you name three house republicans that you think you can reach across the aisle to?
yikes…spelling. Tried to get this up quick.
The House is difubctional. No apology necessary. #bqhatevr
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard recently founded the Future Caucus with Congressman Aaron Schock and several other young Members of Congress. There are plenty of issues where I disagree with Congressman Schock, but I think he would be a good place to start.
Thank you, BMG! This was a great conversation, and I look forward to doing it again soon. Please always feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. I also hope you will get involved with the campaign as we work to keep this seat blue and send another progressive voice to Congress. http://www.sethmoulton.com/volunteer
And best of luck on the trail.
I appreciate your answers, particularly your clear answer against militarized policing, on the Salem power redevelopment, and your clear stance in favor of unions.
“Keep this seat blue and send another progressive voice to Congress.” SETH MOULTON confirming his liberal convictions on Blue Mass Group 9/15/14.
As a longtime supporter of Congressman John Tierney no one was more critical of Seth Moulton or more skeptical of his political colors than I was. And I told him so at the recent Democratic Unity Breakfast.
But I take the man at his word and now pledge to him my full support to defeat the status quo, conservative Republican Richard Tisei.
I call on all moderate and progressive Independents, Republicans and Democrats to rally to his cause of positive change to move our state and nation forward on November 4.
Strength and Honor,
Fred Rich LaRiccia