This isn’t totally unexpected — at least not by those who are plugged in, but it is very welcome indeed. The single most compelling communicator in the Democratic Party today, freshman phenom Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has endorsed Ed Markey:
My brain practically melted when I read this poll that said that more people consider Joe Kennedy “progressive” than Markey. Well, I think that word has to mean something. It has to mean looking out for the interests of the broad public, not those who can afford lobbyists. It means putting in the work, knowing enough about the details to counteract those armies of lobbyists. It means perspicacity — seeing major issues coming down the pike.
I don’t know how else to say it. Markey has been a model progressive. I suppose it’s on him that he hasn’t communicated that with the MA public; but given how our political media works, it doesn’t surprise me one bit that someone who does the grit work and sweats the details wouldn’t garner the most glamorous headlines. I’ve said it before: He’s the Little Red Hen of Congress.
This is your guy, progressives. Take it from AOC. Take it from Elizabeth Warren. Take it from the Sunrise Movement. Take it, if you must, from me. I endorse him not just because of his record, but because he will continue to prove his immense value in a post-Trump world.
Watch the polls. He’s going to rise.
pogo says
I am stunned at the view that AOC is a compelling communicator (something I know many on the left take as an assumed truth). She literally gave the right incredibly powerful talking points against the Green New Deal when, as she and Markey were announcing the aspirational vision that makes up the GND, her staff was uploading talking points that quite literally was calling for the end of the meat industry, either rehabbing or destroying every building and house in the US and other completely radical solutions. Sure, you can call it a mistake (which she did) but it was a mistake that will forever haunt those advocating for aggressive actions.
Yet when the rookie made this, well rookie mistake, she wasn’t benched, she was lauded and defended. Wow, everybody really does get a medal in this silly world of ours. This is my way of saying many on the left are completely tone deaf and think their sh*t don’t smell. I mean, how else could you explain how someone commits an act of political stupidity and gets praised for it.
As for your brain melting about the polling results regarding how people PERCEIVE Ed Markey? Well, you obviously perceive him differently from respondents to this and several other polls that suggest that Ed Markey has not been adequately representing his constituents. You are in a minority opinion, according to these polls. And your reaction to people who as dissatisfied with Markey…that we are people that are captured by lobbyist. LOL. This coming from someone who cited industry lobbyists like Goggle and Facebook who praised Markey for his efforts to protect personal data. By that measure, it is you that is a puppet of lobbyist and their mouth piece, Ed Markey. (And if I knew how to search–or even find–my old comments, I’d supply the link to our exchange when it was made.)
I remember when BlueMassGroup held the powerful accountable and didn’t act like a lapdog for them.
jconway says
I would argue this endorsement is a shrewd move on her part since it shows her critics within the party that she is willing to go to bat for her allies in the establishment when they back her on policy. It makes it less likely she or the so called squad go rogue in the future, or if they do, more likely that other establishment figures like Markey rally to their cause. This alliance is the smartest thing he’s done as a Senator and she’s done as a Congresswoman.
SomervilleTom says
I think we’re going to have to explicitly address the ageism in this campaign season.
There are too many voters and too many media pundits using dog-whistles like “generational change” and “new guard” when what they really mean is “too old”.
Ed Markey is 73. Joe Kennedy III is 38. Those are the facts.
I think we need to start calling out those who cite those facts as if they, in themselves, are a reason to choose Mr. Kennedy over Mr. Markey in the primary.
drikeo says
I’m pretty ageist when it comes to elections. Really, more of a generationalist. I’m not keen on voting for Baby Boomers. I think there are legitimate reasons to want to turn our government over to a younger, hopefully better generation. That said, Markey’s cleared the bar for me. He’s a mensch. Add in that JK3 has left me singularly unimpressed as my congressman, and it overrides my instinct to vote for the younger candidate.
If Kennedy follows through with this run for the Senate, I suspect we’re going to be having many conversations about the overconfidence of mediocre white guys.
Trickle up says
This boomer is quite ready to pass the torch, and in fact I blame my generation for many things. But not to pass the torch to anyone, and not from anyone either.
SomervilleTom says
The point is that “younger” is not necessarily “better”. “New” is not necessarily “improved”, no matter what the advertiser says.
I’m happy to pass the torch as well — to candidates who show they are better than their competitors.
SomervilleTom says
Our own newly-elected Tommy Vitolo is an example of someone who is both younger AND better. Tommy doesn’t need to wait in anybody’s line in my book.
I have no difficulty passing the torch to younger officials like Tommy. I also can’t imagine him saying “Vote for me because I’m younger”.
Trickle up says
Markey does not have to convince progressives that he is their guy. His challenge is with other parts of the electorate who are frankly less engaged or uncomfortable with the progressive agenda.
It is always harder for the workhorse to market him or herself. Frankly I still like his chances; the guy is a plugger.
AmberPaw says
Markey is someone I trust, and there is real value to experience. He has never forgotten where he came from. I saw him at a friend’s funeral. No entourage. No fancy cars. Just kindness and a man who has not forgotten those he grew up with. A candidate is not inherently better because they are younger, nor because they are an incumbent. Markey is better because he is the mature, compassionate, experienced, hard working public servant whom I have observed for years, starting with that desk in the hall way for not being in lockstep with a speaker on Beacon Hill [and Beacon Hill has sadly, not gotten any better but that is another issue as to the way Beacon Hill political culture stayed in the 1600s]
jconway says
Drew Magary is a fantastic humor columnist for Deadspin who now also writes about politics for a new lefty site called GEN that’s a bit more irreverent than Vox or TNR.
Anyway, his takedown of Joe Kennedy is funny, readable, and gets into the anti-dynasty narrative Markey would do well to weave into his own.
Any millennial who doesn’t know who Ed Markey is could read this and watch the AOC endorsement and tie it together against Kennedy. This is a very convincing article and a lot more persuasive than the “only a moron would think Kennedy is more progressive” and “stupid millennials” takes I’ve seen on this site.
Trickle up says
By the way, the Globe did not report that people found Kennedy more “progressive” than Markey.
I continue to insist that this is a distinction with a difference, though I’ll admit not everyone polled might feel that way.
In any case I checked the actual wording of the question that Suffolk asked:
I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I’m glad the commies were thrown out
Of the AFL CIO board
And I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
As long as they don’t move next door
So love me, love me love, me, I’m a liberal