I am Congressman Jim McGovern, longtime reader, first time poster at BMG. This is an incredible forum Im impressed!
On the eve of this very important primary election, I want to share a few thoughts.
As many of you know, I was the first Congressman to endorse Deval Patrick for Governor in the Spring of 2005. I have poured my heart and soul into that campaign. While taking nothing for granted, I am optimistic that Deval will prevail in tomorrows election and will change the way we do politics in Massachusetts for the better.
But tomorrows election is just the beginning. We must ensure a victory in November and we can do that by giving our Democratic nominee for Governor the strongest running mate possible. I have no doubt that Tim Murray is that candidate.
I want to win! Im sick and tired of Mitt Romney and Kerry Healey. Im sick and tired of the Republican agenda. Im sick and tired of being sick and tired!
And being from Central Massachusetts, Im sick and tired of ceding the region to the GOP. Four years ago Shannon OBrien a great candidatelost every single city and town from 495 to Springfield with the exception of Worcester. If we are going to win in November, that cannot happen again!
Tim Murray will change that. He will provide long-overdue geographic balance.
In addition, he has earned the support of mayors and local officials across the state. They are frustrated with Republican Governors who have no clue about the challenges that face our cities and towns. They want Tim because, as mayor of Worcester, he knows firsthand about what theyre up against.
Tim has an impressive record of accomplishment. Hes turning Worcester around and hes bringing people together.
Hes got the strong support of labor and working families throughout the state and we will need them united and energized in November.
Ive known Tim for many years. Hes a treasured and loyal friend. But my support for him is about more than friendship. I believe in him. Hes got compassion in his heart and steel in his spine. He has progressive values and a record to match it.
With much genuine respect for the other candidates for Lt. Governor, I strongly believe that Tim Murray is the best candidate to help deliver a Democratic victory in November!
Jim
I confess I’ve already voted, but it means a lot to me that you’d reach out to BMG. I think Tim is a GREAT candidate, has done a GREAT job in Worcester and I’d be honored to have him serve.
If that’s not a clear message as to who Deval wants/needs as his LG running mate in November then I am not sure what is.
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Patrick/Goldberg loses in Novmeber.
Patrick/Silbert…roll the dice.
Patrick/Murray wins in November.
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Let’s keep our eyes on the prize.
Also, I doubt the LG candidate will have any effect at all on which candidate for governor wins in November. I just don’t think people care enough to override or even dent their opinion of which ticket to vote for.
Not sure if I’d call it that.
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But it is a strong statement.
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I think the Congressman would agree that Andrea Silbert’s experiences as a middle class mom from another portion of the state than Boston would add value to the ticket.
Besides, I always take offense to the assumption that women will automatically vote for another woman. Mini-Van/SUV Mom’s will vote for who they think is the best candidate – and most whom I know are voting for Mayor Murray. Maybe thats because I’m in Central MA – but I guess that shows Central, MA is going for Murray.
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Why do we assume women will “vote for who they think is the best candidate” rather than simply vote for another woman, but we all assume Central MA will go for Murray simply because he lives there? I think Central MA residents will “vote for who they think is the best candidate”, too. Andrea Silbert’s experience and message are much stronger than Tim’s, much as we love him as a person. I’ll invite Tim to my barbeque, but I want Andrea in the corner office.
Granted I do not speak on behalf of Central Mass. But you speak of Silbert’s “experience and message,” I was hoping you could elaborate as the only strong “experience and message” I have seen from her is on jobs. Whereas Tim’s experience and message cover an array of issues, and not just touch upon but actual knowledge on. If you have any doubt please visit his site and read Murray’s papers on Education, Jobs and Developement, Municiple Bill of Rights, and much much more. I have visited Silbert’s Issues page and I don’t see nearly as much experience nor as strong a message.
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I am by no means saying Silbert is the worst possible choice, she is a nice person and has strong attributes. I however am saying that I don’t see how one could see her “expereince and message” as stronger than Murray’s. Murray is the best choice i you want a strong multi-issue comprehensive candidate, and I do.
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~John
silbert is not a middle class mom and she brings nothing to the ticket that deval does not already bring.
You are right on target. I know that we want a Democratic Victory in Novemeber against Healey/Hillman and I agree that it is important that Tim Murray is part of that Ticket. He brings not only Central MA and a strong voting base, but also has the experience in municipal government to best complement the Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate.
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HURRAY, HURRAY, VOTE FOR TIM MURRAY TOMORROW!!
Mayors and municipal officials have taken the brunt of the failings of Romney-Healey. If Jim McGovern is sick and tired of being sick and tired, the municipal sick and tired is exponential.
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Tim Murray is a beacon of hope for the sick and tired at the local level. His presence on the ticket will energize the political operations in the cities and towns, particularly those now committed to candidates other than Deval.
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Tim Murray is jet fuel for the Patrick campaign. Why buy regular?
Thank you. My absentee ballot contains a vote for Deval and Tim. Can’t wait for tomorrow night’s results!
I voted for Silbert =p
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But I really, really like Murray and would love to have him. It was a tough, tough choice. I never even endorsed anyone on my website, because it’s essentially a coin-flip for me, albiet one that landed on Silbert. But, like I said, Murray impresses me.
I had a very hard time choosing an LG candidate. I have much respect for everyone supporting Tim (like Jim McGovern) and much respect for those who are supporting Andrea and Deb. I chose based upon the level of activism I saw for Tim in the western part of the state. He had people at all the caucuses. His ground game is excellent and compliments what Deval has done from day one. This absolutely takes nothing away from Andrea or Deb. I liked both of them as well for different reasons. Springfield, in particular, has been ignored by so many for too long. In Tim, I saw someone who really understood the issues facing Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield. Deval will benefit from his knowledge.
I believe this is the first time a member of the Congressional delegation has posted even so much as a comment on BMG. Am I forgetting someone?
Barney Frank here.
Some of the comments on the Cheney-Healey post were from him, I think.
you’re nowhere near funny enough to claim to be Barney Frank. Plus, you don’t type with a lisp.
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He professes no interest in getting behind Deval
this. stoRmv
A+
Great Thinking to put this here, Congressman. Murray makes it a lot easier for the Dem nominess then does Deb Silbert
I agree that it is most beneficial to Massachusetts to have our elected officials looking out for all of the constitutents, and not just east of 495. Additonally, I believe Tim has the most experience in politics and can bring this knowledge of how the system works in order to make it work for us all. Finally, I would like to see more control and resources turned over to the local ecomony, as I believe the local community knows what is best for its citizens.
Just when I think Jim McGovern couldn’t be any cooler, he shows up at BMG… Nice post, Congressman! I’ve been supporting a Patrick/Murray ticket since before it was a cool thing, and you’ve been supporting it even longer than I have…I know I’ve told you in person, but I’ll say it again: Thank you so much! I didn’t know it was possible to be as proud of politicians as I am of you and Ed Augustus. Hopefully, come tomorrow/November I will have two more politicians I can be that proud of.
I meant state/federal politicians. I’m already very proud of Tim as my mayor.
Thanks for the post Congressman. Wonderful to have you. I wonder, however, whether endorsements from local elected officials are likely to help or hurt candidates this year. The mood of the electorate in Massachusetts, in the wake of the CA/Tastrophe and the disgraceful, symptomatic, behavior of Royal Democratic Chickens like Galvin and Lynch, is hardly rip roaring in support of the Democratic Party Establishment. In fact, I think Patrick’s outsider status is a big part of his appeal. Silbert, whom Charley and I support, has the same kind of maverick Fresh Ideas attractiveness. We’ll know tomorrow.
Thanks for posting! I’m a big fan, the town grew-up in (Upton) was in your disctrict for many years: though I never got a chance to vote for you for the 3rd district, I wrote you in for US Senate in 02 and 2nd House district in 04 🙂
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I’ve been a Silbert supporter for a long time now, and I will be holding a sign for her tomorrow, but lately I’m seriously considering a strategic vote for Tim Murray. He’s always been a strong alternate choice, I’m worried about a Goldberg win, as fear her campaign has a lot of the faults like the ones Reilly and Galvin have shown, and could break once it gets to higher level.
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So, as very much a surprise to myself, I’m going in undecided on LG tomorrow, which I find crazy at this point. I’m still leaning Silbert, though I want to see what the Suffolk poll says today on that race…. I hate the concept of strategic voting and spoiler issues but I think I’m starting to get why people make such a big deal of it. Oh for IRV!
It’s going to be a difficult general election. Jim McGovern is right. We are going to win or lose this race in central Massachusetts. Deb Goldberg will be a drag on the ticket, and Tim Murray will bring strength just where we need it most.
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HURRY HURRY
for Patrick and Murray!
I’m gonna have to take your comment with a big grain of salt as I know you’ve been very anti-Silbert over charter schools in the past. But thanks 🙂
… but Andrea Silbert’s charter school position, and her lack of interest in cities and towns, is a problem for energizing mayors and municipal officials. Andrea has said that cities and towns have 200 legislators to look out for their interests, and she’s about jobs. That may be so, but that message won’t play with a mayor.
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She would, however, be a good choice for a cabinet position pertaining to economic development.
The polls still show “undecided” leads all three LG candidates. Those undecided voters may be very decided on their choice for Governor, so they’ll vote just as likely as the decided ones, but who for? This race is wide open.
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Further, hoss’ poll analysis shows that Goldberg’s support is weaker than it seems, and that among Deval Patrick supporters, Silbert is actually in the lead, with Murray second and Goldberg far behind. If turnout is low and Deval’s field operation – the strongest one out there – is responsible for a good percentage of the vote, that makes it a Silbert vs. Murray race. On the other hand, hoss also showed that among the casual voters who aren’t as motivated to vote, Silbert and Murray are also way ahead of Goldberg, so if turnout is high, it’s also a Silbert vs. Murray race.
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Too confusing to figure out the right “strategic” vote? Exactly. Just remember that undecided is in the lead, and vote for your favorite candidate.
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I recommend Andrea Silbert, whose charisma and boldness are more likely to help our ticket in November – not that I think the LG nominee will have much impact on the November vote anyway.
If the last poll showed a significant lead, I was thinking of considering a switch, but with these numbers:
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I’m gonna stick with voting for who I think is the best for the job.
Personally, I think all the candidates have proven themselves in one way or another. But, as I have said in the past Mayor Murray is the best all-around candidate and will TRULY help the Democratic Ticket win in November.
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I hope that you will vote for him tomorrow.
in a well-produced, well-written briefer version with the Congressman’s voice.
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I’m voting for Murray tomorrow — I started predisposed in his favor when he was the only LG candidate who had representatives at the Amherst town caucus to select delegates for the convention. Silbert also looks like an excellent candidate (and has the backing of most of the Dem activists I know in Amherst), but I go along with the arguments that Murray balances the ticket nicely, adds (a small amount of) electoral strength, and would make a good governor if necessary.
and I did vote for Patrick/Murray… I’ve been impressed with McGovern since I first saw him speak at Wheaton in 2004, and I’m still impressed now. Also, as a Westie turned Eastie, I know all too well that the part of the state I have lived most of my life in does feel a little left out at times, so the more we bring everyone in, the better.
All due respect to the Congressman but the bumper sticker poll, as informal as it ever gets always had the Deval Patrick Andrea Silbert spin to it and has for a long long time. Flooding a Blog with fox hole conversion’s is hardly Murray on a role. Deval’s surge is the wave the Murraryites are trying to catch up to that we devotees of Silbert caught when it was still a quite rumble on the horizon.
First I would like to thank Jim McGovern for being such a true leader in this part of the state. I would of never thought a Patrick/Murray ticket would be possible but on the eve of the pimary it seems like it very well could be the outcome. It wouldn’t be the first time the congressman was right. Since Tim kicked the campaign off in December there has been steady support for the Worcester native. His base has grown larger and larger for various reasons one being his accomplishements as mayor of the second largest city in Mass. He enhances the ticket in ways the other two candidates can’t, and that is why we must work hard tommorow, nd into Novemeber ensuring a Democratic victory. Part of garnishing that victory is Making as strong a ticket possible and I believe the Dems in this state are ready to do that.
Congressman McGovern makes the case for Andrea Silbert simply because he can’t state the obvious – he’s supporting Murray b/c Murray was there for him when he ran for Congress in 1996. To not support Murray, who will still be City Councilor in Chief if he loses, would create political headaches for McGovern and on top of that, he owes Murray for previous support. There’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s what makes career politicians career politicians and creates this culture of endorsements pretty useless as barometers of real support. I endorse you, you endorse me. Wash, rinse and repeat every election cycle.
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Goldberg’s political support comes from politicians who she supported as a politician. When she’s looking for a new seat, she calls those chits in. Murray’s done the same thing. Silbert, as a first time candidate with tremendous, yet unique, public service experience is beholden to no one. She hasn’t garnered tons of institutional support, but it hasn’t mattered. She’s raised the money, done well at the convention and risen in the polls (see WHDH today).
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B/c elected officials and institutions like unions fear change more than anything, most cannot even fathom supporting a first time candidate unless the candidate is filthy rich. They’re not going to be courageous, even if a candidate is strong on jobs like Andrea and has had a real bottom line effect like Andrea did because of the Center for Women and Enterprise, they’re going to protect their own.
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It’s exactly why Andrea Silbert is such a great candidate against a Healey ticket, she cannot be derided as part of the insider democratic machinery, yet she can attack them on issues she excels on, issues important to the middle class and job creation.
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Andrea has accomplished much and as of today’s WHDH poll, she’s in a three way tie. She’s done it without Tim’s connections or Debby’s dough and that’s very impressive.
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I’m just a voter, not a congressman, but to me Andrea Silbert is the right choice for Lt. Governor.
her endorsements?
It was her resume, her record of success in creating jobs and her vision for the state. No one owed her anything, no one expected anything from her. While her opponents have good ideas and track records, the reasons for the endorsements they’ve received are necessarily slightly diminished because of their positions. Not a slight on them of their abilities, just a result of being a politician.
you’re telling us that she didn’t support, donate money, work for or endorse any of those who endorsed her but she did raise 750 k for Kerry???
Ok
Did Kerry endorse her? No. Did Mayors (who have lost more political juice in this state than just about anyone)? No, save a couple.
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Hacks like hack, innovators like innovators.
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This primary is about sweeping change. Deval or Chris will bring that, and Andrea Silbert will be right there with them. People are sick of politicians, they want a new kind of politics, not the same old back-scratching, hi-how-are-ya insider B.S. that Murray and Goldberg are about.
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You want change, you’ll get it tomorrow.
Maybe in pure politics, but not in getting things done–they’ve been running up against the Wall in the state house and the governor’s mansion for quite a while. Take it from a resident of the flooded..I mean Great City of Peabody. I think Mayor Mike Bonfanti has a permanent indentation in his forehead–from banging it against the State House door.
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Quite honestly, though I find Silbert impressive, and deciding between her and Murray was tough, the reason I finally decided on Murray is because he’s been a mayor. LG isn’t much more than a voice in the Governor’s ear–if that–but I’d rather have that voice be someone who understands that our municipalities have been crapped on for some time now.
She won endorsements the hard way, by earning them. There are still some pols with guts to choose first time candidates who aren’t rich, just not many.
According to a press release on the Reilly website:
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To win the election, you need to energize these guys. They need to believe, deep in their hearts, that electing a Democratic governor will make a difference for their cities. Stirring their passion is the difference between a lukewarm press release endorsing the ticket and an all-out effort.
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Tim Murray is that energy.
You don’t need to energize these guys, you need to stay the hell away from them because they endorsed Reilly. I mean, if they’re that out of touch…
If you want to flip the proverbial bird to a dozen plus mayors just because they backed Reilly, I hope your candidates of choice are smarter than you.
Jumpster – you obviously know very little about Jim McGovern and the weight and creditability that his post here brings. If you’re theory is true:
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“B/c elected officials…fear change more than anything, most cannot even fathom supporting a first time candidate unless the candidate is filthy rich…”
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…then why did McGovern come out and back Deval Patrick 18 MONTHS AGO? Jim McGovern is backing Tim Murray becasue he believes he is the best LG candidate – bottom story.
McGovern is re-paying Murray for past support. Nothing wrong with that; it’s called politics.
What agenda? It is my understanding that Beacon Hill has been run by Senate Pres and the Speaker for a long time. Romney, Swift and Cellucci all amounted to nothing. I’m sick of the Republicans as well but little will change with a Democrat in the office.
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The Republicans have wanted to reduce the state income tax to 5% for a long time and they have been unsuccessful. They haven’t been able to reduce the 12% capital gains tax. They only get what the legislature gives them. They have had their vetoes consistently overridden. They have had no gravity at all.
For the past sixteen years, our executive branch has been in the hands of the Republicans. Republican appointees, some VERY conservative, have been writing our state regulations. The state Board of Education, for example, has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Pioneer Institute. We can’t get rid of these conservative ideologues unless we change governors.
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You can do considerable damage, even without any (obvious) support in the legislature.
Who do you think does oversight on the Big Dig, Herakles? Republican governor appointees – hacks, the lot of them, except way back to the first one. None of them actually know engineering or project management. Look at the damage THAT caused.
A comment left on my blog was in Jim McGovern’s name,coping his post from here. I’d like to know if Rep. McGovern posted it or did someone copy and paste it in his name without his permission? If the latter, I really am somewhat unhappy about that…if the Congressman did it himself, I’m flattered he thought of putting his commentary on my blog as well, I just doubt he did…doesn’t seem as likely.
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If someone discovers someone posted in his name (I don’t have a problem with an unaffiliated commenter quoting him, just using his name to actually post) please let me know.