Statement of Congressman John F. Tierney on the special election for U.S. Senate
“A great number of people have kindly urged me to run for the United States Senate. I have given the matter serious consideration and determined that, at this time, I can best be of service in the U.S. House of Representatives – continuing to work to make education more affordable and accessible, to build and strengthen our nation’s workforce, to enact meaningful health care reform and to ensure we have a pragmatic foreign policy. These and other serious matters must be addressed in the coming weeks and months and they, along with my constituents, warrant my full attention,” said Congressman John F. Tierney.
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I really like Tierney and probably would have been inclined to support him, but I never thought he had the clout or name recognition to have stood a chance against the AG and two Boston-based Congressmen. I like him where he is.
…but glad to be backing Martha Coakley full bore now.
She made a good impression in her BMG interview, but is it clear that she is the more progressive choice? Or is it just that she has the better chance to defeat Lynch?
Care to compare and contrast the progressiveness of Coakley and Capuano? It’s not clear to me that Coakley even understands the progressive concept.
Just wondering.
The philosophy of a progressive: Improve, Improve, Improve. Sometimes it is just small steps. Sometimes it is the “public option”. It is really all encompassing. Make government more effective. Make people safer and healthier. There are many things that the vast majority of people will agree need improvement. The devil is in the “how”.
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p>Let’s take the problem of auto insurance rates here in the Commonwealth. They are too high and a pretty clear case has been made that the rate structure is unfair. A little competition might improve the situation, but an anti-progressive, who will go unmentioned in this comment, has stood in the way.
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I like Tierney a lot. Real class act. A modern progressive in terms of his stances on the issues but an old school pol in terms of his constituent services. A perfect combination. Also he still attended wakes in his district, a practice that most politicians no longer continue. I know since he was at my grandmothers. Also a Salem High classmate of my dads.
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p>That said, I think he was too similar to Capuano in terms of the niche he occupies in the race to make significant headway. Also his money wasn’t that good. I think Tierney or Markey would’ve made great candidates in an actual election, but neither had the name recognition or the resources to run in a special. Also both like the House way too much. Tip O’Neill once said being a Congressmen was the best job in the world because you can discuss important national issues while still being a man of your neighborhood. Tip certainly was and Tierney definitely was in my personal experience. To become Senator is to give a lot of that positive local experience up.
But think he made the right choice on this.
Martha Coakley’s progressive credentials are plentiful and she’s a fighter. Recently she was the first AG to sue the feds challenging the Defense of Marriage Act-Her competence and work on issues of equal rights and justice have been honored by many groups-Check her wiki- DA Coakley took on the Catholic church in the child abuse cases- the Justice department asked her to join the Boston Organized Crime Strike Force- Martha Coakley jumped into this race without waiting to hear if Joe would get in unlike the guys – She’s gutsy, smart- and she knows how to fight crime- What’s been happening in Washington for years is a major crime- Sounds like her qualifications are perfect- best man for the job happens to be a woman- just an added perk- It’s about time.
your comment reads like a campaign ad – her top 6 bullet points
I’ve worked on many campaigns as a volunteer in my 60 years of life- from Eugene McCarthy to Ned Lamont and Wes Clark- I have never picked a winner but I do my homework. As a barometer I use issues that effect the most vulnerable among us; that is my benchmark- Yes I’m going to be supporting Martha because I’ve followed her career for many years- I’m truly excited because I think this time I have a winner- Someone who is incorruptible- that’s about as hard to find in politics as a pork chop at a seder. I’m sure you’ve heard the most important quality for a politician is authenticity and once you can fake that you’re golden. Martha is the real deal-
You won’t scare me away by accusing me of being enthusiastic- I had become cynical after this last national primary. I traveled around the country and watched caucus fraud and media bias- I’m now more determined then ever to attempt real change- The government is more then broken- with the help of a shadow media the public is getting screwed-and it hurts the disadvantaged disproportionately. No longer can we pick our winners by their marketing and branding- no longer can we trust the media and the blog commenters to make our choices. The electorate must listen to the candidates-(notice how one comment above said Martha “made a good impression on her BMG interview” watch the debates-(are you going to believe the opponent’s ads or our own lying eyes?”) read independent sources- See if these folks have done what they promised to do- That’s why I might sound like a campaign ad- Martha, unlike the guys in the race, has started with $0 – $$$ in the past has determined who we vote for- the candidate who can put out the most expensive ads and marketing people who can give them the best slogans- Not for me- If Martha needs me to be a floating billboard- so be it- the price is right and the outcome effects the future of my grandchildren.
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p>Go Martha!