I’m Mac D’Alessandro, and I’d like to ask you a question. Does it bother you that Stephen Lynch voted against health care reform that gave tens of millions of Americans access to health care and will make “pre-existing condition” restrictions a thing of the past? Does it irritate you that Stephen Lynch voted for the Iraq War and voted to continue funding it? Does it anger you that Stephen Lynch supported the Patriot Act and voted to re-authorize it, invading the privacy of law-abiding Americans? Does it infuriate you that Stephen Lynch doesn’t believe that women should be able to make their own reproductive decisions?
If so, you might be a Mac:
If you are a Mac, you’re not alone:
Just 35 percent said that [incumbent Stephen] Lynch deserves re-election, with 33 percent saying it is time for somebody new, and 32 percent not offering an opinion.
I’m running for Congress because, like you, I’m frustrated with the slow pace at which we’re realizing the changes promised in 2008. I’m running because I want Democrats to act like Democrats rather than obstruct the agenda for change and progress. Families just like mine are having difficulty paying today’s bills while trying to save for the future. People see ongoing military engagement in the Middle East, oil continuing to flow into the Gulf of Mexico at beyond alarming speed, and a heavily unregulated Wall Street still putting our economic stability in jeopardy. Voters in the 9th Congressional district want stronger leadership in Congress that better represents their values and ideals. They want someone who will fight every single day for working families.
So I’m asking you to visit our website, join our Facebook group, subscribe to our Twitter feed, contribute through our ActBlue page (or through Blue Mass Group’s ActBlue page supporting me – thanks, guys!), and – most importantly – volunteer on the campaign! Please join us to continue our movement for change.
I met Mac at the Dorchester Day Parade and was very impressed. I will admit that my interest initially was more from my dislike of Lynch than my knowledge of Mac, but I also want to see DADT and DOMA repealed and I have absolutely no hope of these repeals being supported by Lynch.
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p>The idiotic placement of the Level 4 Biolab in Boston is among my top 5 issues. I saw no reference on the issues page. If this was discussed (hopefully from a position of opposition), then I would would be 5 for 5 with Mac on my top issues. Hopefully a position is forthcoming.
I will first extend a hearty welcome to our community. Now for the barrage of questions.
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p>While I appreciate the fact that you are offering a serious challenge to Lynch who has been running as a DINO for quite sometime, I was wondering, besides voting more progressive on the issues, how else will you be a better Congressmen than Lynch? What experience do you bring to the table? What do you hope to accomplish for your district, your commonwealth, and your country?
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p>We all know Lynch’s shortcomings, and pointing them out is obviously going to draw an important contrast for the primary voters, but what positive attributes to you personally bring to the table that make you want to represent this district and what new ideas will you advance?
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p>Thank you for your time and courage to take on this establishment politician whose time has come.
I will provide the 9th district with more effective representation both by voting more in line with the district’s values and beliefs and also by being a stronger presence in the communities. Being a Congressman is about more than just flying down to Washington take votes. It’s about being accessible and listening to your concerns year-round, not just when an election is approaching. It’s about being a resource for you and providing top-notch constituent services. I will be a Congressman who works closely with the communities of the 9th district and truly makes himself available to his constituents.
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p>Further, I won’t just vote yes or no on legislation – I’ll work with my colleagues to improve legislation to better reflect our values. I’m no stranger to hard work or to advocating for working families. For most of the last decade, I’ve been New England political director for SEIU, fighting to protect hospital patients, vulnerable seniors and healthcare workers. Before that, I worked at Greater Boston Legal Services, making sure low-income workers had the job training and support they needed to succeed. I want to continue that much-needed advocacy for working families in Congress.
The BU Biolab is not in the 9th Congressional district, but I don’t believe it is appropriate to place a Level 4 lab in close proximity to a significant population center. I don’t believe there was adequate community input in this process, and I support the work being done by the NIH to review the decision to open the lab. I trust they will refuse to certify its safety.
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p>This is an issue of environmental justice. Too often, poor communities and communities of color, like Roxbury, bear more than their fair share of the burden of environmental hazard. I’m running for Congress to be an advocate for working families and for those who don’t have a strong voice in Washington D.C. This certainly applies to issues of environmental justice.
I am by nature not quick to jump from a traditional pro-labor Democrat to a progressive challenger. And Steve Lynch is a nice guy, very present in my area.
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p>But throughout the health care legislative process, Lynch seriously messed with the party, the labor movement, and (given the stakes of success or failure) the entire progressive agenda.
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p>I was waiting to see if he had some coherent explanation for his final “no” vote. I actually expected one; but none has been forthcoming. What’s worse, he has tried to invoke progressive criticisms of the bill, positions he undermined during the process. It’s been a destructive, petulant performance from start to finish, and one he ought to be held accountable for.
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p>Clinching the deal, Mac seems great, and has strengths that some up-and-coming progressives lack, such as deep labor roots.
I think it’s safe to say that Mac D’Alessandro is pro Labor. In his day job, he works for the SEIU Union.
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p>As to the other comment, voting more progressive on the issues than Stephen Lynch is most of what of what I’m looking for in a Representative!
In the diary, Mac goes right at Lynch’s voting record, not Lynch personally.
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p>When trying to set a frame with little name recognition, it is a plus to say, “I’m the guy that wouldn’t vote this way.”
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p>I’m busy in the 5th CD, but I’m with you in spirit Mac!
I love the video and I will be sure to visit your site and sign up to volunteer. I live in the district and I am excited to help elect a REAL progressive to congress.
And let me tell you the 9th is ready for progressive change!
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p>Democrats were saying as long as it isn’t for Lynch they would sign and the poll highlighted most recently by David Bernstein of the Pheonix shows only 33% of Democrats in the 9th believe Lynch deserves reelection. This shows that his own party is saying “Throw the Bum OUT!”
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p>While I am currently typing on a PC, I am proud to say
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p>I’M A MAC
We’ve got you in our candidate pool at Peanut Butter PAC, and you’re on our ActBlue page as well! Let’s send Lynch to an early retirement party!
Where do you stand on gay rights. gays in the military, and gay marriage?
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p>Also do you favor, as Stephen Lynch has, a ban on partial birth abortion?
I want Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repealed and would vote accordingly in Congress. I support full marriage equality and believe that the law should treat gay Americans and straight Americans no differently.
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p>I fully support a woman’s right to choose and think that medical decisions are best left to women and their doctors.
For all of your answers. Unfortunately I am not a resident of the district, nor am I able to donate to your campaign either my time or money at the moment. But I do hope you win and will let all my friends and family in the district know who you are and why you are better than the alternative. I disagree with you on the abortion question, but in the long run it is far more pro-life to support health care for all, oppose and defund unwinnable and unjust wars, and restore equality to all America’s citizens.
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p>Oh one last question and again thanks so much for your time and answers, what is your stance on the war in Afghanistan? Do you support the surge there or do you think it is time to withdraw? If the latter will you vote to cut funding?
How did Lynch originally get elected after Joe Moakley’s death?
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p>By saying that he was in favor of a court ruling saying that Boston’s St. Patrick Day’s parade could legally exclude some gay group.
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p>This sort of thing, rich in cultural symbolism but with no real consequences, is no way to judge a candidate for public office.
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p>Lynch voted for the Iraq War, the most idiotic war since Augustus Caesar. Before the Gulf War, in 1990, Kuwait went slant-drilling for oil under Iraqi territory, and Kuwait hired Hill & Knowlton, a PR firm, to sell the Gulf War to congress. Here is a link concerning that:
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p>www.prwatch.org/books/tsigfy10.html
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p>Lynch votes anti-abortion, I am a pro-abortion as far a government policy goes.
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p>Did you know 40 MILLION women in the US have had abortions? Should 40 million women go to prison because a politician is a religious fanatic, too holy for this fallen world? I answer NO.
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p>The fetus eliminated in most abortions HAS NO BRAIN. And without the brain, you do not have human life.
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p>And he voted for the Patriot Act, which means he wants the government listening to all phone calls, as they do now. Such a great freedom fighter.
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p>The health care legislation passed is wholly inadequate. It should have been for Medicare for All, which was House Bill 676. However, the current bill was worth passing simply because it eliminates pre-existing conditions for health insurance.
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p>One thing that Lynch was right on was opposing trade deals like NAFTA that ship US jobs to third world slave states, where they can be done for slave wages. Do you agree with Lynch on trade?
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p>Mac, do you support withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan and Iraq immediately?
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p>Will you refuse to vote for funding for these 2 undeclared, unjust wars?
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p>Would you support Medicare for All, the true solution to the health care crisis?
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p>Do you support repeal of the PATRIOT ACT, which guarantees that the government is listening to each and every one of our phone calls?
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p>Lynch has not voted properly, and should be thrown from office and replaced by someone who will vote properly.
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p>I am glad that you are running to vote him out for voting too conservatively, and wish you the best of luck.
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