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Stories from the Campaign Trail

July 29, 2010 By mac-dalessandro

HANNA

On a hot summer day a few weeks ago, I canvassed a neighborhood in Brockton.  I rang the doorbell at this one brick house, and a middle-aged man came to the door holding a cool glass of lemonade in his right hand.  As he sipped, we talked about his struggle to educate his kids.  Despite the sky-high property taxes he was paying, Brockton public schools were underperforming, and now teachers were receiving pink slips.  He felt he had no choice and was sending his kids to private school, even though tuition would put a significant strain on his family.  We agreed that everyone was owed a quality public education and that Mac was the best person to fight for more funding down in Washington.  I only wish he’d given me a sip of his lemonade!

DIMITRI

Mac and I canvassed in Braintree earlier this month.  At the end of a particularly hot afternoon, Mac knocked on the final door of the day.  After about a minute, a very kindly old woman opened the door.  “Oh, thank God!  You two are just what I needed,” she said, with us a bit puzzled.  “I need two strong young men right now.”  The woman brought us back to the deck at the back of the house, where an old grill sat, rusted with age.  She told us that her relatives were coming over soon for a barbeque.  There was no gas left and they needed to replace the tank before company arrived.  The tank would simply not come off of the grill.  She handed Mac a wrench, and Mac, all too happy to help, went right to work.  For several minutes, we labored feverishly, trying to loosen the nut that tethered the tank to the grill.  Mac kept trying, even though it was clear that the nut was rusted to the bolt and would not come loose.  We apologized to the very understanding older woman.  Appreciating Mac’s effort, she immediately interjected, “You have my vote, my husband’s vote, and each of my 17 children’s votes.”

LIZ

Mac and I recently canvassed door-to-door together in Stoughton.  Tucked away on the same street, we found two of our strongest supporters of the day – Josh, 16, and Leona, 96.  We stopped at Josh’s house first, looking for his parents.  They weren’t home, but Josh was quick to speak at length about the many issues he personally cared about.  When I asked if he would be interested in volunteering or interning, he jumped at the opportunity.  Mac and I can’t wait for him to come on board!

We continued up the street, discussing how nice it was to meet a young person so engaged in the political process before he even has the right to vote.  We then came to Leona’s door.  She has been an advocate for peace for over forty years, and was worried about the world we were leaving to her great-grandchildren, ages 2 and 5.  She offered to give whatever help she could, explaining that, although she was legally blind, she still stayed engaged, calling Congress to express her opinion.  As we left Leona’s house, Mac and I were impressed by how remarkable it was that these neighbors, separated by 80 years, were united by their concern about the issues facing our nation today and their support for our campaign.

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Filed Under: User Tagged With: 9th-district, boston, canvassing, democratic-primary, grassroots, ma-09, mac-dalessandro, progressive, stephen-lynch, u.s.-house-of-representatives

Comments

  1. hlpeary says

    July 29, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    Just wondering…

    • quinzyblue says

      July 29, 2010 at 10:23 pm

      He is using the social media as a wonderful tool for his campaign.  Does this post cross the line from informative to addy– yes it probably does.  But, with what it cost to run a congressional campaign– and considering he is running against an incumbent.  I veiw this as good use of his resources.

      <

      p>Plus it does not nearly rise to the level of self promotion by Republican candidates on RMG.  From Charlie Baker to Jeff Perry the website is one big Republican add….

  2. quinzyblue says

    July 29, 2010 at 9:19 pm

    You are my kind of dem– and you are the only true liberal in this race.  I wish you the best of luck, and just wish that I was in your district so I could voter for you!

  3. apricot says

    July 29, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    for Mac has been great! I have only found one Lynch supporter.

    <

    p>Big Boston Canvass should be great.  BMGers join up

  4. scootermom says

    July 30, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    BUT…  his votes in Congress affect me.   Right on Mac!

    • apricot says

      July 31, 2010 at 6:46 am

      say what you will about Scottie Dreamboat Brown, his election has changed the lethargy and laziness of the armchair liberal living in Massachusetts:  we have work to do here, and we don’t need to drive to NH any more to make an important difference.  

      <

      p>Canvassing right in our own backyard can move the needle in a serious way.  With “Democrats” like Lynch, who needs Republicans?

      <

      p>I beg one and all at BMG to please turn out to help Mac (and me); the doors and calls all work, and every hour you can give, every $100 you can contribute turns more votes to Mac.

      <

      p>I’m not bullshitting.  This is some seriously good, effective and meaningful grassroots politicking right here.

      <

      p>Disclosure, yada yada, I support Mac. I am volunteering for Mac. I’m a constituent in MA-09.  

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brianna_asavage Brianna Aloisio Savage @brianna_asavage ·
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Alongside YW Boston, I am grateful for Rep Nguyen, Rep Shand, and Sen Miranda's leadership on #ParityonBoard, filed this month! #ParityonBoard #mapoli #equity #representationmatters https://lnkd.in/efxNCWAk

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homesforallmass Homes for All Massachusetts @homesforallmass ·
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“A group approx. 25 Lynn activists drove to Boston Sat morning, where they rallied outside the State House — alongside dozens of housing justice advocates, labor union leaders and tenants — in support of a legislative rent control package.” https://www.itemlive.com/2023/01/29/lynn-activists-rally-for-rent-control/ #MApoli

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andreabaldy55 Andrea Baldwin @andreabaldy55 ·
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Too funny @massgop #mapoli #DumpJimLyons

Kenneth Glennon @kennethglenn06

Jim Jones Lyons @JimLyonsMA team of Spaceballs are running out of time to further take the @massgop from suck to blow! Don't get your Schwartz twisted, Lyons, Door-Dash Diehl and Motormouth McMahon are preparing to jump to LUDICROUS speed to finish the job! #DumpJimLyons #mapoli

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"We are taking every single precaution and really sparing no expense to ensure that both patients and providers can feel safe, that their personal information will not be shared." #mapoli https://www.masslive.com/politics/2023/01/mass-launches-abortion-legal-hotline-in-new-push-to-defend-reproductive-care.html

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bncordeiro Brock N. Cordeiro @bncordeiro ·
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Rep. Rodney Elliott of the 16th Middlesex district is the newest cosponsor (34th) of An Act to reduce incidence & death from #PancreaticCancer (House Docket #393/Senate Docket #264) THANK YOU! #magov #mapoli @ACSCANMA @PanCANBoston @PanCAN @letswinpc @lustgartenfdn @worldpcc

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prof_eob Dr. Erin O'Brien @prof_eob ·
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Compared to state leg districts in MA, districts in other New England states have higher likelihoods of women running for office:
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