Dear Friends —
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a chance to meet the talented candidates running to represent us in the 2014 elections? An opportunity to speak with them face to face before the candidates spend millions of dollars on advertising and the press spills millions of gallons of ink writing about them?
Retail politics – like house parties – will be the savior of American Democracy. The catfight back and forth on MSNBC and Fox might be entertaining, but it’s not news. The founding fathers crafted our government on the idea that ordinary people like you and I can get involved, learn the facts, and make an informed decision in free elections.
That is why next month I am kicking off the 2014 South Shore Democratic living room tour by hosting Don Berwick and Steve Grossman at my home in Marshfield.
| Meet Gov Candidate Don Berwick Former Medicare Administrator |
Meet Gov Candidate Steve Grossman State Treasurer |
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| October 6th 4PM 1015 South River St. Marshfield, Mass. |
October 20th 3PM 1015 South River St. Marshfield, Mass |
This is your chance to meet two of the seven declared Democratic candidates for Governor. Some of you met Senator Warren in 2011 for the first time in my back yard. It was a great opportunity to get to know her and have meaningful discussions about the direction of our country.
These two house parties – the first of many on the South Shore before the Democratic Caucuses this winter – will be another opportunity to discuss the issues. The 2014 elections are an opportunity to reshape our Commonwealth’s leadership team and we as activists and politically inclined individuals will play an important role in shaping that team. These events do not constitute my endorsement because, like many of you, I have not yet settled on which of the very talented candidates I will be supporting.
If you would like to host one or more of the candidates running for the soon-to-be-open seats of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Attorney General, or Secretary of State please send me an email at bowes3@yahoo.com and I can assist you in setting an event up.
So please stop by one or both of my upcoming events, have some food, maybe a drink, meet the candidates ask questions and form your own opinion before the king makers try to tell you what to think.
Please note – Dawn and I look forward to squeezing as many of you into our home as possible, but need an accurate head count to make sure we can fit everyone. You must RSVP at http://johnbow.es/events or at the links attached to each event.
Feel free to forward this on to like-minded friends.
Democratically,
John
John F Bowes III, Marshfield
Democratic State Committeeman
Plymouth & Norfolk District
http://JohnBow.es
As part of the 2014 South Shore Democratic living tour I have created a Pinterest account for posting stories about the candidates. Here is a story about Don Berwick http://ow.ly/p57vk
Full Board is located here
http://www.pinterest.com/bowes3/2014-south-shore-democratic-living-tour/
I already saw both our candidates, but am not saving a spot for next month, because I work on Sundays. I had seen Grossman speak in front of an audience of soldiers and veterans, and it impressed upon me how qualified he is to be commander of our Massachusetts Army Reserve National Guard, one of the responsibilities that comes with being governor. Grossman has the resolve to order troops to help American victims of disaster, be it a natural catastrophe such as an earthquake or flooding where human activity somehow figures in.
Most of our Commonwealth’s incurred costs tie into health care, but I want to see more of Don Berwick to also tackle subjects other than MassHealth / Medicaid. Berwick had worked with the Institute of Healthcare Improvement as well as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but how will he work with leaders of our local Chambers of Commerce, such as Tim Murray (Worcester).
Berwick and Joe Avellone both envision a health care success for our Bay State. Avellone had worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield. It is Berwick, not Avellone, who has worked on the wing of health care that can translate (as go delivery systems, for example) into single-payer health care.
Grossman himself came out as not being a 2014 patriarch for single-payer health care, but reminds activists involved in such a cause “not to give up.”
Grossman emphasizes how we need to establish Earned Sick Time for us workers.
Grossman this month used a professional video production outfit, Gum Productions, in the last campaign stop I saw him in. Perhaps you can advise Gum on how best to film the magic of your living room.