Last night we popped the popcorn and settled in to watch the local ABC affiliate, WCVB's, two half-hour debates.
The three Republican candidates were up first:
All three declared war on "Obamacare" -promising to work to repeal the whole plan. They all want means testing for anyone collecting disability, and want no means testing for Social Security... blah blah republicanspeak ... blah blah
On social issues Michael Sullivan, (who only recently flip-flopped on his anti-gay marriage position) declared himself a federalist and agreed with Dan Winslow and political newcomer Gabriel Gomez that DOMA should be overturned and decisions about same-sex marriage should be left to the states. Since MA already legalized same-sex marriage they didn't need to promise anything to either side of the issue. But Winslow did declare himself in favor of same-sex marriage. The other two ... well they were ready for the next question.
On abortion, Sullivan reiterated his pro-life position as a good Catholic, mumbled something about the church's position on contraception being confusing and left it there. Gomez also said his commitment to the Catholic church was unfaltering and he is pro life. Dan Winslow separated himself as the one who is socially less conservative saying those decisions should be left to women.
Right now, Michael Sullivan has a pretty good lead in the polls ...
The Democratic debate between the two Congressmen, Markey and Lynch, gave us this weird feeling that Lynch should be wearing a barn coat:
Tonight the moderator established that Lynch voted for the sequester, while Markey voted against it. Markey called Lynch out on the loss of jobs in MA as a result of that vote.
On healthcare, Lynch, who voted against Obama's healthcare bill, stumbled a bit as he cited reasons; anti-trust exemptions that created problems for MA companies who make medical supplies and that it "piled taxes" on employers. (All of this is most likely labor union related. Many labor unions provide "Cadillac health insurance plans" that may have been subject to taxes and that incurred costs when having to integrate things like covering kids up to 26 years old. Lynch is endorsed by the MA building trades {unions} council.)
Markey voted for the healthcare bill and chastised his fellow Congressman for not supporting an effort that was generations in the making, telling him when his fellow Democrats needed him - he wasn't there. He spoke of Teddy Kennedy and John Kerry's efforts to establish a national healthcare. He said he is proud that NARAL and Planned Parenthood considered his support of the plan when they endorsed him.
On abortion the moderator noted that Markey changed his position in the 1980's but Lynch has been slower to evolve. Markey again spoke of his endorsement by Planned Parenthood and NARAL and his belief that a woman's right to chose should be protected at all costs.
Lynch said that yes, he is pro life, and made a point to say that he has been hearing lately that he isn't "pro-life enough." (Perhaps the Catholic church isn't happy with him?) He did say that although he is personally pro life, he didn't think government should be involved in that decision. But- he is still calling himself, pro life. He attacked Markey by saying that in the 1980's Markey voted against Roe v. Wade, accusing him of "not just flip-flopping but doing acrobatics."
Markey responded that for 30 years he has aggressively supported a woman's right to choose. (Yep.)
During the last part of the debate when each candidate could ask the other questions, Markey did the Markey thing, throwing a softball at Lynch asking him to describe the work he'd done for Veterans and asking him what more we need to do. Lynch was actually a little surprised and thanked Markey for the question before describing his programs and legislation that help veterans. When it was Markey's turn to respond, he said he supported Lynch's programs, that we we need to do more, and thanked Lynch for all he has done.
In an interview by another station's political reporter after the debate the reporter told Lynch it appeared that Markey was suggesting that he was too conservative to represent the Democrats.
Lynch laughed and said, "Yah, he's probably right!" Then more seriously, "no, I mean I am a moderate Democrat."
Huh?
The same reporter told Markey that Lynch was accusing him of changing his position on abortion (leaving out that that change was back in the 1980's.) Markey responded that his record speaks for itself, as do the groups who are endorsing him.
When we sat back and looked at the whole hour - at all five candidates - it really seemed like Ed Markey was the only Democrat in the group.
And out of all five, the barn coat would look best on Lynch - perhaps he left it in his truck.
Read More
.jpg?1366072331)
.jpg?1366079983)
_(400x214).jpg?1364451029)
