Left In Lowell

Come On, Marty

17 Responses to “Come On, Marty”

1. ArtisFun Says:
   October 26th, 2006 at 7:09 pm

   I see your point but as a regular contributor to Marty I’m not sure I want my money sent outside the district. And if Marty passed money to kenedy ( I realize he doesn’t need any, Im only using this as an example ) Marty would have seen the last of my contributions.

2. Renee Says:
   October 26th, 2006 at 7:40 pm

   I have to agree with Artisfun, as a contributor I see myself giving to the individual candidate not the party as a whole. On the other hand if I trusted a politician with a donation, I would trust him or her if they decided to give it way to someone of their personal choosing without being felt pressured.

   Right now as someone as conservative as myself, the Republicans need to be kicked out. They can’t take votes and their power for granted, they have to earn it back by losing it first. But I have concerns with the tactics of MYDD, I read an article link through “Drudge” from the NY Times that he is Google Bombing Republican candidates.

   Sure MYDD is free to encourage to do this, and they are attempting to be ethical by using real news sources from the republican candidates districts but I find the tactic to be honestly done in poor sport. Why not google bomb positively or ensure lefty bloggers are writing posts of substance to encourage people to be more involved. Google bombing can be funny, but to use it as a campaign tool doesn’t make me feel like wanting to open myself to discussion on the issues.

3. Ryan Says:
   October 26th, 2006 at 9:45 pm

   Your first mistake was to read the Drudge. He’s slowly becoming irrelevent, you should let him die his slow, agonizing, internet death for the schmuk that he is.

   As for Chris Bower’s tactics on the Google Bombing, it’s a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THING than the campaign to get people sitting on campaign warchests to give up a *small portion* of their cash for some competitive races. Furthermore, the Googlebombing has ONLY linked to sites like WIKI - and they’ve all been fair and balanced. During Kerry’s election, conservatives googlebombed his name to death - linking him to trash that just wasn’t true. The ONLY thing Bower’s is doing is helping *some* fair information get high grades on google.

   Furthermore, for the original replier, Meehan already donates to all sorts of candidates. If you aren’t happy about that, you should stop donating your money to him now. The only thing the campaign is trying to do is get him to donate more, since he happens to have THE MOST MONEY IN CONGRESS out of Democratic candidates. He’s facing no opponents. Why should he sit on 5 million dollars? It’s undemocratic, if you ask me. You should be appalled by him and demand he immediately start giving to candidates he approves of in large quantity, at least 10% of his nearly 5 million dollars, so the Democrats can win back the House. $500,000 could fully fund several close campaigns in more sparsely populated states or states where media buys aren’t that expensive.

4. Lynne Says:
   October 26th, 2006 at 10:16 pm

   I think it’d be a GREAT investment to kick the Repubs out of office with all these great new candidates across the country who, for want of a little money, could inexpensively get more ad buys with little gifts from pols who have huge war chests. If I donated to Marty (I haven’t, this is the first year I can afford any donations and Marty’s got too much dough already), I’d beg him to send some to some lesser known up-and-coming new Fightin’ Dems.

   Normally, I’d say you’re right but…It’s in our best interests here in MA to spread this money around a bit - getting Marty and the Dems back into power in the House and Senate - and it’s in his interest too, getting whatever privledges come with being a longstanding incumbant in the majority party.

5. Lynne Says:
   October 26th, 2006 at 10:17 pm

   RE googlebombing, people, it’s seriously not as big a deal as you think.

6. Renee Says:
   October 26th, 2006 at 11:19 pm

   “Your first mistake was to read the Drudge. He’s slowly becoming irrelevent, you should let him die his slow, agonizing, internet death for the schmuk that he is.”

   I can read whatever I want, and I’m aware of what you reiterated. It is put downs like this, that makes people not want to discuss the subject matter. Terms like “schmuk” really aren’t needed.

   I believe most of Marty’s Parties (fundraisers) are local. I have to check on the numbers. Aside from party affiliation and disagreements as a voter I really don’t like outside money influencing my district. I know it is legal, but grassroots fundraising from within is a better way for the candidates to represent and answer the people and not be so tempted by lobbies and political machines in general. I can accept disagreeing with my local neighbors, but I don’t like the idea of someone from 500 miles away trying to sway my decision.

7. waittilnextyr Says:
   October 27th, 2006 at 8:33 am

   I expect Meehan has contributed to the MassVictory fund to help within the Commonwealth in a race that is important to us. That doesn’t show up in the national records. I recognize the importance of the national races, and how investing in that would be a wise use of money, but I have to agree with the others that say that is sufficient. The great majority of the money given in-state should eventually be spent in-state.

8. Mimi Says:
   October 27th, 2006 at 9:12 am

   Now, the issue is no longer whose money is it and who decides where it is spent, but how Congressman Meehan is handling the situation.

   If he has raised this kind of money as a war chest for a future Senate campaign, then the right decision is to make his future constituency (all Massachusetts residents, not just the 5th District) believe in him as a Democratic leader. If on the other hand he has raised that kind of money to remain as Congressman of the 5th District, then he can begin to slow down because he is not going to need it.

   In spite of the Lowell Sun editorial and the Congressman’s WCAP appearance, he has received bad press, statewide and nationwide. These two local media outlets are not going to help him win the hearts and minds of the activist Democrats throughout the state who will decide in a primary election who our next Senator will be.

   As we all have just learned, it is not the candidate with the most money, nor the candidate with access to the party machine who wins. It is a new era and Congressman Meehan’s advisors should help him understand that.

9. Tim Little Says:
   October 27th, 2006 at 10:05 am

   According to ‘BUR this morning the fate of the House of Representatives will come down to something like 8 seats. That’s it. And the determining factor in each of those races is expected to be money. I think it behooves anyone in Congressman Meehan’s position to contribute to the common cause if he or she is able: It’s a team effort. (And don’t believe the GOP doesn’t use the same tactic!)

10. Kathy Says:
    October 27th, 2006 at 2:34 pm

    What Tim Little said! This country hangs in the balance, and unfortunately, the GOP has tons of money to run nasty smear campaigns and buy a ton of advertising. if we win the House and Senate, Meehan will be able to raise even more money in the coming years. He’s shortsighted if he doesn’t see the impact of his miserliness on the 2006 mid-terms.

11. J Dayne Says:
    October 27th, 2006 at 3:49 pm

    Thanks for the telephone #’s. Left a message on the local number, reached a very good staffer (polite, non-committing, but polite and sought further information) at the Washington number.

    My current rep is Stephen Lynch, for whom my husband and I have been so glad to look forward to trading for Marty Meehan. Not so much now, however. And over such a foolish stance, as observed by someone above. Giving his dollars now, when the Democratic community needs support, would yield dollars and time contributed to support Rep Meehan later. I am convinced of this. My check book, which has been open for local/national candidates and progressive organizations, was poised to support Rep Meehan who my husband and I met outside Cafe Mamba on one of our first visits to Lowell. He’s a crediable Rep and could be a genuine candidate for the Senate in the future. But his odd refusal to participate in the very community he hopes to represent–of aware, engaged Democratic voters seeking change this year, has tempered my enthusiasm. He doesn’t need to break the bank on this; he could use this opportunity to his advantage by solidifying his image as a go-to-guy in the Democratic Party. He could appear to be interested in what his constituents (present and potentially MA-wide in the future) believe is the right thing to do.

    I’m not fond of the “every one else thinks you should” arguement over ethical or governance decisions since mass/group think may not be the right guide for good governance. But over whether a politician should keep the money raised from his constituants or give some of it to their party when that party is in need? Come on, Marty, give over a few hundred thousand!

    And yes, good on Rep Meehan for not taking PAC money but please, trust your supporters to refill the coffers when needed.

12. Tim Little Says:
    October 27th, 2006 at 4:39 pm

    And as I said over at BMG: What goes around, comes around. Voters *will* remember who lent a helping hand to other Dems in tight races, and I’m sure Marty will reap the benefits *if* he actually does run for higher office at some point down the line.

13. Dan MacNeil (not dan m) Says:
    October 28th, 2006 at 9:41 am

    Yesterday’s Sun pointed out that Marty had raised a couple hundred thousand dollars for other democrats and was fully paid up on his “dues”, the percentage of money the national committee asks members for based on

    On a global scale, you, dear reader are among the world’s wealthiest
    people. For proof see: the rich list

    If you are willing to tell Marty to give up a big chuck of his stash for the party, you should be willing to give up a similar percentage to buy clean water for a few hundred people.

14. J Dayne Says:
    October 28th, 2006 at 11:47 am

    I am never quite sure what is meant by comparing one cash/donation with another, particularly in the absence of knowledge of what one’s friends, neighbors, stangers and blog posters actually do with their money. I do know from my professional work that most individuals in the US who earn above the median US income (and most of us in the US would be very “rich” on the global scale) are convinced that they are not rich, that they pay far too much in taxes (particularly if on capital gains at that astonishing 15% rate) and that in some strangely Calvinistic way, all-of-us-get-what-we-deserve. Try to explain to someone in the top 5% of US family income that they are not being taxed to destruction with the (very, very) low US income tax rates, the astonishingly low capital gains rate (always nice to earn money from money, not the work of labor) and that no, it is not a death tax that takes silver spoons out of the mouths of their future babe’s babes, if you really want to equal the playing field.

    Contributions, charitable or political, are a personal matter. I can only hope to live my values and to support in time or money/both what I profess to believe. I think Rep Meehan would help himself right now by stepping up to fund what he professes to believe, which is that Democrats offer better solutions and governance. He has a large campaign fund in a no-contest-for-him district. Politicians (though I trust not Rep Meehan) have been know to find creative ways to legally deploy such funds and have fun, personally, too. I think politicians, like Rep Meehan, who aspire to leadership within their Party should put some of their money where their ambitions are — and in excess of any minimum.

    I don’t think he should break the bank, just as I don’t believe any individual should beggar himself or herself for an ideal–unless the personal outcome is their true desire. But chip in to the common good, yes, I do believe that makes sense and specifically for Rep Meehan in a year Democrats could make large gains in Congress.

15. Zama Says:
    October 28th, 2006 at 10:49 pm

    My current rep is Stephen Lynch, for whom my husband and I have been so glad to look forward to trading for Marty Meehan

    You are so lucky! I can’t wait to move out of the 9th and get an actual Congressperson!

    If marty wants to become a statewide leader, he needs to step up and show some leadership here. I am not going to vote for someone to represent me in the Senate when he’s putting himself first and not thinking of the good of the country.

16. Lynne Says:
    October 29th, 2006 at 6:07 pm

    In particular, just for the record, I prefer Meehan to lots of other Reps, especially Lynch. And this doesn’t necessarily mean I won’t support him in the future, though it will put a check in the negative column.

    Specifically, this year is different. In a normal year, there’s no way in hell I’d criticize the Congressman for not parting with the money he’s raised. However, this year is so important, for getting back our majority, and by god we all need this so badly - we need a check on an out-of-control executive branch, we need oversight, we need accountability. And five or ten grand can make SUCH a difference in some of these races in some of these more rural states. $10K is a day’s ad buy for some of these remarkable candidates, and there’s such a spate of remarkable candidates to choose from.

    Obviously, I appreciate what Rep Meehan has done locally and through his fundraising. He’s been a staunch supporter of Deval Patrick, with a fundraiser at his house, and a few rallies and press conferences, lending his weight as an elected official in the Merrimack Valley to help refute the bullcrap that Healey’s been spinning. But the point is, in this special year, we all need to give a little more than usual. I sent what I could to Hodes in NH - my old home state - even though I don’t live there anymore, because I so desperately want to see NH turn a little bluer. It’s not enough to show up at some press conferences and fundraisers. Give til it hurts! Then we can win Congress back!

17. Lynne Says:
    October 29th, 2006 at 6:10 pm

    Dan: What an excellent site, and a reminder that we are, even most of the least of us, in this country, far richer than most of the world which lives in poverty.

    We came home today and the wind was whipping around the house and I stopped for a moment and appreciated that I live in a solid house with heat and comfort. Yes, it’s a rental, yes it eats up far too much of our income for decency (though it’s not that bad lately), but…to be out in the upcoming nasty weather, homeless, to be hungry, that is the terrible tragedy of our time, that so many in the world are without while we complain about a $.40 increase in our gas prices.

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