Tomorrow on January 19th, 2010 there will be a special election in Massachusetts to decide who will get to hold the senate seat that was held by Sen. Ted Kennedy from 1962 until 2009. The two most prominent candidates are the Republican candidate Scott Brown and the Democrat candidate Martha Coakley.
Here are the candidates self-described bios. These can be seen on the candidates about me pages for Martha and for Scott.
About Marth Coakley:
“Attorney General Martha Coakley has dedicated the last 20 years of her life to a career in public service. Coakley has a strong history as an advocate—not only for individuals and communities, but also for the best interests of the Commonwealth at large. Coakley brings to the Attorney General’s office a diverse and extensive legal background, a proven track record of bringing people to the table to find effective solutions to the issues that face the Commonwealth, and a strong commitment to her role as a public servant.”
About Scott Brown:
“State Senator Scott Brown has led the fight in Massachusetts against wasteful government spending and higher taxes. He is a free-market advocate who believes our strength as a nation flows from its people. He believes in a culture of family, patriotism and freedom. At his September 12 announcement of candidacy for the U.S. Senate, Senator Brown articulated a core set of beliefs that guide his thinking.”
If you are in Massachusetts or a resident of that state I encourage you to go out and vote tomorrow. Who you vote for is up to you. No matter who you choose the fact is that it is important for you to go out and express your opinion.
I am now going to tell you why I would NOT vote for Scott Brown and why I would vote for Martha Coakley.
I am going to start this by saying what I believe in and why I believe. I agree with a lot of the assessments Scott Brown is making. The current health care legislation is not the best we can do, our country needs to be strong again and we are losing ground to the BRIC nations, including China and the EU.
The USA is however still economically strong, but we need to continue our growth and do so with a solid sense of what is right and what is wrong.
I believe that the USA needs to maintain a strong defense; we need to have the top military in the world.
Fortunately, we can maintain our defense and strong military and reduce military spending. Unfortunately, there are very few leaders out there that share this view. Scott Brown and Martha Coakley will both continue the abhorrent military spending we have engaged in. This spending has been the primary factor in the growth of the US debt.
This debt needs to be reduced. But what is the best way? Do we invest in our infrastructure, education and society like we have done previously? Or, do we cut back in these programs hoping to cut the debt now?
I firmly believe that we must maintain a set of social liberal policies that will better prepare the US for the world we see in the next 15 to 30 years. If we cut spending now we will hurt people’s chances of finding employment, we will hurt their chances of getting unemployment benefits, we will hurt our children’s abilities to work and engage society in the future by cutting education funding as well. We cannot afford to cut these programs now! We must be prepared for the future.
While we are setting our country on a proper course for the future we must also pay attention to the moral aspects of our foreign and domestic policies. Is it right for the US to benefit from the slave-like labor in China? Is it right for US companies to engage in these practices while also benefiting one of our major competitors?
Should we continue our ways of posturing about the international community like a male peacock on the offense? Or, should we engage the rest of the world and come up with actual solutions for the problems we face?
How does invading Iraq make the US safer? The answer is it does not.
How does continuing the US military presence in over 160 countries help the US? It absolutely does not!
The United States is the only superpower in the world today and this will not change for at least 20 years.
A lot of these things will not be accomplished with the current leadership Democrat or Republican. There is a powerful Free Trade consortium in Washington and this will not go away for a long time.
With Scott Brown we get a continuation of the idealogies that have led the United States into this mess. Brown has voted with the Republican Party 96% of the time.
He is not an independent. In fact he has recently been endorsed by Sarah Palin and he endorsed Palin last year while claiming that Obama was born out of wedlock. This behavior is not appropriate for US politics anymore.
However, Scott Brown is an extremely pro-military, pro-big business, anti-abortion, gun rights, small government, no health care reform, pro-death penalty, anti-gay marriage Republican.
We face many problems in this country, but what we need now is sensible leadership. The scare tactics, Fox News style propaganda and the anti-everything stance should have no place in American politics. But this is not the case. In many elections we see hate speech and lies rather then logic, reasoning and togetherness. We need leadership that will listen to the will of the people and have their best interests in mind. We don’t need trillions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthiest of Americans like the Bush tax cuts. We need money to go to the people who need help the most. We need leaders who represent their constituents and do so with passion, logic, and ethics.
Martha Coakley will provide that leadership. Scott Brown will be a continuation of previous Republican leadership.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Tell me what you think about this race, politics or issues that are important to you. We want to hear your comments!
Scott Brown on the issues:
From http://www.brownforussenate.com/issues
Why I’m Running…
America is a great country but we also have some challenges that we need to solve if we’re going to remain the world’s superpower. The most important of our challenges is getting the U.S. economy moving again. People are hurting as they struggle to make ends meet. They’re worried about their future, and that of their children and grandchildren. I want to ensure that we leave them an America that is financially stronger and independent: minus a national debt that we can never repay.Health Care
I believe that all Americans deserve health care coverage, but I am opposed to the health care legislation that is under consideration in Congress and will vote against it. It will raise taxes, increase government spending and lower the quality of care, especially for elders on Medicare. I support strengthening the existing private market system with policies that will drive down costs and make it easier for people to purchase affordable insurance. In Massachusetts, I support the 2006 healthcare law that was successful in expanding coverage, but I also recognize that the state must now turn its attention to controlling costs.
Economy
I am a free enterprise advocate who believes that lower taxes can encourage economic growth. Raising taxes stifles growth, weakens the economy and puts more people out of work. Our economy works best when individuals have more of their income to spend, and businesses have money to invest and add jobs. I have been a fiscal watchdog in the state legislature fighting bigger government, higher taxes and wasteful spending.Energy and Environment
I support common-sense environment policy that will help to reduce pollution and preserve our precious open spaces. I realize that without action now, future generations will be left to clean up the mess we leave. In order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, I support reasonable and appropriate development of alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, nuclear, geothermal and improved hydroelectric facilities. I oppose a national cap and trade program because of the higher costs that families and businesses would incur.Education
I am passionate about improving the quality of our public schools. Accountability and high standards are paramount. I support choice through charter schools, as well as the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement. I have worked to ensure that all children have access to a quality education. I am a strong advocate for the METCO program, which provides lower income students with broader educational opportunities.Immigration
I recognize that our strength as a nation is built on the immigrant experience in America. I welcome legal immigration to this country. However, we are also a nation of laws and government should not adopt policies that encourage illegal immigration. Providing driver’s licenses and in-state tuition to illegal immigrant families will act as a magnet in drawing more people here in violation of the law and it will impose new costs on taxpayers. I oppose amnesty, and I believe we ought to strengthen our border enforcement and institute an employment verification system with penalties for companies that hire illegal immigrants.Veterans
As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard, I am uniquely aware of the importance and sacrifice of our men and women serving in the military. I have been a vigorous supporter of legislation providing benefits to returning service members, as well as, benefits for the families of those killed in action. I believe we need to recognize the sacrifice of all of our servicemembers by keeping better track of returning military personnel so they get the services they deserve. That includes providing them with first-class medical care and other benefits to which they are entitled. I am known as a leader on veterans’ issues through my work on the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee, the Hidden Wounds of War Commission, and the Governor’s Task Force on Returning Veterans.Gun issues
I support the Second Amendment and believe that citizens have the right to keep and bear arms as a basic constitutional liberty. I support safe and responsible gun ownership.Death penalty
I believe there are some crimes that are so heinous that they deserve capital punishment. Our Government should have the ability to impose the death penalty in cases where it is justified.Abortion
While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America. I believe government has the responsibility to regulate in this area and I support parental consent and notification requirements and I oppose partial birth abortion. I also believe there are people of good will on both sides of the issue and we ought to work together to support and promote adoption as an alternative to abortion.Marriage
I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. States should be free to make their own laws in this area, so long as they reflect the people’s will as expressed through them directly, or as expressed through their elected representatives.Israel
Israel has made enormous sacrifices in an attempt to secure peace – including unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. I support a two-state solution that reaffirms Israel’s right to exist and provides the Palestinians with a place of their own where both sides can live in peace and security. As our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel lives every day under the threat of terror yet shares with America a dedication to democratic ideals, a respect for faith, and a commitment to peace in the region. Until a lasting peace is achieved, I support the security barrier erected by Israel which has proven successful in protecting Israeli civilians from terrorist attacks.
Iran
I support the bi-partisan Iran sanctions bill and believe that until Ahmadinejad gives up his nuclear ambitions he should be isolated from the rest of the world. With its reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons, Iran represents the biggest threat to Israel. Ahmadinejad is a Holocaust denier who has threatened to wipe Israel off the map. Meeting with him confers legitimacy when the only correct response is to treat him as an outcast. A personal meeting with Ahmadinejad, as suggested by my opponent, would embolden him and be used as a propaganda tool to strengthen his position.
Martha Coakley on the issues:
From http://www.marthacoakley.com/about/Issues
As your next U.S. Senator, Martha will work to ensure health care reform is done effectively and responsibly.
Martha believes that our differences and diversity make us stronger — and that our government must ensure equal access to opportunities and fair treatment for all.
Martha believes the best way to get our economy back on the right track is to tackle the economic crisis head on and to take all necessary steps to get people back to work.
Martha believes America needs a comprehensive approach to lowering our energy costs, meeting our energy needs and protecting our environment. Martha knows we need affordable, sustainable and diverse energy supplies that maximize the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Martha is committed to fighting for the needs of senior citizens. As United States Senator, Martha will work to ensure that Americans who have spent their lives building their financial futures will not be denied housing, health care, or the ability to thrive in their later years.
Protecting Children and Families
Martha has been an advocate for keeping children and families safe for over 25 years. As Attorney General, Martha protected Massachusetts families by ensuring law enforcement had the tools necessary to do their jobs and by directing resources to the care and protection of crime victims. As a United States Senator, Martha will continue to promote the health and safety of all Massachusetts’ families.
Martha is deeply committed to public education. As Senator, she will fight to improve teacher compensation, fund programs that connect students to innovative technology and industries, and implement education reform that fosters and rewards innovation.
Massachusetts is home to almost half a million veterans. These brave men and women, as well as their families, friends, and communities, deserve quality care and steadfast support. Martha is committed to ensuring that we do not let our veterans down.
As Senator, Martha will dedicate herself to keeping America safe and developing ways for the people of the Middle East to live peacefully and prosper.
“Based on what I know now about the President’s planned troop increase, I do not believe that we should send additional troops into Afghanistan. I believe we should begin the process of bringing our troops home.”
Throughout her 20-plus years of public service, Martha has worked to keep Massachusetts safe. In the Senate, she will promote the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission and a national security strategy based on cooperation, information sharing, and an understanding of both our vulnerabilities and our strengths.
What do you think?
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I liked this read. It was nice to hear your opinion and why… along with an a balanced factual representation with sources listed on each candidate. Very impressed!
Keep up the good work!
Martha blew this election- simple as that. She came across as bland and as another rubber stamp for the democratic machine. No new ideas. She hid from the public during the campaign. Imagine a conservative Republican winning Ted Kennedy’s seat in the bluest of blue states. It is about to happen
Says something about how people feel about the New Socialism in America. Lots of pols better watch out at mid term election time