Congressman John Tierney has ruffled feathers within the Jewish community locally with criticism of Israel for its May 31 attack on a Gaza-bound Turkish aid flotilla that left nine people dead.
The Salem Democrat has traditionally enjoyed broad support among Jewish voters in the district, but his failure to stand behind Israel on this particular matter has some resentful.
Apparently Republican challenger Bill Hudak sees an opportunity in the rift, announcing this week that he had received the endorsement of a new group called the Interfaith Organization of Christians and Jews for Israel.
A Hudak release quotes the group's spokesperson, Carol Denbo of Swampscott: "Tierney has taken a number of anti-Israel actions recently that are deeply troubling to us. These include voting 'present' on an important vote condemning the notorious UN Goldstone Report and refusing to sign a recent bipartisan Congressional letter ... to Secretary of State Clinton, affirming the strong bonds between the United States and Israel. Bill Hudak has consistently demonstrated an unwavering support for the State of Israel, and we will vigorously support his candidacy."
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In that same release Hudak announced the appointment of some new campaign staffers including Kevin McCullough as senior campaign director, Lloyd F. Thompson as senior communications adviser and Meaghan Polansky as special events manager.
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It was no surprise legislators attending Wednesday's university bill-signing were willing to cool their heels for several minutes while Gov. Patrick fought his way through the press scrum between his third-floor office and the Grand Staircase at the Statehouse. Rarely, at least this year, have so many words of praise been lavished on lawmakers.
Basking in the applause that greeted his appearance at the podium, House Speaker Robert DeLeo declared, "I want to thank all of you for coming out in support of my expanded gaming legislation."
The quip belied the very tough negotiations that have been conducted this week in an effort to produce a bill that would allow casino gambling in Massachusetts.
• • •
State Rep. Ted Speliotis, D-Danvers, brought two guests along to the bill-signing. Claire Berardino of West Peabody won a day at the Statehouse with her state representative at the Ward 6 Fourth of July raffle and brought along a friend, Robin Tomasino.
Ordinarily it would have been a quiet day on Beacon Hill with the House out of session, but with representatives of all the state colleges in town to celebrate their new status as state universities, the place was packed.
• • •
North Shore Community College President Wayne Burton was in Washington, D.C., this week. His work on a national panel working with autistic individuals seeking to pursue a college degree, earned him an invitation to the White House ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
Burton, a longtime Democrat and big Barack Obama fan, said he found the president's remarks inspiring. His lone moment of disappointment came when Obama, working the crowd, failed to acknowledge Burton's Red Sox cap, but a few moments later made a big deal of another one bearing the Yankees' logo.
Burton said he would have understood if the fellow had been wearing a White Sox cap.
• • •
The Massachusetts Republican Party is calling on Gov. Patrick to veto the bill adding Massachusetts to the list of states calling for a national popular vote.
If adopted, in future presidential elections all of a state's Electoral College votes would go not necessarily to the winner here, but to the candidate winning the most votes cast nationwide.
Had it been in effect back in 1972, the Bay State would have been forced to cast its Electoral College votes for Richard Nixon, even though a majority here had indicated a preference for Democrat George McGovern.
According to GOP chairman Jennifer Nassour, "The national popular vote movement is an assault on the U.S. Constitution and a gross political scheme.
"Presidential candidates run national campaigns to make their case to a national electorate. Yet adopting the national popular vote would make big cities like New York and L.A. the sole determinants of presidential elections and disenfranchise many states, including Massachusetts."
Indeed, wouldn't you prefer to stick with the voting procedures handed down to us by the Founding Fathers than adopt this new scheme favored by the Democratic majority in the Legislature?
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Datebook: For the last summer as the city's state representative, Mary Grant will sponsor Beverly Homecoming's ice-cream social on Monday, Aug. 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cove Community Center on East Corning Street ... Beverly Republicans will hold a grand opening of their new downtown campaign headquarters at 194 Cabot St. next Friday, Aug. 6, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. ... Brett Schetzsle, the Republican seeking to succeed Grant, will sponsor the pre-fireworks concert at 7 p.m. at Lynch Park on the last day of Homecoming, Sunday, Aug. 8. ... a reception for Jerry Parisella, one of two Democrats running for Grant's seat, will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Eurostoves store, 45 Enon Street (Commodore Plaza) in Beverly. Suggested donation is $50.
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Nelson Benton's column on North Shore politics appears every Friday on this page. Read him daily at blogs.salemnews.com/fullnelson or follow him on Twitter at www .twitter.com/nelsonbenton.
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