To the editor:
I have been registered Democrat for most of my life. After living in Washington, D.C., for most of my life I moved to the North Shore in 2002. I’ve voted for John Tierney five times in the 10 years I’ve lived in Massachusetts. In this election, however, I am supporting Richard Tisei. Mr. Tierney’s lack of candor about his family’s legal entanglements has overtaken his ability to be effective on behalf of his constituents in a situation that has become a major distraction.
Of particular concern in this campaign, in addition to the mounting legal and ethical issues, are the Tierney campaign’s utterly incredible distortions about Richard Tisei. Ads currently running — financed by the Tierney campaign and the Democratic Party — make the loony assertion that Richard Tisei is some kind of “extremist.” Intellectually dishonest “quotes” taken completely out of context suggest in the most misleading terms possible that Mr. Tisei is a darling of the Tea Party, a laughable assertion.
The reality is that Richard Tisei is exactly the right person to both represent the people of the Sixth District of Massachusetts in a Republican House of Representatives. But he is also the perfect antidote to the insane and troubling gridlock on Capital Hill at the moment.
Even without the personal issues, John Tierney has little or no leverage to represent the North Shore in Congress with a Republican majority that is not likely to change. Richard Tisei, on the other hand, is a Republican who knows something about hard bargaining both with his own party and across the aisle. He has a lengthy track record of bi-partisanship. During his time in the Legislature in Massachusetts he went toe to toe with Republican Governors on a host of issues and also worked across the aisle to ensure that his district had a place at the table on a wide range of policy and spending issues.
Ironically, it may have been the third party candidate who made the most compelling argument for Richard Tisei when he said, “We need a voice who is not Republican, not Democrat, but for the people…” That statement describes Richard Tisei perfectly. He will have access to leadership to ensure that the voices of his constituents register. But he never forgets that he works for the people, not any political party.
Maureen Flatley
Essex
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