Markey makes campaign stop in Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD – Representative Edward “Ed” Markey (D-Malden) has kicked off his Berkshire County campaign for the United States Senate.

Rep. Markey made a speech to a group of supporters and interested persons at the Itam Lodge in Pittsfield on Tuesday.

The event was sponsored by The Berkshire Brigades, the county’s largest Democratic Party organization.

The Berkshire Brigades has not, and is unable to, make endorsements in the Democratic Party primary battle between Rep. Markey and Rep. Steven Lynch (D-South Boston) for the Senate Seat recently vacated by former Senator John Kerry, who resigned his post to become President Obama’s Secretary of State.

The winner of the April 30 Democratic primary is expected to emerge victorious in the June 25 special election.

Rep. Lynch campaigned in The Berkshires the day before Rep. Markey’s visit.

In his speech, Rep. Markey highlighted his stances and priorities on a number of issues, including gun control, abortion rights, gay rights and climate change, taking firmly liberal positions on each one.

He also spoke in favor of a constitutional amendment to repeal the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, the 2010 ruling that prohibited restrictions on independent political expenditures from corporations and unions.

“I want to go to the United States Senate in order to fight for a constitutional amendment to repeal Citizens United,” said the congressman. “We have to repeal Citizens United or else democracy as we know it will be in a constitutional crisis.”

Rep. Markey also touted his work on the Waxman-Markey Bill, which was crafted to dramatically reduce United States greenhouse gas emissions. It passed the House of Representatives in 2009, only to die in the Senate.

“You cannot preach temperance from a bar stool,” he said. “I want to go to the United States Senate to make sure our voice is heard and that Waxman-Markey passes on the floor of the United States Senate.”

Rep. Markey also highlighted his work on rural broadband, which included partnering with The Berkshires’ former congressman, Rep. John Olver (D-Amherst), and current congressman, Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield).

Additionally, Rep. Markey took some shots at the Tea Party.

“There’s one thing that separates these Tea Party Republicans down in Washington from The Berkshire Brigades on every single issue. The difference? You are right and they are wrong,” said the congressman.

After his speech, Rep. Markey answered two questions from the audience before proceeding to shake hands with supporters and speak with the press.

“I’m going to be back out here over and over and over again, over the course of this year,” said Rep. Markey in comments to the press. “I want to earn every vote.”

He also expressed a favorable view of The Berkshires, when asked for his thoughts by The Beacon.

“The Berkshires are one of the most beautiful parts of the entire country and so…it’s kind of a pleasure actually to be able to come out here to visit, and I’m looking forward to doing so many more times.”

Rep. Markey was well received by the couple hundred people in attendance, whose number included Pittsfield Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi, North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright and Berkshire County Sheriff Thomas Bowler.

“I think we need somebody in the Senate with good democratic values, and I feel like he’s the strongest candidate that way,” said 3rd Berkshire District Rep. Tricia Farley Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) when asked by The Beacon why she was supporting the congressman.

“Congressman Ed Markey is the right candidate, mostly because he’s a strong, experienced, progressive Democrat,” said Sherwood Guernsey, a Pittsfield lawyer and Democratic Party activist. “[He’s] supportive of good, progressive democratic values that I fought for all my life so, I’m going to be with Ed Markey.”

Not all attendees had decided to back the congressman, however.

“I haven’t formerly made a decision,” said State Senator Benjamin Downing (D-Pittsfield). “Just doing my research like everybody else.”

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on February 28, 2013. Filed under News,State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry