John Kerry To Face First Primary Challenge In 24 Years
The Swamp:
by Matthew Hay Brown
For the first time since he was elected to the Senate 24 years ago, John Kerry, who voted to authorize President Bush to use military force in Iraq before becoming one of the war’s most ardent critics, will face a primary challenge for his Massachusetts seat.
Attorney and former Gloucester city councilman Ed O’Reilly, a onetime commercial lobsterman, won 22.5 percent of the delegates today at the Democratic state convention in Lowell, Mass., to secure a place on the state primary ballot in September.
“Party officials said this campaign is a nuisance. And it is. It’s a total nuisance,” O’Reilly said to the convention floor, The Boston Globe is reporting. “Democracy is a nuisance. People said the American Revolution was a nuisance - and it was!”
O’Reilly has been endorsed by Progressive Democrats of America, the antiwar group that helped activist Donna Edwards unseat eight-term incumbent Democratic Rep. Albert R. Wynn in Maryland earlier this year.
“While we have great respect for Sen. Kerry, we are elated that Ed found more than enough support among the delegates to make the ballot,” said Tim Carpenter, national director of PDA. “For too long congressional Democrats have let their Republican counterparts hijack the agenda instead of standing firmly for our American - our Democratic - values.”
Kerry, the 2004 Democratic nominee for president, won the party’s endorsement today by capturing the majority of the delegates at the convention. He is expected to turn back the challenge.
“I’m here with humility to ask for your support,” Kerry said, according to The Globe. “We have literally so much unfinished business … My friends, I have more energy, I feel more focused, I’m more ready for the fight than ever before.”
Progressive Democrats of America said Kerry’s address went 12 minutes beyond the allotted time.
“We would be delighted if Sen. Kerry took the energy he brought to that twelve minutes back to the Senate and used it as the first twelve minutes of his filibuster against more funding for the occupation of Iraq,” Carpenter said. The group, which is campaigning for “Healthcare, not Warfare,” hoped O’Reilly’s challenge would force Kerry “to bring a swift end to the occupation of Iraq and finally take the lead in” in passing legislation to provide single-payer healthcare for all Americans.
The last serious challenge Kerry faced for his Senate seat was in 1996, when he beat Republican Massachusetts Gov. William Weld in what was seen as a contest between potential presidential contenders. He has not faced a Democratic challenger since winning a three-way primary in the 1984 race to succeed Sen. Paul Tsongas.
The winner of the Sept. 16 primary will face Republican candidate Jeff Beatty in the general election. Jim Ogonowski, a GOP favorite since his strong showing against eventual Rep. Nikki Tsongas in a congressional special election last year, failed this week to qualify for a party primary.
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Godspeed Mr. Beatty, you are one of ours. John F**king Kerry is an enemy of every veteran and active duty trooper.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pmWho’s the guy on the right in that pic?
June 7th, 2008 at 4:00 pmHonestly had a big out-loud laugh at that one.
June 7th, 2008 at 4:02 pmThat picture gave me the biggest laugh today, so far. Thanks!
June 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pmI don’t see the resemblance. The man on the left is much better looking.
June 7th, 2008 at 6:18 pm“We would be delighted if Sen. Kerry took the energy he brought to that twelve minutes back to the Senate
HAHAHAHA Served sucka!!
June 7th, 2008 at 11:47 pmlol… fuckin Lurch, eh? Outside of Bambi the worst waste of flesh on the globe. Well… maybe Gore. Or Hairy Reid. Or Pelosi…. sheesh, this could take all nite.
June 8th, 2008 at 12:20 amIn 1998, Lurch was running for the Senate again and said” I believe that Iraq is a threat…and if you don’t believe that, then don’t vote for me”.
Lurch has a moral compass that he adjusts by checking the wind.
He’s always sown to the wind. One day he’ll reap the whirlwind but probably not in his crack-head state.
June 8th, 2008 at 4:23 am