Arthur Schaper: Brian Herr for US Senate (Who’s He?)

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Friday, February 07, 2014

Arthur Christopher Schaper, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

Despite recently elected US Senator Edward "Maryland" Markey's relatively low favorability numbers (and his diminished name recognition in the Commonwealth), the only name so far to throw his hat in to run against Markey is Republican selectman Brian Herr of Hopkinton. So, who is the guy?

MassLive.com reports:

Herr portrayed himself as an outsider to government who can bring a new perspective to Washington. "For me, it's all about the dysfunction in Washington D.C.," Herr said in a phone interview with The Republican / MassLive.com. "Whether you look at it from a Democratic, Republican or independent perspective, there's a lot of frustration about what goes on in Washington, D.C. ... it's time for a change.”

An outsider who wants to get inside: Sounds good. Markey is as inside as it gets, serving since ’76, with nothing but a paycheck, a climate change caucus (which melted away), and a government worker legacy behind him. Even when a Democrat-lite ran against him, Markey still won by only ten points: not impressive for a Democrat in a three-to-one Democratic state.

Herr cashed in on an initiative against a local casino, and won. Local leaders respect him.

Herr the candidate

About his candidacy, Herr chooses not to take sides, and staying outside of the fray, the candidate blames Washington, which certainly includes Republican along with Democrats. Playing the "dysfunction" card, Herr apparently has no regard for the US Constitution, both spirit and letter. The Framers created a form of government driven by dysfunction. As US Senator Tom Coburn had shared: "The problem with the parties is that they agree too much." This Coburn declared toward the end of 2013, one of the most unproductive years in Washington history.

Then Herr declares: "It's time for a change." Do you feel the tingle go up your leg on that one? Every candidate launching a campaign automatically sends that message. Vote for me, not for him. That’s change, Brian!

Where does he stand on the issues?

Beyond Herr’s hollow sentiments, MassLive’s next statement was a slap in the face to conservatives:

Like many Republicans in Massachusetts, Herr is a fiscal conservative who is liberal on social issues.

Is this sentiment true? Social conservatives threatened to pull their support from the Mass GOP should the party endorse Baker running mate Karyn Polito’s stance on gay marriage, in that she declared that she would not undo settled law on the issue. Could be serious. One Massachusetts Party leader told me that the GOP caucus has its pro-choice and pro-life elements. But beyond the factual accuracy of Masslive.com's statement, the deeper affront of the media’s statist-liberal, back-handed definition of “Massachusetts Republican” represents a shameless attempt to redefine the political opposition, however marginal. One local paper in California defined pro-choice, pro-gay marriage Republicans in contrast to the other Republicans and their “socially intolerant versions of conservatism”. Pro-life is intolerant? No, the paper’s take on that policy stance – that’s intolerance, and from the media, no less.

Herr could have challenged that offensive idea in the article, but since he's more about running for something rather than standing for the full platform of the Republican Party, no one should be surprised.

The article then outlines Herr as supporting abortion rights and gay marriage as a matter of "equal rights".

Excuse me? Since when was terminating the life inside of a pregnant mother an absolute right? What about one's right to life, enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the right from which all other rights depend? The abortion issue is hardly settled (the United States Supreme Court limited abortion at viability), and arguing from rights only makes the argument more complex. As for marriage, a commitment of two people as one is not a right to begin with. Distinct groups of people (minors, mentally challenged individuals) are not allowed to marry, for example.

Republicans and conservatives face the frustrating dilemma of seeking office in a state where gay marriage was first recognized by judicial fiat. This reality creates some problems. One has to wonder why the state party has not endorsed getting the government out of marriage entirely? Perhaps future statewide GOP candidates can settle in the “settled law” argument, even if they disagree with the policy.

Is he just another Gabriel Gomez?

With so many liberal marks against Markey’s first proposed challenger, what makes Herr the guy to run as a Republican?

Herr touts his fiscal conservatism. He also recognizes individuals' right to protect themselves and their property. Then he follows with more purple pivoting. Since the Second Amendment was passed centuries ago, new laws must curtail modern weapons and other threats to public safety, blah, blah blah.

His flawed gun control argument ignores that the Second Amendment defends our rights from an encroaching federal government. Weapons bans do not work, either.

Brian Herr is another Gabriel Gomez waffle. I can't write "clone", since the announced Republican is white, thus identity politics won't matter.

With a liberal stance on abortion (at least Gomez was pro-life), and supporting gay marriage as “equal rights”, plus his distasteful stance on gun control, Herr has lighter skin, and lighter credentials.

When will statewide Bay State Republican candidates give up on playing Democrat in a field of blue to win?

 

Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance. Follow him on Twitter @ArthurCSchaper, reach him at [email protected], and read more at Schaper's Corner and As He Is, So Are We Ministries.

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