Arthur Schaper: Gimme Five, Addivinola!

Email to a friend Permalink

Friday, December 20, 2013

Arthur Christopher Schaper, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

Edward Markey of Maryland (natch, Malden and Medford) got elected to the US Senate this past June, taking down a RINO who wanted to play purple in a field of blue. Gabriel Gomez stood out enough to get 45% of the vote, but Markey took the Senate seat, thus opening up his MA-5 neighborhood to a host of candidates (not that anyone would notice that he was no longer there).

Businessman, lawyer, and college instructor Frank Addivinola, R-Malden by way of Boston, threw his hat in the ring once again to represent his homestead. (Wow! He was actually born and raised there. Take that Markey!) He gave it his best in the new Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District. The special election on December 10 pitted the Republican outsider against state senator Katherine Clark (D-Melrose). The results: 64% for Clark, and 34% for Addivinola.

Gimme five, Addivinola!

The district is 80% Democratic, but Republican operatives sensed an opportunity. Who can blame them? The Massachusetts Republicans in Beacon Hill led the charge to repeal the software cloud tax, and Massachusetts Republicans across the state are mounting the much-needed repeal of the forever gas tax.

If Wrentham state senator Scott Brown could win a special election in 2010, if Republicans are looking good for the corner office in Boston, then perhaps, with the lower turnout and the higher resentment against the Taxachusetts spend-o-rama against businesses and middle class interests, then registered Democrats and Independents would likely register their discontent with the status quo.

The Primaries

The MA-5 Democratic primary on October 15th, according to Boston.com , featured Katherine Clark at the top. She won big in Malden and Medford, while parochial support offered some help to the other six candidates. The proud, gay Carl Sciortino ended up in third place, in spite of his connections with every liberal-progressive interest one can think of, plus a pat on the back from his Tea Party Papa.

As for the Republican primary, Addivinola bested Tom Tierney, who had defeated the lawyer-businessman in the 2012 Republican primary for the same seat. Tierney got taken by Markey, while another Tierney kept his seat in Northeastern Mass (that’s John Tierney, whose 2014 chances are looking even shakier, should Richard Tisei run again). Of every MA-5 constituency tallied and targeted, none of the Republicans in the September 2013 primary passed the one thousand mark. Yikes! Forget an uphill climb: winning the MA-5 became more like climbing Mount Everest than ever.

From October to December (from the spooky to jingle bells all the way), Addivinola and Clark added up their endorsements and marked their territory. They even debated, despite the lopsided ground advantage for Clark. I have to hand it to the Bay State political culture. Everyone gets to make their case to the voters, no matter what the odds.

The Candidates

A few remarks about Clark. She had the backing of Elizabeth Warren and Nancy Pelosi. She campaigned on equal pay for women, protecting Social Security, and standing up for the middle class. In 2008, Clark was endorsed by Boston Democratic Socialist of America when running for state office. How she plans to protect the middle class while promoting the redistribution of wealth is beyond me. The first to broadcast television commercials, Clark featured her deceased World War II machinist grandmother to slander Republicans as anti-woman. “I approve this message, and my grandmother would, too.” Sickening and very sad. I am surprised that she did not indict the Republicans as child-murderers, too.

About Addivinola. He was pro-life, pro-liberty, and anti-Obamacare. He opposed the Obamacare-Iike immigration bill, and supported Citizens United. Too bad MA-5 citizens did not unite around his candidacy. I have nothing but respect for any Republican, any conservative who still stay true to his values, even in deep-blue Massachusetts.

Gimme five, Addivinola!

The Right Man for the Job

I was keen on getting anyone conservative and respectable into the MA-5 Congressional seat. I called the Mass GOP before the primary if the state party had called their favorite. They supported everyone. After the primary, and in order to get some insight on what Addivinola and supporters were doing to get out the vote, I called one of his campaign representatives one week before the election. December 8, the Sunday before Election Day, one of his Republican operatives contacted me. He supported Addivinola from the outset because of his real world experience, a well-lettered man with several degrees. When I asked about the issues that the Republican was campaigning on, he shared with me the growing concerns about government encroachment into Americans’ private lives (NSA spying, for example). When I asked about the Commonwealth’s reaction and responses to Obamacare, otherwise known as Obama’s hardly Affordable Care Act, he reported that RomneyCare recipients are now getting forced off their plans because of ObamaCare.

Last of all, Addivinola’s supporter informed me that their candidate was working hard, even on Thanksgiving, to round up votes. Impressive, to say the least. Clark had big liberal support and money, while Addivinola ran mostly a self-financed campaign. Clark did prevail, as expected, but Addivinola’s integrity and initiative deserve recognition.

Gimme five, Addivinola, for running for the MA-5!

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.

---

Related Slideshow: New England Communities With the Most Political Clout 2013

Related Articles

• Arthur C. Schaper: Dad: I Am A Massachusetts Liberal! (*Yawn*)
• Arthur C. Schaper: MA GOP Takes Down Tax (Dems, Not So Much)
• Arthur C. Schaper: Washington Sucks
• Arthur Schaper: “Raise Up Massachusetts” Brings Bay State Down
• Arthur Schaper: ‘Saint’ Patrick’s Budget Proposals For Mass.

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink