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Pressley on running for that particular seat
By adamg on Fri, 03/09/2018 - 8:31am
Jamaica Plain News talks to City Councilor Ayanna Pressley on her decisions to run for Congress, to run against Capuano rather than Lynch and why she didn't run for mayor.
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Comments
Very interesting article. I
Very interesting article. I think it says something that she can't even list one difference between herself and are incumbent Congressman when asked.
Subtlety
Her answer was much more subtle than a previous article in which she stated the reason people should vote for her was because she was "more representative of the diversity" of the district, which is just about the least subtle way to say "vote me for because I'm a black woman and he is a white man"
Representing diversity
N=1 does not represent any diversity. A single observation has no variance.
Stupid question of the year!!
"Q: You had the most votes in three straight at-large Boston City Council elections. You’re obviously popular in Boston. Why not run for mayor of Boston?'
Maybe because Ayanna saw how badly the local media and power structure fucked Tito Jackson and wants to avoid that fate. Ya think?
Oh, that's rich
The real answer is that she knew that running against an incumbent mayor had the downside of her losing her job, while running against an incumbent member of Congress has no such downside.
I mean, she repeatedly noted in the interview how popular she is in Boston, so obviously she could have defeated Walsh, handily most likely.
Yeah, right...
A person of color getting elected Mayor in this town? How long have you lived here?
Long enough to have seen an African American Governor
And the last time I checked, the rest of the Commonwealth might be a little bit more racist than the white people of Boston. I don't know. I mean, you are in the suburbs more than I am, so you have an ear to the ground. Are the people outside of Boston really less racist than Bostonians?
Perhaps the issue is the person. Setti Warren could get the people of Newton to vote for him because he has charisma and longstanding roots in the city. Yvonne Spicer resonated with the voters of Framingham. Lisa Wong got elected mayor of Fitchburg while Quincy has never elected an Asian mayor. If Pressley is really so beloved by the residents of Boston, perhaps she should have run, but she didn't, so we'll never know.
The interviewer already knew
The interviewer already knew the real answer: a city councilor usually gives up their seat to run for Mayor. But they can run for state/federal office without giving up their seat, because of odd/even election years.
Interview
I know Pressley specifies that she wants to help the poor and people of color, but it comes off that it's the only people she'll serve in office.
If Pressley replaces Capuano,
If Pressley replaces Capuano, I could offer you consolation by pointing out that there are currently eight other wealthy white congressfolk to serve the needs of the fragile groups that you assume Pressley won't serve.
Why not run for Mayor?That
Why not run for Mayor?
That would require not running for her current seat, this is a freebie
Why not run against Lynch?
Then I would have to actually focus on the issues
What are the other towns in the district?
Does it matter? Boston, Boston, Boston, Boston
Importance of Seniority to District
Should the Democrats win back control of the House of Representatives, Congressman Capuano stands to chair a committee or, who knows, serve as Speaker of the House someday. He's certainly represented the district competently for many a year.
I can not see changing my Congressman for a popular local politician who makes no strong argument for a seat in Congress representing a very liberal state other than having been taught not "to wait her turn."
This is literally the first
This is literally the first time I've heard Capuano as a possibility for Speaker. He's not going to be Speaker.
Question the City Councilor's candidacy!
Question City Councilors' candidacies for other Offices!... Boston City Councilors' Notices/Documents and Bad Records Management practices deter civic engagement.