Salem News Endorses Barton

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How bad are you when your hometown newspaper endorses your opponent?

The Salem News
Thursday, November 2, 2006

Barton for Congress

Massachusetts is fast gaining a reputation as the "cut-and-run" state, thanks mostly to its two U.S. senators. Indeed, when President Bush Tuesday criticized "the senator for Massachusetts" for his slap at American troops in Iraq, one wondered whether his words were directed at Kerry or the people who elected him.
Perhaps it was both. Connect the dots and you might well find a correlation between the fact that this state is home to both the most tax-friendly delegation in Congress and the most expensive and trouble-plagued public works project in history - the Big Dig.
Fortunately for the state's 10 Democratic congressmen, Kerry and the state's senior senator, Edward Kennedy, dominate the headlines. But those who take the time to examine their words and votes will find that some House members, including the 6th District's John Tierney, are even further to the left than those two.
It's time the North of Boston region has a congressman who more closely reflects their views regarding government spending, national security, the sanctity of the family, and immigration policy. That person is Richard Barton, the Republican candidate in this race.
Barton, a retired U.S. Navy and Delta Airlines pilot from Manchester-by-the-Sea, faces long odds in his effort to unseat Tierney, the five-term Democratic incumbent from Salem.
Barton's goals are simple and straightforward: "A homeland security system that protects and secures our borders. A vision of limited government, a simplified tax system, family values, jobs and safety for all our children."
A member of the Air Line Pilots Association and Airline Pilots Security Alliance, Barton says he was motivated to run by Tierney's refusal after 9/11 to consider legislation that would have allowed pilots, after undergoing proper training, to carry a firearm while in the cockpit. But why would he, or the voters, expect anything else from a congressman who would have been perfectly content to leave Saddam Hussein in power, and now would have U.S. forces turn tail and flee the war in Iraq?
The Republican candidate has no illusions about his chances next Tuesday. He hails from one of the smallest communities in the district; has never run for public office; and as of the last reporting period, had raised only a tenth as much money as his opponent.
Barton frankly admits that the national party apparatus has been of little help in his effort against Tierney. "They've given up on Massachusetts," he noted.
Our fear is that much of the country will soon have given up on the Bay State as well. Voters elsewhere have learned we can't be trusted to spend their dollars wisely, and now they've got to be wondering about our sanity in consistently re-electing the most left-leaning congressional delegation in the land.
 
I'm voting for Barton and asking my family and friends to do the same.

BTW the Salem News is an excellent paper. A bit staid, but usually conservative and outstanding in local coverage for those of us on the North Shore. Great high school/local sports coverage too.

Chris
 
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