Jeff Bennett's Blog

It was April 7, 2009.  Boston and all of Massachusetts was welcoming Spring and the new baseball season with Opening Day at Fenway Park.  

Each year the Red Sox bring in a very important person, could be a former player, entertainer, politician, to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.  Last year was a special day at Fenway as one of the Red Sox biggest fans, Senator Ted Kennedy, was on hand to throw out the first ball to Red Sox legend and new Hall of Famer Jim Rice.  Baseball, Boston, Red Sox, Fenway, Fenway Franks, Politics, …they all go together…this is Boston!  In a long line of great honors, this was a big one for the Senator as over 37,000 beloved fans of the Red Sox all united with him for what we now know was his last Opening Day.  

Roll the time forward to January 1, 2010.  Boston is also a big hockey town.  On this day we are to host the NHL Winter Classic, an outdoor hockey game at Fenway Park, with our Boston Bruins hosting the Philadelphia Flyers.  What a great event.  In some ways just as exciting as Red Sox Opening Day due to the novelty of this.  The  Bruins Legend Bobby Orr and Flyers Legend Bobby Clarke were on tap to drop the ceremonial first puck.  This is a big event in Boston and it is a sidebar to another big event, the election of a Senator to replace the late Ted Kennedy, the first such election since before my birth.  Big Stuff.

Scott Brown is an everyday kind of guy who loves the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins and Celtics.  He did not get the tap to drop the puck.  But he wanted to get swept up in the event and shake some hands to show the voters of our state that he is a guy who is just like them…a hockey loving guy who wanted to celebrate in this big day.  Check out this video with Bruins fans who met with Scott Brown outside of Fenway that day. 

Where was Martha Coakley on this day?  Not at Fenway.

Many are onto Martha for her laissez-faire approach to campaigning.  One Boston Globe reporter inquired with her about this topic and Martha quickly retorted that she was busy “…as opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands?” 

Martha…the process of running for Selectman, Councilor, State Rep, State Senator, Governor, Congress, U.S. Senate, President…they all have one thing in common.  Lots of hours.  Lots of walking.  Lots of talking.  Lots of shaking hands…more shaking hands.  Lots of phone calls.  Lots of fund raising. This tests the mettle of candidates.  This allows retail politics to happen.  It allows the voter to really understand who they are voting for.  This is how it is done.

I might not have agreed with Senator Kennedy on his positions…but he was one heck of a campaigner.  He loved being out on the stump with the people that he represented.  He also worked tirelessly to serve his constituents.  This is the work that we need done on behalf of the citizens of Massachusetts.

Martha was too busy or did not want to connect with a bunch of sports loving hockey fans down @ Fenway…it was also too cold that day.  On the other hand, Scott Brown, who has run campaigns and served constituents was down @ Fenway relishing at the opportunity to represent his campaign and chase votes.

Martha again your inaction proves that you are NO TED KENNEDY.

Another indicator why we must vote for Scott Brown for U.S. Senate this Tuesday!