Republican Primary Against Marty Meehan Has One Republican, One Democrat

Tierney's Recent Switch in Affiliation, Not Loyalties

MN Staff
September 2002 Print Edition

Two "Republicans" have lined up to take on incumbent Democrat Martin Meehan in the general election in November. The decision in the primary should not be too difficult for Republicans, however.

Chuck McCarthy, a high tech businessman and Vietnam veteran has been endorsed by the Republican Party. He enjoys the support of all the Republican leaders in the state. He's running on a standard Republican platform of lower taxes, less government and more family values.

His competition for the nomination is Thomas Tierney, lives in Framingham which is actually not in the District. According to officials at the headquarters of the Mass. Republican Party, Tierney is considered a "fly in the ointment." Members of the MassGOP staff have tried to convince Tierney to run against Democrat incumbent Edward Markey in the 7th district. No Republican is running against Markey.

Although Tierney has actually spent most of his political life as a Republican, he's actually a Democrat in Republican clothing. But, the candidate is naked. His clothing hides nothing. The last time Tierney ran for the nomination for this seat, in 2000, he ran in the Democrat primary. His party affiliation switch came just before the deadline for candidate applications this year.

Beyond that, Tierney is running on a Democrat platform. His key issue is health care. He'd like to give us socialized (that means socialist) medicine, based upon the model currently used in Canada. One has to wonder, if that's such a good system, why do so many Canadians have their major procedures performed in the U.S.? Tierney also opposes President George W. Bush's Social Security proposals.

A few years back, I covered the Hillary Clinton presentation of her health care plan when she brought her traveling show to Boston. It was the first stop on her tour - and it ended any chances for her plan. The people came out in droves from all over New England to "just say no" to Hillary-Care. The people are just as likely to reject Tierney's Democrat-flavored views.

Tierney has also shown his true party colors recently when he joined the Democrat challenge against Mitt Romney over his legal residency in Massachusetts. The election board decided that Romney is a resident and qualified to run for governor as a candidate of the party Tierney now claims.

Paul Hoar, Chairman of the Lowell Republican City Committee, which has been honored as the best committee in the state, recently wrote a letter in support of McCarthy. In part, he writes, "A Democrat is trying to hijack the Republican nomination for the 5th Congressional District. Noting the similarities between Tierney's agenda and that of the Democratic National Committee, and the strong Republican support being received by McCarthy, Hoar adds, "Tom Tierney's supporters, upon learning of McCarthy's Republican Party endorsement, have begun the politics of personal destruction. They are attacking his values and morals." That seems like enough indication that Tierney's sentiments still lie with the party affiliation of his recent past.

Voters in the 5th district have three options in September. They can nominate Chuck McCarthy to run against Marty Meehan, or they can select Democrat Tom Tierney or Democrat Marty Meehan. But to call the Republican primary a choice between two Republicans is farcical.