To the editor:
The news that Libertarian candidate Daniel Fishman managed to obtain the number of signatures needed to get on the ballot for the 6th District congressional seat held by John Tierney (the Times, Page 1, Thursday, Aug. 9) shifts the dynamic of this race in a significant way.
I say that because many who supported Bill Hudak and his often bizarre, right-wing, government-hating, pseudo-Libertarian, Tea Party positions two years ago, as much as they might want to see John Tierney defeated, are not terribly comfortable with Richard Tisei either.
After all, when one looks at Tisei’s public service record, it is clear that he is what many on the Tea Party, pseudo-Libertarian right love to disparage as a “RINO” — a “Republican In Name Only” .
Two years ago, Bill Hudak ran as a candidate who embraced virtually every bizarre conspiracy theory out there about President Obama. He played to the local, pseudo-Libertarian, Tea Partying, Christian right by speaking against gay marriage and a woman’s right to make her own reproductive health care decisions. He also mocked the science behind climate change and global warming.
Those positions made Hudak a joke in many quarters, but they won over many loyal, right-wing, pseudo-Libertarian, Tea Party followers in the district.
Even before Daniel Fishman qualified for the ballot, I had long questioned if the supporters of Bill Hudak would embrace an openly gay, gay marriage-supporting, pro-choice, and science-believing “RINO” such as Richard Tisei.
Much will depend on how Daniel Fishman presents himself to voters. If he tacks to the right and campaigns as a fervently anti-government, constitutional literalist, right-wing, Tea Party patriot, who appeals to those who supported Bill Hudak two years ago, that could spell big trouble for Tisei.
One can be sure both the Tierney and Tisei camps will be watching Fishman’s campaign closely, with the Tisei campaign, not to mention the GOP Congressional Campaign Committee, paying particularly close attention.
MICHAEL COOK
Gloucester
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