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Candidates vying to win the 5th Congressional District attracted a crowd July 15 at Ferns Country Store in Carlisle, where they held an old-fashioned debate.
Congress candidates want out of Iraq
By Kerri Roche/Staff Writer
Thu Jul 19, 2007, 12:20 PM EDT
Carlisle -CARLISLE — Six candidates vying to fill the slot left by Martin Meehan in the state’s 5th Congressional District stood on the front porch of Ferns Country Store in Carlisle on Sunday afternoon for an old-fashioned political forum.
The atmosphere was something out of yesteryear, but the issues taken up by candidates from their wooden rocking chairs were strictly modern.
Throughout the timed minutes, the five Democrats and one Republican all touted different ideas for health insurance, senior citizen assistance, education and global warming. But one common denominator underlined all their arguments — the Iraq war is tying up the money needed to make a change.
“The war in Iraq is draining us both emotionally and financially,” said Democrat Eileen Donoghue, a Lowell city councilor and former mayor, during her opening remarks.
Along with Donoghue, state Rep. James Eldridge, D-Acton, and Niki Tsongas, dean of Middlesex Community College, believe the United States should pull troops out of Iraq immediately.
“We need to create a timetable for the withdrawal of our troops,” said Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat.
State Rep. Barry Finegold, D-Andover, said Iraq should be divided into three separately governed states — quickly.
“I support getting out of there as soon as possible,” said Finegold.
However, Tom Tierney, a Republican from Framingham, said “there are 18 states in Iraq.” As opposed to Finegold’s plan, he supports a plan in which each state would elect its own form of government and would maintain loose associations with one another, he said.
As the only Democrat not insistent on setting a date, Wilmington state Rep. James Miceli said “setting a date … is absolutely ludicrous.”
Most of the candidates agreed that domestic problems could be solved with more money.
“As we have been sitting here for one hour, the Iraq war has cost us” $13 million, said Tsongas. “Until we end the war, we’re not going to have the funds” to funnel into other initiatives, she said.
During the past week, Tsongas said, she has traveled along with the Meals on Wheels program and saw the troubles facing seniors.
Donoghue said the government should negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies to adequately provide affordable prescription medicine to citizens.
“That doesn’t require more money, it just requires some guts,” said Donoghue. “Unfortunately, the war is going on. In the meantime, there are other things we have to do.”
Tierney said voters shouldn’t trust a congressional candidate who promises to look into entering in a diplomatic agreement with the pharmaceutical industry.
“Almost every congressman gets money from the drug companies,” said Tierney. So instead, similar to other first-world countries, “you’ve got to set a price.”
The candidates were also asked to weigh in on their thoughts about the accessibility to health care.
“I want to make sure that we have health insurance available to all,” said Miceli. “I think you do need a private-public partnership. Don’t let anyone kid you.”
Although each candidate had opinions on what would constitute the best health care system, Eldridge, who was the only Clean Elections candidate voted into office in the state’s history, said his opposition was spreading seeds of doubt about the federal government’s ability to provide affordable options.
“You want a congressman who is going to lead on this issue,” said Eldridge. In the position, Eldridge said he supports single-payer, government-run health insurance.
