Democrats Having Historic Primary Season
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| Historian James MacGregor Burns speaks with MCLA sophomore Sarah Maust. |
At a forum hosted by the North Adams Democratic City Committee, historian and author James MacGregor Burns, 89, delivered an impromptu speech to more than 50 North County party faithful, noting that a contest that featured a woman and a black as the two frontrunners was "meant for the history books."
"Years from now, you'll be talking about this moment and you'll say it was one of the most luminous moments in the Democratic Party's history," said the emeritus Williams College professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning chronicler of the Roosevelt administration.
Burns' comments followed an evening of food and festivity at the Freight Yard Pub, where Berkshire voters has an opportunity to learn more about the 2008 Democratic presidential nominees for the Feb. 5 state primary.
"It's nice to get everyone down here, listening together and talking about the issues," said Lisa Blackmer, chairman of the City Committee and a new city councilor.
Blackmer said she was pleased with the turnout.
Attendees were treated to presentations from representatives of two of the major candidates; a local political activist jumped in when no one appeared to speak for the third.
"I like every candidate we have but when it boils down to it, who has the will, who has the experience to hit the ground running?" asked Chad Radock, an avid Sen. Hillary Clinton supporter and teacher at Fitchburg High School. "Everyone knows her. They may not like her, but they respect her."
Emphasizing her policies on boosting the economy and her promise to create more new jobs, Radock said Clinton would "bring us back from this awful state we've been in."<L2>
"We need to start rebuilding the country's name in the world," said Radock.
City resident Joyce Wrend, though not on the agenda, jumped into the conversation, further urging voters to consider her favorite candidate.
"I've been a Clinton supporter since the day she said 'I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies [in a 1992 'Nightline' interview]' The fact of the matter is, she's smart, she's tough, she'll make decisions and she'll never back down," Wrend said.
Eric Hyers, a recent college graduate and former field organizer for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards' campaign, called his candidate "the most progressive and the most electable."
"The only candidate talking about big, bold change - from universal health care to getting out of Iraq to change the effects of global warming - is John Edwards," Hyers said.
Hyers further noted that Edwards is the only candidate advocating to take on major corporations and has not "taken a dime from lobbyists."
"And he's the only Democrat who beats every Republican every time. We need a nominee who can go to Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Oklahoma and campaign. He's going to places other candidates haven't even thought about," Hyers said.
When a representative from the Barack Obama campaign failed to appear, Adams resident John Zelazo volunteered to make a brief speech in favor the Illinois senator.
"I'm ready for change and I think Obama will bring that change," Zelazo said. "It comes down to a leap of faith - faith in ourselves, in our country and what we can be."
Matt Barron, a Chesterfield man who is running for Democratic State Committee from the Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin districts, told Berkshire Democrats that he intended to truly represent the county's interests - unlike his opponent.
<R3>"I'm running against a man who has the dubious honor of missing almost all of the Democratic State Committee meetings," said Barron of Peter G. Arlos, the Pittsfield resident who currently holds the seat. The 81-year-old Arlos is a former longtime Pittsfield city councilor and former head of the Berkshire County Retirement Board.
"He's not representing me and he's not representing you, so I'm taking him on Feb. 5," he added.
Last year, Barron co-founded RuralVotes, a nonprofit issue advocacy group focused on the revitalization of rural America. In 2006, he worked in rural communities on Deval Patrick, Timothy Murray and Martha Coakley's campaigns.
"[Arlos] neither serves on nor contributes to any state party subcommittees and he is invisible at party gatherings and events across our district. Mr. Arlos has become a Democratic 'no-show.' This nonrepresentation will change if I am elected next month," Barron said.
Members of both the City Committee and Berkshire Brigades urged county Democrats to get involved and volunteer to support the eventual Democratic nominee. For more information, visit the Berkshire Brigades or contact Lisa Blackmer with the City Committee at lmblackmer@msn.com.
