Comments on: Potential Interim Appointees To Kennedy’s Senate Seat http://www.wbur.org/2009/09/22/potential-replacements Boston's NPR News Source Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:49:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John T. Zelazo http://www.wbur.org/2009/09/22/potential-replacements/comment-page-1#comment-2095 John T. Zelazo Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:44:50 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=6575#comment-2095 This is a response to Larackson. Well perhaps you and people in general have not heard of me is because I have been marginalized by institutional political powers including media. Marginalization is a thing that happens to the gay community as a rule. As far as seeking the United States Senate seat in the special election, I do not really have a lot of time to waste and having sought many elective offices I know when I am in effect being marginalized and since that seemed to be what was again happening I jumped ship in order to 'promote myself' for the interim post because I thought that it would be a great affirmitive action-jesture to the gay community. As far as politcal experience goes, I have a lot more experiance than being a member of a powerful political family. I just do not have a political orginization or a ton of money. Many people think that we should be finding a candidate from amoung ourselves rather than from above or below ourselves. So it may be that we are all losers, if thats the way you want to call it, and therefor I would make a perfect representative to the United States Senate from Massachusetts. There is nothing wrong with my credentials, Massachusetts doesn't have to put its best foot forward, I am just saying that it has/had the option. It is not easy putting onself forward in this type of race, there are a lot of self doubts to overcome, a lot of marginalization to make peace with if you will. Although I support an increse in troop strengh in Afghanistan, I do not consider myself a hawk, so let me close with the word peace and with a wish for success to our troops. This is a response to Larackson. Well perhaps you and people in general have not heard of me is because I have been marginalized by institutional political powers including media. Marginalization is a thing that happens to the gay community as a rule.
As far as seeking the United States Senate seat in the special election, I do not really have a lot of time to waste and having sought many elective offices I know when I am in effect being marginalized and since that seemed to be what was again happening I jumped ship in order to ‘promote myself’ for the interim post because I thought that it would be a great affirmitive action-jesture to the gay community.
As far as politcal experience goes, I have a lot more experiance than being a member of a powerful political family. I just do not have a political orginization or a ton of money.
Many people think that we should be finding a candidate from amoung ourselves rather than from above or below ourselves. So it may be that we are all losers, if thats the way you want to call it, and therefor I would make a perfect representative to the United States Senate from Massachusetts. There is nothing wrong with my credentials, Massachusetts doesn’t have to put its best foot forward, I am just saying that it has/had the option.
It is not easy putting onself forward in this type of race, there are a lot of self doubts to overcome, a lot of marginalization to make peace with if you will. Although I support an increse in troop strengh in Afghanistan, I do not consider myself a hawk, so let me close with the word peace and with a wish for success to our troops.

]]> By: Jackson Johnson http://www.wbur.org/2009/09/22/potential-replacements/comment-page-1#comment-1871 Jackson Johnson Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:24:05 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=6575#comment-1871 My bet is it is between two candidates: KIRK or OGLETREE. Both are symbolic picks in some sense as neither has any political experience, one symbolizes the Kennedy legacy, and one is symbolic in representing the African American community when they have no representation in the United States Senate. Before I was leaning toward Kirk as he was the closest to Kennedy of any of the picks. Now I think it should be Ogletree. I think Deval Patrick (as one of the only two African American Governors) gets the importance of African-Americans having SOME representation in the U.S. Senate when they have none, especially at such a crucial point with being able to be part of launching Health Care Reform. Strategically this seems best actually for Healthcare. Ogletree is charismatic, a brilliant speaker, has great legal skill, and integrity that is respected. If he can help bring the African-American community behind this by reaching out to the African-American leaders to create a message of how important this is to the African-American community...if African-American support for the bill goes from 50% to 70% lets say, that raises support overall by 5%. The Democrats don't have any latinos in the Senate either. Ogletree is a professor..he is used to speaking in front of audiences....He also taught Barack AND Michelle Obama and could tell some fun stories and get lots of press attention as a result...Also having a black Senator and black Governor is powerful..this has never happened before...between the two of them they could really raise support. I think it should be Ogletree. I really do. He is also someone who after being part of this process, a Senator, standing with Obama on this, he could be elevated to being able to work with Obama on other national issues. So Patrick will make a decision in 2 days? That means by THU there will be a choice...my bet is it will happen tomorrow or be announced in THU paper. It is important that African Americans have representation in the United States Senate at this crucial junction. I don't see Patrick being criticized for picking him based on race as all the other MA Democrats, even ones considered will support this. My bet is it is between two candidates:

KIRK or OGLETREE.

Both are symbolic picks in some sense as neither has any political experience, one symbolizes the Kennedy legacy, and one is symbolic in representing the African American community when they have no representation in the United States Senate.

Before I was leaning toward Kirk as he was the closest to Kennedy of any of the picks.

Now I think it should be Ogletree. I think Deval Patrick (as one of the only two African American Governors) gets the importance of African-Americans having SOME representation in the U.S. Senate when they have none, especially at such a crucial point with being able to be part of launching Health Care Reform.

Strategically this seems best actually for Healthcare. Ogletree is charismatic, a brilliant speaker, has great legal skill, and integrity that is respected.

If he can help bring the African-American community behind this by reaching out to the African-American leaders to create a message of how important this is to the African-American community…if African-American support for the bill goes from 50% to 70% lets say, that raises support overall by 5%. The Democrats don’t have any latinos in the Senate either. Ogletree is a professor..he is used to speaking in front of audiences….He also taught Barack AND Michelle Obama and could tell some fun stories and get lots of press attention as a result…Also having a black Senator and black Governor is powerful..this has never happened before…between the two of them they could really raise support.

I think it should be Ogletree. I really do. He is also someone who after being part of this process, a Senator, standing with Obama on this, he could be elevated to being able to work with Obama on other national issues.

So Patrick will make a decision in 2 days? That means by THU there will be a choice…my bet is it will happen tomorrow or be announced in THU paper.

It is important that African Americans have representation in the United States Senate at this crucial junction.

I don’t see Patrick being criticized for picking him based on race as all the other MA Democrats, even ones considered will support this.

]]> By: John Larackson http://www.wbur.org/2009/09/22/potential-replacements/comment-page-1#comment-1869 John Larackson Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:55:04 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=6575#comment-1869 This guy is promoting himself, nominating himself for the post, what a joke. This guy "suspended a campaign to run in the re-election to replace Ted Kennedy." WHAT CAMPAIGN. This guy would have no chance in the special election, he's a complete joke. I never heard of him in 1988 and 192, has anybody? A real estate broker and hairdresser? No political experience beside being part of the Democratic Committee of a small town? This guy is a complete loser. This guy is promoting himself, nominating himself for the post, what a joke.

This guy “suspended a campaign to run in the re-election to replace Ted Kennedy.” WHAT CAMPAIGN. This guy would have no chance in the special election, he’s a complete joke.

I never heard of him in 1988 and 192, has anybody?

A real estate broker and hairdresser? No political experience beside being part of the Democratic Committee of a small town? This guy is a complete loser.

]]> By: John T. Zelazo http://www.wbur.org/2009/09/22/potential-replacements/comment-page-1#comment-1865 John T. Zelazo Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:46:43 +0000 http://www.wbur.org/?p=6575#comment-1865 Add to the list: John T. Zelazo Berkshire County Resident and member of the Town of Adams Democratic Committee and member of the Berkshire Brigades Unsuccessful Democratic candidate for United States President in 1988 and 1992. Unsuccessful candidate for several other offices as well, suspended a campaign to run in the special election to replace Ted Kennedy. If John were to become our next United States Senator, he well be the first openly gay man to serve in the United States Senate in History. 56 years old and a 1976 graduate of North Adams State College or Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a degree in history. Massachusetts lic. Real Estate Broker as well as Hairdresser, John is a care giver and would bring an excellent well rounded person to the interim seat. John is of course a Liberal Democrat Add to the list:

John T. Zelazo
Berkshire County Resident and member of the Town of Adams Democratic Committee and member of the Berkshire Brigades
Unsuccessful Democratic candidate for United States President in 1988 and 1992. Unsuccessful candidate for several other offices as well, suspended a campaign to run in the special election to replace Ted Kennedy.
If John were to become our next United States Senator, he well be the first openly gay man to serve in the United States Senate in History.
56 years old and a 1976 graduate of North Adams State College or Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a degree in history.
Massachusetts lic. Real Estate Broker as well as Hairdresser, John is a care giver and would bring an excellent well rounded person to the interim seat. John is of course a Liberal Democrat

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