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To the Editor,
The recent Markey/Moulton debate proved to me that debates are not always the best way to discover who is the best candidate since a debate strategy seems to be who can land the most impactful jab without providing full accurate information. Senator Markey and Congressman Moulton have both held office for years, been recognized for their contributions, and tend to agree on a majority of policies; therefore, by now we should all have knowledge about each candidate’s positions and priorities. Here are my reasons for believing that Seth Moulton is the best candidate:
1. Longevity & Age. I’m Senator Markey’s age and so are my friends. Not one of us has the energy and the mental acuity that we had when we were Moulton’s age. Being a Senator, especially facing today’s challenges, demands quick thinking, focused attention, and physical exertion. Markey has been a Senator for 13 years and a Congressman for 37. He served his country long and well, but we are in desperate need of new ways of thinking and leading younger generations. Moreover, we have witnessed the debacle of President Biden’s demise and don’t want to repeat that mess. Term limits would help.
2. Courage. Moulton has repeatedly demonstrated his love of country and his courage by putting his life in danger as a Marine Corps infantry officer and platoon commander. He entered politics in 2014 to right the wrongs he witnessed, and to work across party lines, especially on issues like defense spending and national security, and he had the courage to reveal his PTSD. His also demonstrated courage sharing his concern about his daughters around a sensitive issue. He wasn’t against trans people, but he had a concern, and he has apologized if he offended anyone. I agree with him that we should be free to talk about all issues. If we can’t share differing opinions, we stifle free speech and weaken ourselves. His actions show that he has the courage to stand up, voice his thoughts, and ask questions.
3. Intelligence & Style. I’m also voting for Moulton because he’s smart. His learnings come from the battlefield, from working in Congress, and from his education. He holds a BS in physics, an MBA, and an MPP from Harvard. His degree in physics offers an explanation for his communication style, which some people find wanting. As an executive coach I used a variety of tools to assess my clients’ communication and behavioral styles. I don’t personally know the congressman, but people who majored in physics are likely to have an analytical style, meaning they analyze, implement and communicate more directly and bluntly. They look for answers to problems based on logic and facts. They tend not to be emotive and can come across as self-assured – even aloof, which others can misinterpret as arrogance. These are traits that have described Moulton. Markey is known for his high energetic passion that rallies people to his progressive ideas and for speaking with fiery urgency. Styles have both strengths and areas for improvement. Right now, however, I believe we need practical, focused, results-driven plans led by someone who can calmly take the reins, examine what needs to be done without sticking to unworkable ideologies, and figure out how to do it without playing politics or mincing words.
I thank Senator Markey for his many years of good, devoted service, but I think he could demonstrate truly great leadership and start to heal the break in the Democrats by handing the torch over to Moulton and spend the next six years offering his support.
Respectfully,
Ginny O’Brien
Garden Road
