By Tim Badgley
First District Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, left, and U.S. Senate candidate Shenna Bellows, right, spoke at the Lincoln County Democratic Committee’s annual lobster bake in Walpole Aug. 17. (Tim Badgley photo) |
Addressing 80 Democrats gathered in Walpole for a lobster bake fundraiser, Aug. 17, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree said electing Democratic candidate for the U.S Senate Shenna Bellows would help abolish the current do-nothing Congress.
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As Lincoln County Commissioner Bill Blodgett looks on (right) Sen. Chris Johnson, D-Somerville eyes the lobsters he’s about to serve up at the Lincoln County Democratic Committee Annual Lobster Bake held in Walpole, Aug. 17. (Tim Badgley photo) |
Hosted by the Lincoln County Democratic Committee, the lobster bake was held at the home of Linda and Dirk Brunner.
“Maine certainly needs to have a strong progressive delegation,” Pingree said. “We couldn’t be better served by the opportunity to have Shenna Bellows as our next United States Senator.”
Pingree said the current “do-nothing” Congress is truly not getting anything done, stating that fewer than half the number of bills have been passed this session than in the era of the original “do-nothing Congress,” during the Truman administration.
Pingree said the Republican push-back she sees is based on ideological reasons frustrating the process of getting a bill to the House floor for a vote.
“They never want to spend money, they don’t believe in government, and they can’t stand the president,” Pingree said.
In what quickly turned out to be a rally for Bellows, three additional Democratic leaders spoke in support of her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Sen. Chris Johnson, D-Somerville; David Farmer representing Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike Michaud; and Rep. Lori Fowle, D-Vassalboro, all spoke in support of Bellows’ campaign.
Johnson said Bellows while working for the ACLU of Maine brought together both Republicans and Democrats in helping craft privacy legislation that was eventually passed into law.
“She’s really good at talking to people about important issues and getting things done regardless of what side of the aisle they’re on,” Johnson said.
According to Johnson, former Democratic Senator George Mitchell from Maine said that leaders should learn to listen, be patient and respect those with whom you disagree.
Johnson said Bellows exemplifies such behavior and would go to Washington and represent those values of cooperation.
Bellows took the microphone and announced she had just completed a 350-mile walk from Houlton in order to meet Maine voters along the way.
Bellows said the stories she heard from Mainers convinced her that, nationally, the country is on the wrong track.
“It’s not because of Barack Obama,” Bellows said. “It’s because the Republicans have been deliberately obstructionist, passing under the Bush administration tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations at the expense of our local communities.”
Bellows spoke in favor of passing legislation that would fund such projects as universal broadband access to the entire state to support rural entrepreneurs and universal cell phone service installed in the same manner as rural electrification once was.
Bellows said investment needs to be made in infrastructure again in roads and bridges, technology, and different forms of renewable energy and thereby create more jobs.
Bellows said that change will never occur in Washington by maintaining the status quo and is the reason why she seeks to unseat Susan Collins in the U.S. Senate.
