Michael Capuano pounces on rivals (defends ACORN vote)

With U.S. Rep. Barney Frank as his attack dog sidekick, U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano came out swinging at his opponents in the race for the late U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s vacant seat, accusing Attorney General Martha Coakley of being timid and blasting businessman Stephen Pagliuca for supporting Republicans.

“There will be a very difficult, very steep hill to climb for someone who supported George Bush for president,” Capuano (D-Somerville) said of the wealthy Boston Celtics co-owner. “This is a Democratic primary. I might have missed something, but last I knew, George Bush did not share any of the ideals the Democratic primary voters shared.”

Frank took the criticism a step further, saying voters won’t blindly buy into Pagliuca’s outsider pitch. “Yes it’s important for people to think outside the box, but you’ve got to know what the box looks like,” the Newton Democrat said.

Pagliuca spokesman Will Keyser responded: “The Democratic Party should be embracing a competition of ideas, not discouraging it. The voters deserve a choice, and over the course of this campaign they’re going to have the opportunity to fully examine Steve’s record.”

Capuano also attacked Coakley - who ducked the “E-mail-gate” roiling the Boston mayor’s race this week - criticizing her for taking a “cautious approach” on key issues and not taking a stance on the Iraq war.

“When you step in the arena, you have an obligation to speak up,” Capuano said. “I think it’s awfully difficult on the most important issues of the day . . . to remain silent, particularly when you’ve won a statewide election.”

Coakley, who picked up another key labor endorsement yesterday from the hotel and hospitality workers union Unite Here, sidestepped the nastiness, saying, “This is going to be a tough race. I’ve always known that. I think we’ll have a spirited discussion of ideas, and I look forward to it.”

While Capuano touted his record on ethics reform, health care and gay marriage and described himself as the candidate who most “closely mirrors” Kennedy, Coakley told union workers that “nobody fills (Kennedy’s) shoes.”

She touted her record on workers’ rights issues, said the government has to focus more on immigration reform and called for more spending on post-release programs for convicts.

Capuano addressed his vote to support funding for ACORN, a controversial community organization that allegedly tried to doctor tax documents for a couple posing as a pimp and a hooker.

“What happened was horrendous and they should face a serious and deep investigation. But that doesn’t necessarily on its face indict the entire organization,” Capuano said.

Meanwhile, City Council President Michael Ross became the first to express interest in Capuano’s seat, saying he would “absolutely look at it,” should the congressman win the Senate race.

“What happened was horrendous and they should face a serious and deep investigation. But that doesn’t necessarily on its face indict the entire organization,” Capuano said.

Well, if it happened only once that might make sense. But it has happened in multiple cities. Even in those cities which ACORN claimed at first that the investigators were turned away the videos showed that they tried to aid the "pimp". On top of that is ACORN's long stream of vote fraud. ACORN is so dirty from top to bottom that they or their associated organizations should never receive a penny of government money.

from WCVB 5 Boston (ABC/liberal).

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/20929945/detail.html

>>In 1994, when Kennedy was embroiled in his toughest re-election campaign, Pagliuca, a Democrat, supported and donated money to his friend and business colleague Mitt Romney, a Republican. Romney’s finance chair was Pagliuca’s wife, Judy Pagliuca. Pagliuca’s campaign strategist insisted Tuesday the potential candidate has been a ‘loyal democrat’ ever since.

>>However Team 5 Investigates discovered that while Pagliuca has indeed given generous political donations to Democrats over the last decade – including a $25,000 contribution to the Democratic National Committee — he has also made significant contributions to Republicans.
In 2002, according to documents reviewed by Team 5 Investigates, Pagliuca gave $5,000 to the Massachusetts Republican State Committee. In 1999 he donated $1,000 to President George W. Bush and in 1996 he gave $2,000 to Gov. William Weld.

>>In the past decade, Pagliuca has also made political contributions to a long list of democrats, including President Barack Obama, Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. John Kerry, California Sen.Barbara Boxer and Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski.

>>“Every election comes down to trust and if you’re going to replace Ted Kennedy, people have to trust you. It’s already a steep hill for Pagliuca to climb. He’s well-known in business and sports, not in politics, said democratic political analyst Mary Anne Marsh. “If voters are given a reason not to believe him and trust him, it’s going to make the climb even harder - even with 20 million dollars.”

>>Team 5 Investigates has also reviewed Pagliuca’s voting record, which shows that he did not vote in at least ten state or national elections over the last 13 years. Team 5 Investigates learned he did not vote in any recent local elections in the town of Weston, where he resides.
Records show Pagliuca missed state primaries in 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1996, as well as a state election in 1998. He also did not vote in presidential primaries in 2008, 2004, 2000 and 1996.

>>Pagliuca’s personal fortune is estimated at $400 million.
Pagliuca’s strategist Doug Rubin noted that the Celtics co-owner did not contribute to his friend and former colleague at Bain Capital when Romney ran for governor or president.
Rubin said Pagliuca, if he decides to run in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, will bring health care and economic expertise to the job.
As a venture capitalist, he was one of the key players in organizing Hospital Corporation of America where he still serves on the board.

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