JOIN ME TO
SUPPORT ED O’REILLY FOR UNITED STATES SENATE
"Democracy also means
alternating government. The value of peaceful and periodic change in government
has been proven time and again, in all parts of the world. Democracy is a
constant struggle – but a struggle by peaceful means. If term limits are
necessary to make this possible, so be it. "
Kofi Annan, UN
Secretary General,
July 10, 2003
In July 2007 I met
Ed O’Reilly after exchanging some email messages with him concerning his campaign
for US Senate. Having reflected on his
candidacy I made the decision to support his campaign. This would be no light decision. O’Reilly has chosen to take on the political
machinery as he challenges 4-term incumbent John Kerry for the United States
Senate. I fully understood the
likelihood of this campaign’s success when I chose to support Ed; still I did
so in clear conscience and that is always the best way to be involved in a
campaign.
The quotation above
from Kofi Annan was not the
specific reason behind my support for O’Reilly.
I actually found this quote many months after I started supporting Ed
O’Reilly. However those remarks do
reflect what many people objectively believe: that a functional democracy
requires periodic change.
Since announcing
his candidacy for the US Senate in 2007 Ed O’Reilly has campaigned non-stop
across Massachusetts. He has visited
cities and towns to meet voters and activists.
Almost everyone he has met has come away with positive impressions of
Ed. People are coming on board. Not in huge numbers, but people are listening
to Ed O’Reilly’s message for change and slowly leaning his way.
In April
2007 a Suffolk University poll showed a rather startling revelation: around
56% of Massachusetts voters do not want Kerry to return to the US Senate and
would prefer to give someone else a chance.
This does not mean a challenger would be assured victory; however it
does create an opportunity. Ed O’Reilly
is pursuing this opportunity.
Ed O’Reilly is an
attorney from Gloucester, Massachusetts.
He was born in Watertown and early in his professional life he worked as
a fire fighter. In fact Ed was a third
generation fire fighter following in the steps of his father and grand
father. (I would later meet his cousin
Tommy who is a fire fighter in Framingham.)
While working as a
fire fighter in Gloucester and also as commercial lobsterman, Ed put himself
through college and went on to law school.
In 1982 he began his practice as a trial attorney for the next twenty
five years. The essentials of his work
involved representing people and defending the US Constitution. He also spent significant time helping people
to combat substance abuse. In past
political involvement Ed has served on the City Council and School Committee in
Gloucester.
Most would say that
O’Reilly’s resume is weak when compared to a 4-term incumbent. However O’Reilly correctly points to John
Kerry’s vote in October 2002 when he sided with President Bush in support of
attacking Iraq. Ed feels that Kerry
voted in favor of the military authorization despite knowing that such military
action was wrong. Ed further emphasizes this
fact as being confirmed in a book by Robert Schrum
who was a political advisor to Kerry.
Some think that Ed
O’Reilly is trying to duplicate what took place in 2006, when a political
unknown, Deval Patrick, stormed onto the scene and won election to become
Governor of Massachusetts. This is not
quite the same scenario.
For O’Reilly the
challenge is greater. He is running
against a 4-term incumbent who is well known and well funded. (Kerry almost became President of the United
States.) This is a primary challenge,
not for the general election. O’Reilly
needs to win the September 16th Democratic Primary in order to face
any candidate the Republican Party will put forth.
Ed O’Reilly knows
the daunting challenge he faces, but he remains undeterred. He has focused on what he needs to accomplish
and what he needs to have a reasonable chance. Major endorsements will not be forth coming
and most Democratic Party leaders will support Kerry. But O’Reilly remains confident.
Bernard Headley, a
professor in the faculty of Social Sciences, once stated, "Among mere
mortals, we ensure the vibrancy and the very essence of a democratic system by
changing regularly those who govern us."
This thought (similar to the above quote from Kofi
Anan) does echo what many voters across the state are feeling: it is time for
change.
How well can O'Reilly possibly do in this
campaign? Ed obtained the 10,000 signatures needed to qualify for nomination; in fact he
submitted over 15000 signatures. He also gained the 15% delegate support at the Democratic State
Convention, gaining 22.5%. This earned him a place on the September Primary ballot. Some feel he
should never have made it this far.
So now I ask you to
go with your conscience. If you feel it
is time for change, time to give some one else the opportunity to represent
you, to bring forth new and fresh ideas, then please join me in supporting Ed O’Reilly
for US Senate. You will not regret your
decision.
Please visit: www.edoreilly.com
Both Ed and I thank you for your consideration
-Parwez Wahid