LP rival from 2012, Daniel Fishman endorses Richard Tisei

[compromise]

http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1196443497/Fishman-endorses-Tisei

BEVERLY — Richard Tisei won’t have to worry about Daniel Fishman this time around.

Fishman, the Libertarian from Beverly who some say cost Tisei the election two years ago, announced yesterday that he is endorsing Tisei for Congress in 2014.

Fishman’s third-party candidacy earned 16,739 votes in the 2012 election, a significant number in light of the fact that Tisei fell only 4,330 votes short of beating Tierney, the Democratic incumbent from Salem.

“I think it will have an impact,” Fishman said of his endorsement.

Fishman said he is not running for office this year because he is serving as political coordinator for the Massachusetts Libertarian Party.

He said he decided to endorse Tisei because the Republican from Wakefield is more tolerant of differing political ideas than Tierney and the “Democratic machine.”

“Liberty is based on tolerance, and the candidate who understands that the most is Richard Tisei,” Fishman said.

Tisei said he is “thrilled” with Fishman’s endorsement.

“We both share the same philosophy, that the government should get off your back, out of your wallet and away from the bedroom,” Tisei said. “We might not agree on every issue, but we’re pretty close on a lot.”

The Tierney campaign could not be reached for comment.

Fishman faced criticism for entering the race in 2012 and potentially costing Tisei valuable votes in his attempt to unseat Tierney, who is now in his ninth term in office.

Fishman said that criticism played no role in his decision to endorse Tisei.

“If anything that sort of hardened my resolve that what I was doing was the right thing,” Fishman said. “My endorsement hopefully will cause people to give Richard Tisei a fair look and understand what his campaign stands for.”

Considering the close race against Tierney two years ago, Tisei called Fishman’s endorsement “very helpful.”

“Sixteen thousand people voted for him,” Tisei said. “Hopefully, he’ll help bring people into the campaign.”

In a press release, Fishman said Democrats fear Republican candidates like Tisei.

“(T)he Democratic playbook is to preach intolerance for political beliefs other than their own, and to paint everyone who is not a Democrat as a small-minded bigot,” Fishman wrote. “In reality, of course, a socially tolerant candidate like Richard Tisei is the Democratic party’s worst nightmare.”

Tierney is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Seth Moulton of Marblehead and Marisa DeFranco of Middleton.

Tisei said he has talked with Fishman about playing an “active role” in the campaign, although Fishman said he will be busy helping the state’s Libertarian candidates in their campaigns this year.

Tisei is far from great, but he does have some good stances on the War on Drugs and civil liberties. This endorsement, combined with the fact 2014 will be a GOP year, pretty much guarantees Tisei will win this fall.

 

[mz10]

Richard Tisei is 100% establishment. Nothing even resembling a liberty candidate.

 

[compromise]

Richard Tisei is 100% establishment. Nothing even resembling a liberty candidate.

I'd agree if it were any other state, but this is Massachusetts and this seems like the first time a Republican will have a chance at winning a House district there. As Tisei opposes the Patriot Act and said he was open to the legalization of marijuana, he would probably be significantly better than most other Massachusetts Republicans.

 

[mz10]

I'd agree if it were any other state, but this is Massachusetts and this seems like the first time a Republican will have a chance at winning a House district there. As Tisei opposes the Patriot Act and said he was open to the legalization of marijuana, he would probably be significantly better than most other Massachusetts Republicans.

Haven't heard anything about Tisei opposing the Patriot Act (and I live in his district). It would surprise me if he did, given his ties to the party establishment.

 

[compromise]

Here's what Reason wrote about him:

Richard Tisei is another GOP candidate looking to make history: He’d be the first openly gay Republican elected to Congress. Tisei, a longtime Massachusetts state senator and onetime lieutenant gubernatorial candidate, probably would have been better off running in the Tea Party wave election in 2010, but an ongoing family scandal involving his opponent, Rep. John Tierney, has made this campaign one of the most competitive congressional races in Massachusetts since the late 1990s.

Tisei supports gay marriage and gay rights, but like all of the candidates profiled here is focused overwhelmingly on economic issues. When talking with The Hill he described himself as a “live and let live Republican.”

“I consider myself a libertarian in a lot of ways,” he says. “I think the government should get out of your bedroom, off your back, and out of your wallet. That is, I think, the traditional northeast libertarian viewpoint.”

Even though he has not signed Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge, Tisei has a track record of opposing tax increases and fighting for tax cuts. He led the charge in the Massachusetts state senate for years to lower the state income tax back to 5 percent after its scheduled rollback was halted at 5.3 percent in 2002. In 2010, while running for lieutenant governor, he did sign the Massachusetts equivalent of Norquist’s pledge.

As senate minority leader in Massachusetts, Tisei opposed legislation that banned smoking in newly legal casinos, though the law eventually passed after he left office. Though not campaigning on the drug war, Tisei supports medical marijuana and backed a successful 2008 state ballot initiative that decriminalized possession of small amounts. When asked his thoughts on full legalization Tisei said he was open to it. He also opposes portions of the PATRIOT Act.

 

[Keith and stuff]

He sounds great for a MA Republican! I doubt he could be worse than the horrible person currently in that seat... I do realized that he is an establishment Republican with backing from DC elites.

 

[compromise]

He sounds great for a MA Republican! I doubt he could be worse than the horrible person currently in that seat... I do realized that he is an establishment Republican with backing from DC elites.

He will probably vote like Scott Brown on everything other than civil liberties, but that still makes him a lot better than Tierney.

 

[Keith and stuff]

He will probably vote like Scott Brown on everything other than civil liberties, but that still makes him a lot better than Tierney.

Maybe I'll get a chance to ask him a question this weekend. I was given a free pass to the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference, where he will be speaking.

 

[compromise]

Maybe I'll get a chance to ask him a question this weekend. I was given a free pass to the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference, where he will be speaking.

Be sure to let us know his response!

 

[Hyperion]

I'm not a fan of backing GOP moderates/leftists.

 

[RandallFan]

He will also have question whether he needs liberty issues. If Fishman is good enough to drop out maybe he should wonder why they are getting 5%. He only has 2 years to solidy his base and turnout enough right leaning voters against a less corrupt Democrat running in 2016 against a Hilary Clinton, Sanders or Liz Warren backed candidate.

 

[DanMorris]

I've met Mr. Tisei on a few occasions, and he's very friendly towards libertarians. He's referred to us as the ideological cousins of conservatives (he threw his arm around me at a fundraiser and said so when he learned I was with Students For Liberty). So while he may indeed be establishment, at least he's friendly towards the liberty movement.

I'll be supporting him this November. We need more socially tolerant GOP to teach the country that not all Republicans hate gays. Plus, it'd be good to have some fiscal responsibility come from Taxachusetts.

 

[mz10]

I've met Mr. Tisei on a few occasions, and he's very friendly towards libertarians. He's referred to us as the ideological cousins of conservatives (he threw his arm around me at a fundraiser and said so when he learned I was with Students For Liberty). So while he may indeed may be establishment, at least he's friendly towards the liberty movement.

I'll be supporting him this November. We need more socially tolerant GOP to teach the country that not all Republicans hate gays. Plus, it'd be good to have some fiscal responsibility come from Taxachusetts.

That's part of my problem with Richard - he'll say he's a libertarian, but what he means is that he's a pro-gay marriage pro-abortion Republican. He defines his libertarianism by his liberal views on social issues. Where does he stand on NSA spying and indefinite detention? Where does he stand on foreign policy? How many federal departments would he get rid of? Those are the things that matter to me. Personally, I couldn't care less where he stands on gay marriage.

P.S. Dan - good luck with your state rep election!

 

[DanMorris]

Thank you! I need all the luck I can get.

And yes, you're right, he's not the perfect candidate. But he's a step in the right direction at the very least. At least he's not a neo-con.

 

[Keith and stuff]

That's part of my problem with Richard - he'll say he's a libertarian, but what he means is that he's a pro-gay marriage pro-abortion Republican. He defines his libertarianism by his liberal views on social issues.

He also came out in favor of marijuana legalization, right? Those of three of the most important issues to younger libertarian voters. I agree about the NSA and indefinite detention. Those are also big issues.