In Massachusetts, an open seat in the Senate is not a frequent occurrence. Many members of Generation Y were not yet born at the time of the last vacancy, when Senator Kerry first won his seat, in 1984. Fittingly, such a rare occasion calls upon the Commonwealth’s best public servants to present themselves as candidates. Bay Staters should be proud of the slate they have to choose from in next week’s special primary.
The four Democratic candidates hail from different backgrounds and appeal to different segments of the Commonwealth, and all four are uniquely qualified for the Senate. Generation Progress has appreciated a robust campaign that managed, despite the candidates’ political similarities, to highlight their various tactical and personal approaches to the art of government. Each has particular strengths and weaknesses, and no one has emerged as the obvious choice for a forward-thinking, young generation.
After long deliberation, however, GP determined that one candidate does represent the best blend of progressive policy and clear-sighted pragmatism. Read on....
Martha M. Coakley, attorney general of the Commonwealth and formerly a district attorney, is the candidate most likely to produce positive change in line with the values of our generation, over what may well be a long legislative career. Ms. Coakley may not be the contender who dazzles voters with her rhetoric, but she is an adamant force for the principles of liberalism. Likewise, she may not be the candidate who promotes one popular cause, such as jobs or good government; yet she has shown time and again that her fervent cause is Massachusetts, and for that she deserves our support.
Nonetheless, if she prevails at the polls, we hope to find certain qualities in Ms. Coakley as nominee – and as senator – that we have not seen up to this point. At times, her campaign has been cautious to a fault, which may be part of an understandably careful strategy for navigating the primary race. But as a generation, we are not interested in a cautious advocate. We want to feel confidence in Ms. Coakley’s ability not only to win the general election, but also to lead in Washington. The man or woman to assume Senator Kennedy’s seat must not be just another Democrat following in great footsteps. Rather, he or she must create his or her own great legacy on behalf of the people of Massachusetts. To date, Ms. Coakley has been a diplomat; let us now see Ms. Coakley the champion.
Cross-posted from the Generation Progress blog.