NRSC on Kennedy’s Seat: “It Should Be Up To The People of Massachusetts To Decide”
EmailThe National Republican Senatorial Committee has issued a statement this morning responding to Sen. Kennedy’s request to amend the law to allow Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass.), to appoint an interim replacement, should a death or resignation create a vacancy.
Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Democrats are at risk if they play “partisan politics,” though he said the Senate succession process should be up to the people of Massachusetts to decide.
He points out that the law was already changed once for political purposes back in 2004 when the Massachusetts Legislature stripped Governor Romney of the power to fill a Senate vacancy.
Read full statement below:
“The NRSC believes this should ultimately be up to the people of Massachusetts to decide, however, it is hard to see how the Democrats wouldn’t pay a political price for changing their Senate succession law again to meet a new political purpose. The integrity of this process already took a hit when the Democrats made the blatant power play to take this authority away from Governor Romney, and it’s hard to see how they would have the credibility to reverse themselves simply because it’s now politically inconvenient. This should not be about partisan politics – it should be about ensuring the integrity and credibility of the Senate selection process."
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“Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Democrats are at risk if they play “partisan politics,” though he said the Senate succession process should be up to the people of Massachusetts to decide.”
Politics as usual. Don’t expect the National committee to do more than throw this meat to the base – they like playing these same sorts of games in their states (see Texas: redistricting). It’s a local politics question being handled through the long established and defined legislative channels.
Posted by: jhw539 | August 20, 2009, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm
Any move such as this by Massachusetts government is further evidence that the left will do whatever is necessary, including ignore the law and the citizenry constituents, in desparation, to get a rationed health care plan in place.
Posted by: Ani | August 20, 2009, 1:46 pm 1:46 pm
…Though if the Senator was on rationed ObamaCare, where high-cost, low-value treatments were prohibited, he’d be dead already, and an election could be underway.
Posted by: Steve | August 20, 2009, 1:49 pm 1:49 pm
jhw,
Both parties have ALWAYS played the redistrciting game!
This is just a bit more in your face than the usual games.
Three points….
1. Why not include this idea of the Governor appointing an interim Senator when they orignally changed the LAW?
Hmmm….I just can’t imagine why…
2. Why didn’t Kennedy surrender his seat months ago! or even better…why not after the seizure he had at the inaugural luncheon in January?
3. If there had not been this great American uprising against the Dem’s healthcare plans, would he be thinking this way now?
Posted by: Mike_C | August 20, 2009, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
the dems are done. they have quickly proven how they are corrupt and do not care about the majority in this country. they have quickly proven their incompetence and untrustworthiness. i havent seen this many flip flops since i was in hawaii on the beach.pelosi reid and obama…great leadership. as bad as the republicans have been i never seen anything like this self destructive bunch.
Posted by: catman | August 20, 2009, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm
I swear the Dems just think we are all stupid. I noticed that the globe didn’t mention that the Dems just changed the law in 2004, so Mitt would not be able to appoint someone to the senate seat if Kerry won, and they didn’t mention at all that Sen Kennedy was the one pushing it the most. Things like this need to stop in politics.
Posted by: TheBad | August 20, 2009, 5:09 pm 5:09 pm
Left off part of sentence.
I noticed that the globe didn’t mention that the Dems just changed the law in 2004, so Mitt would not be able to appoint someone to the senate seat if Kerry won, until near the end of the article.
Posted by: TheBad | August 20, 2009, 5:14 pm 5:14 pm
I notice they are not mentioning that Charlie Crist is appointing a replacement for Mel Martinez, even as we speak. Oh, that’s right, he’s a Republican.
Posted by: Kate in SW Fla | August 21, 2009, 6:57 am 6:57 am
LOL…in 2004 the entire government was republican…are the dems really to blame then for the law changing during this time.
Posted by: talking to you is like... | August 21, 2009, 7:30 am 7:30 am
In response to “TheBad”, the point is not that dems or repubs get to appoint replacements; the point is the dems have no integrity since they are changing the law to serve their own goals. Gov Crist is not changing laws; he is following the law.
Posted by: micky | August 21, 2009, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm
The Ted Kennedy arrogance surfaces again. Some of us have been around a while and remember some of his history. Shame on him! And shame on those who are making an icon out of his being at the public trough for near unto 50 years! Medal of Freedom? Spare me!
Posted by: Evelyn | August 21, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
This is why they should have term limits. No one should be able to stay in office that long.
Posted by: Sparky | August 27, 2009, 1:48 am 1:48 am