Dean Cavaretta: Raising Taxes During Recession a Bad Idea
The state Senate candidate responds to a Massachusetts Democratic Party press release that pounced on a live chat claim that Bill Clinton endorsed Cavaretta—a Republican.
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State Senate challenger Dean Cavaretta, R-Stow, shot back at the Massachusetts Democratic Party on Wednesday after the Worcester/Middlesex District hopeful wrapped up a live chat with Patch.com readers.
During the chat, a reader named "Alan" wrote: "So far, you've only listed endorsements from Republicans. Is this account (Dems4Dean) just you retweeting yourself, because I haven't met any Dems who support you."
Cavaretta responded by writing: "I'll give one: Bill Clinton ..."
Shortly after the chat, Massachusetts Democratic Party spokesman Kevin Franck released a statement asking Cavaretta to supply more details of the ex-president's support.
"What is it with Massachusetts Republicans this year?" asked Franck. "Maybe Dean Cavaretta was in a secret meeting with kings and queens when Hillary Clinton, who calls him all the time, rang him to break the news about Bill's endorsement.
"It would be pretty big news if a former president decided to wade into a local race to support a long-shot Republican candidate who opposes marriage equality, wants to undo ObamaCare and supports Mitt Romney, but I guess stranger things have happened."
Cavaretta responded by thanking the Democrats for the free publicity.
"Today, the Political Machine [sic] that Sen. Scott Brown talks about showed its true colors. In a reference to tax policy my liberal opponent's hired guns inserted foot in mouth, and claimed that I touted the endorsement of former President Bill Clinton," Cavaretta said in a released statement. "Instead, what Mr. Franck has done was give me another opportunity to tell voters that on the issue of NOT raising state taxes during a Recession [sic]—this is a position that I wholeheartedly share with Mr. Clinton. This is in stark contrast to the massive tax increases on income, capital gains, payroll and gasoline, my opponent, Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, has freely introduced this past legislative session."
"(Raising taxes) makes it much more difficult to create jobs," Cavaretta continued. "Small businesses in our region are suffering bigtime."
Cavaretta also writes that he considers himself an independent thinker and fiscal conservative with the same beliefs as the former president.
"In fact, with Welfare Reform, Taxes, [sic] etc. 'Clinton Voters' are closer to me than my far-left opponent," he added.
Earlier in the chat, a guest chatter asked Cavaretta what he thought the key issue was in this year's election. Cavaretta answered by writing his slogan: "Putting Education and the Economy First."
"Specifically, how the next state senator from our part of the state can work on issues that make a real difference," he wrote.
Another reader, ABRHS89, asked Cavaretta to explain his stance on fixing health care in the state. Cavaretta wrote he supports saving Medicare for seniors, and plans to introduce legislation to fix the Health Connector for individuals and small businesses, without mandates or new tax increases.
Massachusetts Democratic Party
10:17 am on Thursday, August 9, 2012
So when Cavaretta says Bill Clinton endorsed him....was he lying?
Jim Hatherley
12:16 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
As I have been noting in recent blogs, the Democrats seem to prefer to offer distractions than discussions on the economy. Getting back to the actual race, Beacon Hill has far too many Democrats to give all voters a fair representation. In the Senate, 90% of the total are Democrats. Why should this District continue to re-elect Senator Eldridge when 60% of the people voted for Scott Brown in the special election. That suggests that the majority of voters are not receiving fair representation on Beacon Hill. Mr. Cavaretta is pointing out the differences and voters should listen to the details and not the distractions.
Mike Long
8:45 am on Sunday, August 12, 2012
I spent several hours with Mr. Cavaretta yesterday as we visited voters in Northborough yesterday. He is a very smart man with a terrific sense of humor. The number one concern of the voters he talked with was the economy and taxes. The voters do not believe that raising taxes will lead to economic growth. The Democrats have a monopoly on Beacon Hill and the voters are looking for someone who will represent them instead of the Democrat political machine. Senator Eldridge has shown through his tax and spend voting record that he is beholden to the failed liberal policies of the extreme far left and the Democratic political machine. Dean Cavaretta will provide fiscally responsible leadership and represent the values of the voters of his district.