Capuano for Senate

Congressman Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” If that’s true, we hope that Harvard students are paying attention to the local election taking place next Tuesday: the primaries for the Senate seat formerly held by Edward M. Kennedy ’54-’56. On the Democratic side, there is one candidate who best seems to follow in the tradition of great representatives like Kennedy or O’Neill—whose congressional seat he now holds. This candidate is Michael E. Capuano, and we strongly endorse his candidacy for the Senate.

First and foremost, we are certainly confident in Capuano on the issues. However, given the fact that his politics do little to differentiate him from his Democratic rivals, it is his personal attributes that make him stand out most to us. Specifically, we are impressed with Capuano’s past as a politician who gets things done. Since learning politics in rough-and-tumble Somerville—where he served as the city’s mayor—he has represented Massachusetts’s Eighth Congressional District, which includes Harvard, for over a decade.

Unlike his three rivals for the Democratic nomination, he has spun this Washington experience as a benefit, not a detriment, and we agree with this assessment. During debates and public appearances, Capuano has repeatedly demonstrated how his knowledge of government’s ins and outs has allowed him to work the system to his advantage—whether it is to push progressive causes or speak up for constituent needs. He understands how Washington works and is unapologetic about being an insider. In contrast to his rivals’ idealistic rhetoric about bringing change to the system, we find his realism refreshing.

Also refreshing is his candid, and often feisty, attitude. Capuano is not a typical politician; he is often willing to embrace controversy rather than resort to the tired political trick of sidestepping it. He is also wont to be upfront about issues and his stances on them. When his votes may be unpopular, he explains them, trying to engage rather than fool those who would disagree. Finally, he has also displayed a hot streak that often results in him becoming more animated than the average politician. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, we recognize that this invigorating style has served him well in the House of Representatives—the closest thing to the U.S. Senate.

We likewise recognize that there is this endorsement may raise some eyebrows, given that Alan A. Khazei ’83, who has spent significant time and resources here on campus, is Harvard’s favorite son. However, we actually find Khazei’s preoccupation with Harvard to be curious. In an election to represent all of Massachusetts, a candidate should probably not focus so much on a university whose students are largely not constituents.

That said, we do agree with Khazei on one major point: health care. We certainly appreciate the strong pro-choice position taken by Capuano, who says he opposes the health-care bill so long as it contains the Stupak amendment restricting abortion rights. We urge a Senator Capuano to vote for health-care reform regardless of the amendment—and we ultimately have faith that he will do so. Unlike one of his opponents, Attorney General Martha M. Coakley, he has not ruled it out entirely, saying that the current bill is still miles away from the final version and that many things can change.

Capuano’s endorsement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and several of his Massachusetts colleagues in the House speaks to what is ultimately the most important thing in any election: respect. Simply put, we see Michael Capuano as the most likely candidate to become the next Ted Kennedy. Massachusetts deserves another senator who becomes a lion of the Senate, known for his effectiveness and respected by members of all parties. Capuano’s resume and demeanor have assured us that he can be that senator.