| The Herald reported yesterday (and, by the way, check out the Herald's new snazzily-updated website, with RSS feeds and other bells 'n' whistles) that Jim Ogonowski, the Republican candidate for the MA-05 seat whose brother died on 9/11, and who has been asked to speak at the last four 9/11 anniversary State House ceremonies, didn't get an invite this year. Instead, Marty Meehan, the departing MA-05 congressman, will stand in. The Globe picked up on the story today.
Bad move all around. Ogonowski should have been asked to speak this year, as he has been for the last four years running. And he certainly shouldn't have been replaced by the Democrat whose seat he wants, and whose wife is chairing his opponent's campaign -- that makes the whole thing look like a political bag job, despite the organizers' insistence that it isn't.
Apparently, Ogonowski still plans to attend whether or not he has a formal role, and will suspend campaign activities on Tuesday. Meanwhile, kudos to Niki Tsongas, who just issued this classy statement:
I was surprised to learn that Jim Ogonowski was not invited to speak in Tuesday's ceremony at the State House honoring those lost on September 11, 2001, and I think he should be invited to participate in the ceremony as he has in previous years. The Ogonowski family suffered a tremendous loss, and his is an important voice on this day of remembrance.
Let's hope the organizers of the MA event heed Tsongas's words. |
