March 21, 2014/Press Releases
Baker Embraces “Polito Wing” of Anti-Equality, Extremist Republicans By Going To Convention
MASSACHUSETTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR TOM MCGEE CALLS ON REPUBLICAN CHARLES BAKER TO FOLLOW RICHARD TISEI’S LEAD AND BOYCOTT REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
Baker Embraces “Polito Wing” of Anti-Equality, Extremist Republicans
BOSTON – Massachusetts Democratic Party Chair Tom McGee today called on Republican Charles Baker to follow Richard Tisei’s lead and boycott tomorrow’s Republican Party convention in protest of the anti-equality platform overwhelmingly passed by the MassGOP.
McGee’s call for Baker to avoid the anti-equality Republican gathering comes on the heels of recent reports that Baker said “no” to attending a forum hosted by MassEquality next week.
“This is all starting to add up. First, Charlie handpicks a running mate with a history of voting against equality. Next, Charlie ducks a MassEquality forum. Now, Charlie’s apparently still planning to attend his Republican Party’s anti-equality convention,” said McGee. “As Richard Tisei stated in this morning’s Boston Globe, attending the Republican convention is an endorsement of anti-equality positions and Republican Charlie Baker should immediately announce that he will boycott the convention.
“This is the first real test for Charlie: will he do the right thing by following his former running mate’s lead and avoid his Party’s anti-equality gathering or will he continue to cozy up to his current running mate’s Tea Party platform and join the people who voted against equality?”
As reported in the Globe, “[Baker] did not get involved in the platform debate last month, in part because he has been trying to enlist the support of social conservatives in his second campaign for office.”
Baker’s propensity for kowtowing to extremist Republicans is evident in his choice of current running mate Karyn Polito, who as State Representative voted against equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
What might make Charlie want to go to a Tea Party-fueled convention? Perhaps he is looking for credit for his anti-equality position voiced in 2010 and reported in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
“Last month Charlie could have shown real leadership by standing up to the extremist, Polito wing of the Republican Party and denouncing the platform. Instead, Charlie chose politics over doing the right thing. Charlie has another opportunity to do the right thing today. He can choose politics or equality.”