Red army galvanizing in even our bluest towns

[Danno 1,228]

Red army galvanizing in our bluest towns

Republicans coming ‘out of the closet’ in wake of Scott Brown’s win

By Jessica Fargen | Sunday, February 14, 2010 | http://www.bostonherald.com | Local Politics

The state’s loneliest Republicans - those who languish in the navy blue regions from Northampton to Nantucket - are shaking off their years-long malaise and rebuilding a political machine in the land of Birkenstocks and Priuses.

“People are coming out of the woodwork saying, ‘We’ve been Republicans in hiding and now we want to be out and help,’ ” said Jeffrey Hopkins, chairman of the City Republican Committee in the old Democratic union stronghold of Fall River.

In the wake of Scott Brown’s victory in his Senate campaign versus Martha Coakley, a surge in interest in the GOP has come from longtime Republicans, independents, Tea Party activists and even Democrats, dazzling many organizers.

“It was not a team that anybody wanted to join,” said Larry Giunta, 41, chairman of Newburyport Republican City Committee, which grew from zero members to 60 in one year, thanks to organization and Brown’s win. “The days of meeting in the basement of your local library and having two or three people show up are over.”

The GOP is organizing across Boston, the heart of the Democratic Party’s network in the state. This past year, Republican ward committees reorganized in traditionally Democratic Southie, Charlestown and Dorchester.

“Since Scott Brown, the interest has exploded,” said Karen MacNutt of Dorchester, who took over Boston’s Republican City Committee, which, until November, had not met in five years.

In lefty enclave Jamaica Plain - where Republicans make up only 4 percent of voters and Che Guevara T-shirts are more common than pickup trucks - a new GOP ward committee formed after an eight-year hiatus.

“I got a lot of interest,” said Edward Wagner, 50, who formed the Ward 11 committee in 2008, but only recently started monthly meetings at Doyle’s Cafe, the traditional Democratic pols’ hangout.

Statewide, the GOP has 400 local committees, up from 300 a year ago, said Jennifer A. Nassour, chairwoman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, who set out in January 2009 to reorganize.

Another 200 of 600 possible committees are still unorganized, but Brown’s victory is revitalizing long-demoralized Republicans.

“Since the Brown victory we’ve seen other committees sprout up,” Nassour said. “We’ve seen more and more people come out.”

On Nantucket, where U.S. Sen. John Kerry windsurfs and lefty celebrities rub elbows every summer, the Republican Town Committee gained 20 members during Brown’s campaign.

“We are, at a grassroots level, feeling empowered for the first time in a long time,” said Chairwoman Donna Hamel. “It’s lifted the rock and let everybody crawl out.”

In the far left of the state, bucolic Berkshire County, “the big change is at the grassroots level,” said Matt Kinnaman, a Republican state committee member. “Scott Brown’s victory has ignited new energy among those who have not been involved and may have been discouraged that it wasn’t going to make a difference.”

Dr. Jay Fleitman, who is running for Congress against Springfield Democrat Richard Neal, said Republicans in his ultra-liberal hometown of Northampton are finally speaking up.

In the past, he said, “You tend not to talk about your political beliefs very much. You won’t find anyone who agrees with you and you end up getting into fights.” But now, “That’s changing.”

The Northampton Republican Town Committee is meeting in March for the first time since 2008.

In Pittsfield, where Coakley received 70 percent of the vote, Republicans are organizing ward committees for the first time in years.

Despite the momentum, Republican leaders are realistic about success in a state where Democrats outnumber them 3 to 1.

In Boston, despite reorganization, no GOP ward committees have the maximum 35 members, said David Trumbull, secretary of the city Republican committee.

In the People’s Republic of Cambridge, the Republican committee membership is more active, but numbers are steady.

“We’re trying to reach out and create ways for people to come out of the closet,” said Chairman Henry Irving, 59. “We do face rather insurmountable odds; we’re keenly aware of that.”

And in Newton, Republican City Committee Treasurer Bob Whitten warned that Brown’s victory in the short, unusual race may have given some of his comrades false hope.

“Republicans sense there are winds of change coming and that may provide openings for Republican candidates,” said Whitten, 69. “That is wishful thinking.”

Indeed, in some diehard Democratic towns - for example Provincetown, where Coakley cruised to victory - it’s still taboo to be a Republican.

One Provincetown businesswoman and closet Republican said she’d like someone to organize a town GOP group, but she’s not sure it will happen.

She didn’t want her name used out of fear she’d lose customers. “Everybody has to have the courage of their convictions,” she said, “but I’m worried about my business.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/...ticleid=1232740

[ready4ONE 5,400]

[Niels Bohr 72]

Do you know why Provincetown are mostly Democrats?

Provincetown is the gay capital of the United States of America. Everywhere you go, there's either a lesbian holding hands or gay men holding hands. Why would a Republican survive in that town since one of their goal is to make sure people aren't gay.

The article is wrong. Democrats also voted for Scott Brown. Doesn't really matter if the ratio is 3 to 1 in Boston.

[Danno 1,228]

Do you know why Provincetown are mostly Democrats?

Provincetown is the gay capital of the United States of America. Everywhere you go, there's either a lesbian holding hands or gay men holding hands. Why would a Republican survive in that town since one of their goal is to make sure people aren't gay.

The article is wrong. Democrats also voted for Scott Brown. Doesn't really matter if the ratio is 3 to 1 in Boston.