Opinion
May 18, 2012

Nelson Benton: Warren on the defensive

Hard to say how much the controversy over Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren's alleged Native American ancestry will have on her campaign over the long term, but it's certainly a major distraction at the moment.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee this week eagerly broadcast the comments made by respected political scientist Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia, who told Fox News, "It leaves her with a mess on her hands and a continuing controversy, ... because as we know from a thousand controversies in a thousand campaigns — until you answer all the questions they just linger, and they keep being brought up."

While trying to ignore the issue, the Warren campaign was out with a release this week accusing Republican incumbent Scott Brown of "raising millions (in campaign donations) from Wall Street while weakening reform efforts."

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Gov. Deval Patrick was for it before he was against it, but House Minority Leader Bruce Tarr made clear he thinks implementation of the Secure Communities program in Massachusetts is a good thing.

According to the Gloucester Republican, "Many people in law enforcement, including our sheriffs, have testified about the need for Secure Communities to help identify violent criminals who are in this country illegally. It's unfortunate it's taken the Obama administration so long to act, but finally the Department of Homeland Security is giving law enforcement officials access to this vital tool."

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She said it: "Replacing the tax base is a Salem-only problem."

State Rep. Lori Ehrlich, D-Marblehead, writing in a recent edition of her town's weekly newspaper, makes clear her opposition to the sale of the Salem power plant site to another energy producer, Footprint Power.

Ehrlich said she prefers "a beneficial vision for this beautiful, central site," though fails to specify what that might be or who will finance it.

Apparently, that's also a Salem-only problem.

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Hard to believe given what happened in the last election, but the Salem City Council is still debating whether to amend its rules so the mayor can address that body anytime he or she wants.

Their use of the current rule allowing a single member to muzzle the chief executive played a major role last year in the embarrassing defeats suffered by incumbents Steve Pinto and John Ronan.

Nelson Benton: Warren on the defensive » Opinion » SalemNews.com, Salem, MA