Barney Frank 2010 Opponent - Republican Sean Bielat - “Outed” for Being a Democrat by Local News – Blames Barney Frank!?

Sean Bielat, candidate for the Massachusetts 4th Congressional Seat, has been running a scorched earth primary against the somewhat flawed Republican, Earl Sholley, in hopes of besting Sholley to gain the privilege of running against incumbent Barney Frank. The Bielat campaign put out a website, entitled: Decide for Yourself.org which includes Lexis Nexus court documents, and links to newspaper articles that appear damming to Mr. Sholley. It is clearly marked – clearly marked “paid for by Bielat for Congress.” In essence, one can agree or disagree with this tactic; however, it was apparently brought on by divisive remarks made by followers of the Sholley Campaign.


Decide for Yourself.org

That said, in a recent article on Wicked Local here the fact that Sean Bielat was a registered Democrat up until 2005, complete with copies of his voting records via Lexis Nexus, is thrown out at the district in the form of an “outing”.

The article also incorrectly states that Mr. Sholley has been a lifelong resident of the District, when, in fact, he had moved there in 2008, however, Sholley had been a resident of the Commonwealth, living in Holliston and Attleboro. It is not an uncommon practice for politicians and/or those seeking to become politicians to move to a district in order to run against an incumbent. Therefore, the carpetbagger charges being thrown by commenter’s on this article at both Sholley and Beilat should do some research on the practice.

Is it a problem that Mr. Beilat was a former Democrat? Hardly, that’s a cause for celebration – however, timing, as they say, is everything. Had Sean Bielat begun his campaign with: "I was a lifelong Democrat, who, after much soul searching found that I could no longer support the Party and its policies and became a Republican. I also decided that I had to make up for my previous faux pas and step up and stand up to one of the most egregious politician’s in the nation – Barney Frank – so I decided to run for Congress."

That narrative would have propelled Mr. Beilat into stardom, both in the district and in the eyes of the national press. There is nothing that Republicans love more than converts.

That did not happen.

Mr. Beilat did not mention he was a Democrat, and in response to the “Wicked Local” article, Bielat’s team posted a message on his website www.seanbielat.org, Entitled: Yes, I was a registered Democrat .


Bielat: Blames Barney

Unfortunately, not unlike the current occupant of the White House, Mr. Beilat chose to blame Barney Frank, of all people, for “outing” him as a Democrat. His heartfelt account of growing up in a Democrat family as well as his “seeing the light”, is ruined by his casting blame at Frank. He could have and should have used it to his advantage.


Scenario: "I was a Democrat at one time, but I chose the better party, and although I should have been upfront from the beginning about my affiliation, I felt that a) it was not relevant, b) I was embarrassed to admit I was a Democrat, c) I was afraid I would not be accepted" – anyone of those would have done, with the following: “and I apologize if I have offended anyone, it was obviously my mistake.”

This regardless of the allegations that Barney Frank is on some kind of a witch hunt to “out Beilat” so that Frank can hold onto his seat, the charge that Beilat makes in his post opening.
That allegation by the way may or may not be true. The wicked local author, most likely followed up on Google searches which landed on his blog posts regarding Mr. Bielat. The reason this sounds more plausible is that this blog began to receive search in February of 2009, immediately following Beilat’s announcement to run as a Republican. The screen shot below from tracking software is from North Carolina, additional searches came from Chicago Illinois, upstate New York and Los Angles.


Search for Sean Bielat Democrat from February 2009 - click to enlarge

As there is more than one Sean Bielat, (as was pointed out to this blog regarding a post incorrectly stating a place of marriage), it was dropped. Apparently, not by seasoned journalist, Tony Schinella, who, with Lexis Nexus at his disposal, easily found the supporting documents. As this is a non-for-profit blog, paying for extensive Lexis Nexus services (which can get pricey), does not happen.

So, to Mr. Beilat, Man up, and take responsibility (or have your campaign staff do it) quickly. Change the narrative, which should have been your narrative from the beginning. There are only two candidates on the Republican Ticket, and you have done your best to “out” Earl Sholley (who, in reality, most of what was outed was old news) in order to rise to the top (which appears a flaw of sorts). Congressman Frank could have been bested, now, thanks to you, it may still be doable, but it will be three times the uphill battle it was.

With that said, Congratulations are in order to Mr. Bielat on his conversion, (regardless of who announced the conversion) and for being a patriot who would take time out of his life, his work, and his family, to run against one of the most fiscally damaging politicians of our lifetime.

May the better man win the primary, and whoever does win, that man will need all the support they can handle to best Congressman Barney Frank. Therefore, the time for Mr. Sholley’s (supporters) and Mr. Beilat to begin to talk about issues, is now, and to talk about avidly supporting the winner, regardless of whom that may be.

On the issues:
Sean Bielat.org
Sholley for Congress.us

Earl Sholley, Candidate for MA 4th District Running Against Barney Frank, When You’re Right, You’re Right

Ear Sholley Candidate Against Barney Frank - photo by former George Magazine Photographer - Steve Azzara

A recent piece in South Coast Today, by Jack Spillane, reports on Earl Sholley, Congressional Candidate for the 4th district. Sholley is running against incumbent Barney Frank, and the article, appears to be at first glance to contain backhanded complements, however in the end, praises Mr. Sholley for standing up for his beliefs. Earl Sholley is no stranger to running for office – and has, on multiple occasions – and likens himself to President Lincoln who made multiple unsuccessful bids for state and federal offices before his first election. In respect to Sholley’s last campaign against Barney Frank, he began late, worked with little to no staff, and managed to grab 70,000 votes in the 4th, obviously not a win, but a chunk of the electorate that had to include both independents and democrats (as there are hardly enough Republicans in that particular district to push anyone over the top, independents are outnumbered by Democrats, so logic dictates, a few must have found something in Mr. Sholley that was more appealing than sending Frank to Congress –again.

This campaign season is different in that Sholley began early, hired Lisa Camp, from the Huckabee Presidential campaign, as manager, and began an early Internet and radio campaign – establishing name recognition. Camp has since left the campaign, issuing a brief statement of a difference in management styles between herself and Mr. Sholley. Sholley, who when one meets he man, can hear strains of Frank Sinatra’s “I Did it My Way” playing somewhere in the distance. This would explain the exit of Ms. Camp as well as other staff member of past Sholley campaigns. That said, he is, if nothing else, persistent in his belief that he can and will succeed in ridding the 4th district and the nation of Barney Frank’s brand of legislating, thereby helping to put the nation and the district with 22% unemployment back on sound fiscal ground. He is, if nothing else, a staunch fiscal conservative.

In reviewing the issues (or baggage if one will) that have followed Sholley in previous campaigns, one wonders what the problem might be. For example: a domestic issue involving Sholley’s ex-wife and 14 year old daughter, has gotten a lot of play in the media. Specifically as Sholley was arrested and spent time in jail for refusing to enter a batters program. Sholley is old school – straight out of the 1950’s and when his daughter was in trouble, and in danger of harming herself, Sholley in desperation, did what parents in that era would do – he spanked her. Since most readers today do not recall being taken out to the woodshed by ones parents (normally carrying a belt), the horror, or feigned horror if one is working for an opposition team), is somewhat understandable. After all, when Sholley was in school, teachers had the right to discipline students with a belt or ruler for that matter. Some voters, especially those over the age of 50, can sympathies with Sholley on that point. In refusing to go through the batterers program, Sholley obviously felt he was not a batterer, but a parent, who was trying to get a message across to a child who had endangered herself. The result of the case, it caused a rift in his marriage. He was acquitted of the case involving his wife and a restraining order.

He also was involved in an incident in a court house where he was in an altercation with an up and coming Democrat DA, by the name of Cahill. In reading the case on findlaw, one gets the sense that Sholley, a known Republican, was railroaded.

Do the aforementioned make Sholley a flawed candidate, of course; however, he is also running against a flawed incumbent, lest one forgets the multiple ethics charges that Frank has faced in his past. Which is, in essence, the point – both men have issues that had been resolved (or in Frank’s case, faded away) which are over 20 years old - Therefore maybe not an issue as far as the average voters are concerned.

One can imagine that, given the amount of press Sholley has received to date in the district, his name is fast becoming a household word, which will make it difficult for his Republican primary challenger, Sean Bielat, to overcome without a huge war chest and a ton of advertising. As of the last FEC filing, Sholley and Beilat were even in individual contributions, while Beilat had taken out loans three times the amount of Mr. Sholley's (Sholley only after an apparent discourse with then campaign manager, Camp.) which gives Mr. Beilat an edge, on paper.

The ending of the article (which aligns Sholley with the Tea Party Movement from the get-go, and with Paul’s recent victory in Kentucky, that may bode very well for Sholley, as that particular movement has a strong presence in Massachusetts):

He knows how he'd solve the problem and it's about getting back to basics, he says.
"I think everybody is happiest when they're working on a job, rather than receiving money," he said.
It may be a tea party-sounding solution but with Earl Sholley, it seems to be what he believes. And what he's offering the Fourth District.

Therefore, should one wish to divest the nation of Barney Frank, one has to look critically at the candidates, and understand that Sholley, although somewhat “flawed”, is the one best positioned to beat Frank in November. In the interest of fairness, Sean Beilat, also running as a Republican, is more of a moderate conservative, but he is new to politics and as a first run, will be well positioned, with experience to take a Massachusetts state or congressional seat in the 2012 elections. It is not crime to run multiple times. Neither man, as far as extensive research, has received any support from the State GOP.

Can Earl Sholley succeed in besting Barney Frank, despite the negative press, despite his alleged affiliation with the Tea Party (which is, often to the media’s surprise, a plus) – absolutely. Sholley, obviously, must win the primary, and it’s a long way between now and September (again, name recognition in the 4th will be key), and with mounting pressure on Democrats nationwide, Frank may find himself faced with a loss to an educated, quirky, somewhat eccentric, former military man, turned small businessman, who in retirement, is trying to do his best to help his country. Better than Barney Frank? You Betcha. To learn more about the Sholley Campaign visit sholleyforcongress.us

Earl Sholley, Mass. 4th District Candidate for U.S. Congress Offers Hour Long Blog-Talk Radio Progam

Earl Sholley, candidate for the Massachusetts 4th District U.S. Congressional Seat, currently held by Democrat Barney Frank, began an hour-long radio broadcast last night. The broadcast, from 6 to 7 pm, is on Blog-Talk radio, inviting callers to “Ask Earl” his views on a host of issues. The first broadcast was held last night, and was quite successful.

One can listen to last evenings broadcast here at Blog Talk Radio. Lisa Camp, Sholley’s Campaign Manager, indicated the broadcast will be a weekly feature, allowing 4th district voters, and anyone interested in the Massachusetts 4th district race, to get to know Sholley and how he stands on the issues.

Although the program appeared to get off to a rocky start (with a few missed calls), Sholley got through the “technical difficulties” and delivered a particular brand of populist think that appeared to resonate with those calling in from his district, as well as areas of Massachusetts outside of the 4th. One caller, who asked a question about Card Check, began by calling Sholley, “Sir”. Sholley immediately shot back: (paraphrasing) “Don’t call me “Sir”, I work for a living”. Sholley’s response was refreshing – given the fact that most of our U.S. Congressional representatives appear to be welded to their seats.

The Rise of the Populist Candidate in Massachusetts – Most align with GOP – Candidate Profile Earl Sholley Running against Barney Frank in 2010

The media and the DNC are still reeling from the election of, not yet officially seated, Senator Elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Brown, who ran as a Republican, was more than qualified for the Senate, given his background having served in State Senate for 3 terms, but more to the point, Scott Brown was not “one of those elitists”. In the early stages of the campaign, it was doubtful that he had support from the Mass GOP let alone the RNC – and more to the point, although the help did come, once it was determined that Brown was going to clock Coakley, he continued to be Scott Brown.

Suddenly, there appears to be a slew of GOP politicians’ comparing themselves to Scott Brown, specifically from satirical media reports, aimed at diminishing the Brown win and its impact on the GOP. The problem for those who would tag every GOP candidate as “wanting to be anther Scott Brown”, especially in Massachusetts, is that many who were raising funds, and had filed with the FEC to run against incumbent Democrats that have been entrenched for years (specifically the 4th district: Barney Frank and the 2nd Hampden, Richard Neal), were on the campaign trail long before Brown made his decision to run (or as he was making it).

Buyers beware: Take a good look all incumbents and all challengers for any given house seat in Massachusetts, especially. The reason, Brown did inspire the conservatives to come out of the proverbial closet, yet, those that already had established campaigns, did so on their own, several of them are easily identified as populist in nature. Many have no legislative experience, rather educated, degreed, and carrying a deep and abiding love of country. Some have run before, as Republican’s, only to lose due to lack of branding.

Case in point is Earl Sholley, the Republican candidate running against Barney Frank in the Massachusetts 4th.
Newspaper articles from the last election cycle when Sholley ran, such as the Boston Globe’s "Sholley Presses Lonely Battle against Frank without GOP Support" note that the Frank seat is safe, because the candidate (Sholley) is flawed and does not have party support. That said, the Globe does not highlight the fact that the incumbent is also flawed (half dozen of one, six of another), which lends to the impression that somehow Sholley is not to be taken seriously.

One has to question why then, would Sholley run? Is he some dedicated GOP insider? No. Did he enter the race to ride the wave of dissatisfaction brought to the forefront by Scott Brown? No. Sholley has been running, without backup (until recently), simply because he felt he had to do something, and it appeared no one else was going to put their lives on hold to run against a deeply entrenched U.S. Congressman in one of the most egregiously gerrymandered districts in the country. Earl Sholley is a populist.

Sholley has learned from his past campaigns, and although one can bet the house that Frank’s seat is considered “Safe”, at the present time, one can also bet the house that this designation regarding the 4th district will change. Sholley made his move to social networking sites a year ago or more, volunteers are showing up daily from both inside, but most importantly outside the Commonwealth, (financial and phone banking support). Should any comparisons be made between Sholley and Brown, it is that they both understand the power of the Internet, and how imperative it is to grassroots support, but that’s where the comparison ends.

While many of the Mass. GOP faithful were busy campaigning for Brown in MA to get as much attention as possible in the press, Sholley took the high road (so to speak) suspending his campaign and quietly working for Brown, until the results were in. Immediately following, Sholley Ads began appearing on the Drudge Report, and the tactic used in the last election which allowed a virtual unknown who had entered the race in the last quarter, going door to door, throughout the district, will certainly have a greater impact for Sholley this election, as time is on his side.
Sholley’s pluses: A strong fiscal conservative, well versed in the Constitution, Strict Constructionist, has a keen sense of history, (important knowledge used by some not to repeat failed policies). He’s not in it for the money, for the ego, or for any other reason that love of country.

Sholley minus: He’s no rock star, he is who he is (move that to the plus column), he has baggage, but that has already been recycled more often than not and expect to see articles regarding Sholley’s foibles (all personal in nature), again and again, without one mention of Frank’s foibles, which some can say, may be more egregious. He can be boring, at times, a lecturing on government can put many to sleep, that said.

The question to those Independent, Republican and Democrats who are living in the 4th - Who would you rather support in a 4th district election? Someone who has single handedly destroyed out financial system, or some sometimes dull, frumpy Republican who has a handle on finances, and actually thinks outside the box?

The question to those pundits who believe all is safe: With Brown taking the majority of the votes in Frank’s district, a good percentage of votes were cast because of Brown’s personality, but also because of voter frustration with the current system of entrenched politicians.

The fact that Sholley took 30 some odd percent of those votes prior to Frank (meaning that he did indeed have Democrats cast votes for him) as a virtual unknown) is a fairly good predictor of things to come.

The money: From from Open Secrets To Date, Sholley has raised a little over $32,000, compared to the $40,000 he pulled in the entire 2008 campaign, one can do the math. These numbers may be a drop in the bucket (1st quarter filings), but Sholley has time on his side, and as a populist, who’s message is one of fiscal conservatism, one might find the unimaginable happening in Massachusetts. The shocking revelation that a little known, landscaper, Army Veteran, who is just fed up with the status quo, giving Barney Frank the boot. He’s not Scott Brown, he’s Earl Sholley, and one can hazard to guess that there are more than a few just like Earl Sholley’s running against the entrenched politicians that do more harm than good for their districts and the nation.