Thank you Dr. Jay Fleitman – Candidate for Congress Hampden 2nd Congressional District

Dr. Jay Flietman, a Northampton physician, deserves the gratitude of the people of the Hampden 2nd district, for giving of his time and his treasure in order to run for office. Dr. Fleitman was nothing short of gracious in his approach to the campaign, as was his opponent and the eventual winner of the primary, Tom Wesley, a Navy Veteran and businessman. Both candidates had never run for public office, yet, the campaigns were professional, and did not dissolve into negativity, which is critical to avoid in the Bay State.

It is men (and women) like Dr. Flietman, who put their lives on hold for the “rest of us”, in order to try and help the country, knowing that they will be taking a personal and financial risk, during the election as well as if elected to a state or federal office (as it means a huge cut in pay). Therefore, to Dr. Flietman, a heartfelt thank you and kudos’ on a job well done in your quest to oust Richard Neal (D-MA) from an office he has held for 12 terms (24 years). Although some may argue that the odds are against a Republican from Northampton, (or Hopedale - more on that later), it was and remains, a better than possible safe bet that, yes indeed, Massachusetts is adept at producing miracles, and with the help of dedicated community leaders such as Dr. Fleitman, who has participated in the process, on a scale not seen in decades, made it a joy for those who take pride in our nation, and get out and vote, an up to recently, rare opportunity to have a real choice at the polls.

MA Hampden 2nd 2010 Update – Dr. Jay Fleitman running against Richard Neal (D-MA) endorsed for Primary by Springfield Republican Editorial Board

Dr. Jay Fleitman, Running against Democrat Incumbant Richard Neal photo tommydevine blog

Congressman Richard Neal (D-MA) has held the office of the Hampden 2nd Congressional District Representative, virtually unopposed, since 1988. During that time, the former Springfield Mayor has operated as an almost invisible Democrat Party Representative, until recently when Charles Rangel (D-NY) left the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee under the cloud of ethics violations. And Neal began to “lobby” for the Chair. However, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, decided to appoint Sander Levin (D-MI) due to seniority. Neal’s pork record here shows a disparity in “bringing home the bacon” with the largest cash outlays going to support Ireland and a California University. Therefore, the Hampden 2nd has a Congressional Representative who is a “reliable party vote”, and one who has been passed over for promotion by none other than Nancy Pelosi. This type of entrenched politician whose interest in political party supersedes the interests of the district he represents, should, logic follows, be replaced.

On the 14th of September (this coming Tuesday), voters in Massachusetts (and several other states) are holding rather late primaries. In this upcoming primary, there are two men vying for the Republican slot to run against Richard Neal. Dr. Jay Fleitman was endorsed today by the Springfield Republican over GOP rival Mr. Tom Wesley. The endorsement by the Districts largest print publication, is worth noting, even though the endorsement is featured the end of the article, almost as an afterthought. Of course, daily print publications, with very few exceptions, normally endorse left, and one can bet the house that once the primary is past, Richard Neal with receive a ringing endorsement by the same paper. Although, this blog could be wrong, the Republican, at the last hour in 2008, broke with the industry and endorsed Senator John McCain, basically “Hell Froze over” - can it happen twice - yes.

The endorsement makes sense, as Dr. Fleitman is the stronger of the two candidates running for the office. Dr. Fleitman, who has held elected positions in the City of Northampton, until recently resigning to run against Neal, produced a stellar performance in a recent debate featured on WWLP Springfield. (Note: the debate was held at an odd hour, and then brushed under the rug by the NBC affiliate.) A recent interview on one of the Districts most popular morning radio shows, Rock 102’s “Bax and O’Brien”, gives one the impression that Dr. Fleitman not only can “go the distance” against, what one of the radio hosts described as (paraphrasing), an entrenched politician that might need to be removed with the “Jaws of Life”, but will be a leader with the needs of the District and the nation in mind. The interview, which can be heard here is worth the five or ten minutes, as it highlights the character of Dr. Fleitman, a man who has a keen wit, sense of humor, pride in the nation, and the qualifications for the office he seeks.

Additionally, one gets the impression that Dr. Fleitman will not be spending taxpayers’ dollars on pork projects, rather focusing on bringing more jobs to the district. Although Tom Wesley, who is running against Dr. Fleitman in the primary, is an honorable man, in reviewing the debates, it is the confidence that Dr. Flietman brings to the table, along with ideas and a plan, that make the choice rather obvious.

Although the Hampden 2nd has not received any national press as regards this particular match-up, with the focus mainly on the Massachusetts 4th (Barney Frank) and the MA 10th (open seat), one can expect that to change immediately following the primary.
One has to ask the question, why would a successful physician, living a peaceful and productive life in Massachusetts mini-Greenwich Village (only apt analogy), as a Republican (that has to be brought into the discussions, goes to electability), take a chance on getting a job that offers little glory, and a huge cut in pay? Dr. Fleitman, in running for office, is doing so for his love of our country, for his children, our children, and our grandchildren. When looking at Congress, the citizen that should be sent, is one who holds those qualities, one that is not self-serving (as in a “career politician”) rather one that is performing self-less act in hopes of bettering the lives of others and this great nation in which we are privileged to reside.

To those outside the district, Neal is perhaps in a position to be even more dangerous than Barney Frank, (or equally as dangerous), visit JayFleitman.com and donate either time or treasure. It is worth the effort.

Dr. Jay Fleitman resigns from NoHo Board of Health to Focus On Race Against Democrat Richard Neal

The Daily Hampshire Gazette has reported that Dr. Jay Fleitman, GOP candidate for the 2nd Hampden Congressional District, has stepped down from his long-held position on the Board of Health. Fleittman, who practices pulmonary medicine, is a rarity in the City of Northampton, locally dubbed “NoHo”. The city is home to Smith College, and has a heavy liberal bent, yet Jay Fleitman is not only well received, but a respected member of the community despite being a Republican.

Flietman made his decision to run for against Neal early in the game (pre-Scott Brown), Neal, a 20 year veteran of Congress, had been unchallenged for decades, and has been confident in his position, enough so that he has not produced one piece of legislation. Like clockwork, Neal’s staff sends mailers out every two years to constituents warning about the evils of Republicans, and/or touting what he has accomplished in the district. One of the favorite Neal claims is that he has, time and again, “saved Westover Air Reserve Base”, which is one of the most strategic basis in the nation, and has been since World War Two. (A bit of Al Gorism can be found in Neal at times.) Perhaps the two biggest reasons to take a hard look at Flietman as an alternative to Neal are:

1) Neal has consistently voted with the Democrats in Congress, never crossing the aisle, regardless of the worth of a particular bill. His latest “Town Hall” on health care in August, was held in Worcester (which is part of the District, but far from the major cities of Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee). He defended the Congressional Brand of Health Care Reform over the objection of his constituents.

2) Most recently, disgraced Democrat Charles Rangel was forced to resign his Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. Rangel’s choice of replacement: Richard Neal. Neal did not get the nod from the House, rather the gavel went to a Michigan Democrat, but Neal intends, according to the several sources, to fight for the post, although he must first make it through the November elections. The reason one cites this aspect of Neal’s career is that a recommendation to a post by someone who is so corrupt, as a Democrat, that they are forced out, speaks volumes.


However, the question remains, will a Republican be able to oust long-term Democrat Congressional Representative in 2010. The answer is a resounding yes, with some caveats. The candidate must be able to connect to voters on several levels, be a populist, independent minded individual. Fleitman completes this profile admirably. In addition, his candidacy was announced pre-Scott Brown, which, in this mind, no matter which district, speaks volumes about the sincerity of the candidate and the will of the candidate to take on the “odds”.

This is not to say that the bevy of candidates coming forth from the woodwork to run across the Commonwealths districts are not worthy, it is just that decisions were made post-Scott Brown, the congressional districts analyzed ad nauseum in order to determine if a “Republican” win would be feasible. It also speaks volumes about courage and conviction of one’s principals and abilities. One must face the facts, Scott Brown was and remains Scott Brown, someone who at times distanced himself from the GOP, an independent minded thinker that did not run because he looked at the Commonwealth and past races and thought – I can do this because so and so won the race.

That’s one of the finer points about Jay Fleitman (among other candidates who are running in several other districts), he ran because he felt he needed to do something. He “manned-up” before it was a popular thing to do and looking at all the angles, he’s just independent enough to appeal to the voters of the Hampden 2nd in a big way. One can bet that residents of the 2nd Hampden may be treated to yet another postcard in 2010 from Richard Neal.