Ed Markey Isn’t Afraid of Kevin O’Connor [OPINION]

Sen. Ed Markey isn't afraid of challenger Kevin O'Connor, but he is afraid of you, the voters of Massachusetts. It was clearly a good political decision by Markey's handlers to only debate once. Also a sad admission.

The campaign of Kevin O'Connor is getting hot at just the right time. The well-spoken, good-looking graduate of Boston College Law school has a great story to tell. He was born to a large Irish American family, and he has four children of his own today. His father recently survived the COVID-19 virus. He has had an excellent career as an attorney and he is stepping up at a time when our country needs leadership.

In the debate tonight on WGBH, the Republican challenger politely took Sen. Edward Markey to the woodshed over his failure to produce for Massachusetts during his time in Congress. Markey has been in office for over four decades. Richard Nixon was the president went he was first elected.

You could tell Markey felt he was in trouble when he started mentioning New York Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the halfway mark. He also started calling O'Connor a "Trump Republican" and oddly blaming O'Connor for policy failures when he was in Congress and Kevin was a private citizen.

When confronted by O'Connor on the death of DJ Henry, a Black college kid from Easton shot by an off-duty cop in New York, and his lack of assistance, the Democrat had no answer. The charges of neglect were made originally by the family of Henry and echoed by Congressman Joe Kennedy just a few months ago.

When called on the carpet by O'Connor for writing the Green New Deal and then voting "present" rather than for it, the Democrat blamed Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Markey has called for the defunding of local police and to abolish the enforcers of American immigration laws. Markey wants to make citizens of all the millions of illegal aliens who broke into our nation.

O'Connor pointed out he has earned the endorsement of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, while many of Markey's current positions on issues like defunding the police, abolishing fossil fuel, and abolishing private health insurance are dismissed by even Joe Biden as out of step with reality.

Markey knows he can't withstand another debate with O'Connor and that is why he won't stand in front of you ever again to present his worldview. Sad but true.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.