Ogonowski exclusion not political, 9/11 ceremony panel says (MA plays politics with 9-11)

Boston Fishwrap ^ | 9/09/07 | Viser

[pabianice]

In organizing a State House ceremony for Tuesday to mark the sixth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, planners said yesterday they never envisioned they would set off a political firestorm by not inviting Jim Ogonowski, whose brother was killed in the attacks and who is now engaged in a heated race as he seeks to become the state's first Republican congressman in more than a decade.

Ogonowski, who has been a speaker at the ceremony the past four years, was not asked to come back. However, added to the program as the keynote speaker was Martin Meehan, a former US representative whose wife is chairing Democrat Niki Tsongas's campaign against Ogonowski.

"I never really thought about this as a political situation," said Ted Livingston, executive director of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, which planned the event this year. "We didn't seek to include or exclude anyone because of party lines."

[pabianice]

Governor Deval Patrick did not get involved in putting together this year's program, according to a spokesman, and left the planning up to the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund, a Boston-based nonprofit that had a secondary role in the previous anniversary ceremonies. Still, Patrick, who will be speaking at the event, spent several hours last week walking the streets of Lowell shaking hands and imploring voters to support Tsongas.

Patrick's chief of staff, Doug Rubin, was a political consultant for Tsongas before joining Patrick's staff in April. The spat was first reported by the Boston Herald yesterday.

Uh-huh.

[muawiyah]

Sounds like Massachusetts where even grief is turned to political advantage by Democrat thugs.

[mewzilla]

The Herald's take....

Ogonowski left out of 9/11 ceremony GOP hopeful honored pilot brother in past

MA doesn't have a single GOP Critter. Figgers.

[nyyankeefan]

lib/dems....always slighting those that do not tow the party line....now even the murdered 3,000 9/11 victims are just political ploys for lib/dems!!!!!

[mware]

Sean Hannity ought to invite Ogonowski to the FReedom Concert being held at Jackson, NJ on 911.

From what I hear Joe Lieberman is also going to attend the concert.

Hey Mark, got an extra ticket for this guy??

[mewzilla]

Ted Livingston Bio

[TLI]

Ogonowski, who has been a speaker at the ceremony the past four years, was not asked to come back. ...who is now engaged in a heated race as he seeks to become the state's first Republican congressman in more than a decade.

Martin Meehan, a former US representative whose wife is chairing Democrat Niki Tsongas's campaign against Ogonowski.

"We didn't seek to include or exclude anyone because of party lines."

I didn't steal the cookies, honest! Trust me, I am not lying!

Is it being democrat makes them stupid or being stupid makes them Democrats?

[mewzilla]

LIVINGSTON, FREDERICK C
BROOKLINE, MA 02146
INVESTOR

BUSH, GEORGE W
VIA BUSH FOR PRESIDENT INC.
04/19/1999 500.00 99034572366
09/23/1999 250.00 99034851653

LIVINGSTON, FREDERICK C MR.
BROOKLINE, MA 02445
SELF-EMPLOYED/INVESTOR

BUSH, GEORGE W
VIA BUSH-CHENEY ‘04 (PRIMARY) INC
04/08/2004 200.00 24961370865

LIVINGSTON, FREDRICK C
BROOKLINE, MA 02445
INTERNET EXECUTIVE

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
06/22/2000 1000.00 20035762515

[mewzilla]

This may explain some things...

Massachusetts 9/11 Fund Board of Diectors and Honorary Board

[hershey]

MA dem. politics as usual, mean, spiteful, and stupid. (Well, what did you expect from the state represented by Fat Teddy and Nuancyboy Kerry?) Come ‘08, Ogonowski will flatten Tsongas, and that’s exactly what dems are afraid of.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Sounds like Massachusetts where even grief is turned to political advantage by Democrat thugs.

Ogonowski hasn't exactly kept his connection to his brother a secret. He has my vote, (I live in the 5th MA CD) but politization cuts both ways.

[EDINVA]

are you going to the 9/11 Freedom COncert in NJ? (it’s a school nite!)

[mware]

Yes, I am going to the concert. I am going to leave right after school gets out 3:30PM. It is about an hour drive. I should get there easily in time for the concert.

I already made up three signs.

OUR TROOPS.....MY HEROES.

and

GOT FREEDOM....THANK A MARINE, and

HOME OF THE FREE BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE.

I also have my 911 American Flag. It has a black silhouette of the NYC skyline prior to 911 on it.

[EDINVA]

Good for you !!!!!

So glad you’re getting to go, and I have just a touch of envy. That’s the closest of the concerts to here, but still a bridge too far.

[Brainhose]

Typical Mass-holes. that’s why I moved out 20+ years ago.
I’m no fan of Mr. Ogonowski since he stated that he would like Jimmy Carter to step in and help fix Iraq.
But that is no reason to dislike him personally. The entire state of Massachusetts should be ashamed of themselves for stooping to such brazen political tactics when we should all be coming together as a country.