HYANNIS – Republican U.S. Senate candidate Geoff Diehl made a campaign stop in Hyannis Tuesday to reaffirm what he said is his commitment to the Commonwealth.
Diehl, who represents the 7th Plymouth District, also questioned the commitment of Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren after she said Saturday in Holyoke that she would take a “hard look at running for President” after the November elections.
“My opponent has basically made it clear that she’s looking beyond the Senate seat here in Massachusetts and not focused on our state, but really just focused on trying to position herself to become a candidate for 2020,” Diehl said.
“And that is not helping the people of our state. It’s not helping Cape Cod.”
Diehl said he will take the time to work on issues that impact Cape Codders like the opioid crisis, beach erosion, wastewater issues or bridge repairs.
“Here on the Cape there are a lot of issues that we need to fix and I think Cape Codders deserve someone who is a full-time Senator,” he said. “Not a part-time author. Not a part-time Senator and a part-time presidential candidate.”
Diehl also criticized Warren for spending her time in other states campaigning for other candidates.
“She was just in Oklahoma and Pennsylvania when I was in Lawrence with the victims of the gas explosions,” Diehl said. “She needs to be here right now because Massachusetts could use the help.”
Diehl said it is pretty clear that running for president is Warren’s primary focus and that she should exit the race.
“Her focus on running for the White House should be her full-time commitment and she should drop out of the Senate race so that she can do what it takes to make that run – while I can do what it takes to make Massachusetts work,” he said.
Diehl said Warren should have been more honest with the residents of Massachusetts about a possible presidential run much sooner.
“She has been denying it on national news and local political shows,” he said. “The next step she should take is make a full commitment for that run and not give us a vacant seat for the next two years while she makes that run.”
Diehl also said the Senate’s confirmation process of embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has been a circus driven by politics from the Democrats.
The confirmation process has been extended after multiple sexual misconduct accusations surfaced in recent weeks.
Diehl said the information presented to Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) regarding the allegation by Christine Blasey Ford was not handled correctly.
“That information was provided to her weeks before this last minute attempt to try to derail his nomination. That should have been done in private, I think, so that we wouldn’t have a couple lives destroyed in the process,” Diehl said. “I don’t think Dr. Ford wanted to be out there in public talking about this and I don’t think Judge Kavanaugh felt these accusations without substantiation were fair.”
Diehl said Sen. Warren was right in the mix of the politics that created a spectacle.
“She was a no vote before Judge Kavanaugh’s name was even announced. She didn’t do what Senators are supposed to which is to take time to at least meet the candidate,” Diehl said.
“She just basically was an obstructionist from the get go making her no better than those people in that elevator who accosting Sen. Flake.”
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) requested the one week delay for a full Senate vote on Kavanaugh so an in-depth FBI investigation could be conducted regarding the allegations.
Diehl said he is glad the FBI is looking into the allegations, but he believes in the presumption of innocence until there is corroborating evidence.
Diehl said Warren also used Ford’s testimony for fundraising purposes.
“I think she has been one of the more divisive voices in a process that is supposed to have more thoughtful and reasonable attitudes in the selection process,” he said.
Diehl also commented on the recent shark attacks on the Outer Cape and said it is good to see that a committee and board has been put together to discuss the situation.
“The safety of tourists is obviously important, but also the fishing industry is also affected by the shark population and the seals,” he said.
He also feels the increased seal population is an issue when it comes to the presence of the sharks.
Diehl also made campaign stops Tuesday in Whitman, New Bedford, Fall River, Attleboro, Taunton, North Chelmsford and Peabody.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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