Bold Types: Neal, McGovern say issues should trump politics
By Jon Chesto, The Boston Globe
All is not merry and bright on Capitol Hill.
You don’t need to hear from a congressperson to know this. But representatives Richie Neal and Jim McGovern will remind you.
The two Democrats bemoaned the extreme partisanship they’re seeing in D.C. during separate speeches last week to the New England Council — Neal spoke at the Boston Harbor Hotel on Monday, while McGovern was at Suffolk University on Friday.
Neal talked about how some unnamed members of Congress badmouth colleagues during cable TV shows, to raise campaign donations. Neal said he tries to stick to the issues.
“It’s very hard to say to a Republican, ‘look, let’s talk about this issue’ after you’ve been on the cable shows, criticizing them,” Neal said. “You have to see them in the hallway the next morning.”
On Friday, McGovern recounted an encounter with a critic of President Biden the previous day after flying into Bradley International Airport.
“He said, you know Joe Biden is guilty as hell, and you’re fighting against an impeachment inquiry.’’ McGovern said. “I said, but [guilty] of what?’ Then he turned to me, and he said, ‘you’re a blank and blank piece of whatever.’ I was like, ‘Thank you for sharing, I’m going to put you down as undecided.’”