To the editor:
On Aug. 3, Sen. Edward Markey met representative Seth Moulton for the second of three televised debates in advance of the Democratic primary. If you have not taken the time to tune in, I urge you to do so for the third debate which will occur on Aug. 20.
Why? Because the major take-away from the confrontation could not be learned from the printed transcripts or from reports of the debate. Despite a few points of conflict, the political positions of the two candidates are similar. The important difference is the aura that each candidate projected around himself.
Mr. Markey is 80 years old. He has been in Congress since 1976. Although he appears well for a person of his age, the television cameras did not do him a favor. He appeared somewhat fragile and diminished by age. He spoke defensively about his past accomplishments, much less about his hopes for the future. Mr. Moulton on the other
hand was at the top of his game. He showed great enthusiasm for some ideas that he believes will lead to a better future for Massachusetts, such as his plans for a rapid transit system that would integrate all of eastern Massachusetts and also yield space for housing development where is it sorely needed.
Marshall McLuhan memorably said that the “medium is the message” by which he meant that the very process of how information is conveyed affects the perceived content. That was certainly true at the last debate, with the rather striking contrast between a man in his prime looking forward with enthusiasm and one with declining vigor, defending the past.
I am very sympathetic to Mr. Markey, since I am a contemporary of his. However, anyone who has reached this age or has lived with someone who has should acknowledge reality. At 80 and beyond our reaction times slow, our hearing and vision decline, and certainly continued vigor for the next 6 years (a senate term) is not assured.
Mr. Markey has served the Commonwealth honorably for many years. We should thank him for his service. It is, however, time to move on. Watch the debate and see for yourself.
Daniel Rosenthal
Harbor Avenue
