By Lynne Hendricks
NEWBURYPORT — On the day he planned to meet with residents of greater Newburyport to discuss federal issues, Sixth District Congressman John Tierney arrived to City Hall Saturday to find one of the biggest crowds he's encountered in the five-part series of community meetings he kicked off March 14.
The standing-room-only crowd of approximately 250 spilled over into the balcony seating area of City Hall's Auditorium, with local residents and leaders anxious to hear their congressman's take on issues such as Afghanistan, universal health care, the AIG bonus scandal and government bank bailout, and the state of the American economy looking forward under new Democrat leadership.
City Councilors Donna Holaday, James Shanley, Tom O'Brien and Brian Derrivan were on hand for the forum, as was School Committee member Stephanie Weaver, state Rep. Mike Costello, and a number of other municipal appointees.
But before Tierney could expound on some of the pressing issues of the day, he was forced into a face-off of political ideologies when Republican protesters from a nationally organized "Tea Party" rally being held across the street took their protest inside.
Wielding signs painted with anti-Democrat slogans, most of which took issue with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus bill, the group lined the back of the auditorium and waited their turn to be called on in the question and answer forum. Their questions were directed with the full force of a political party looking to recover from the loss of the 2008 presidential race, as well as majorities in the House and Senate.
One picketer came forth when called upon by Tierney with accusations of alleged underhanded dealings on the part of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and another called Tierney out on his alignment with other Democratic House members.
"You're voting along party lines 99 percent of the time," said Doug Harrison of Newburyport when called upon by Tierney. "Is this just a charade here? Does any of this matter? I think you have a tin ear to the other half of the people here."
With no official peacemakers on hand to mitigate a potentially unruly clash of ideologies, Tierney took control of the oft times angry crowd himself, making a pitch for civility despite the outcome of the last election.
"(Obama's) been in about 67 days," said Tierney in response to a protester angry about Barack Obama's policy initiatives.
"I know some people are angry he hasn't solved every problem yet," he added facetiously, offering a gentle reminder that parties can disagree with civility.
"We can agree or disagree," said Tierney. "Let's set a better tone here in our discussions."
In response to Harrison's criticism, Tierney steered the meeting back on topic by addressing the 30-strong crowd of protesters.
"I am a Democrat," he said. "If the Republicans come up with an idea that I think is worthwhile, I'll certainly vote for it. At least as long as the idea is, 'Let's try what we were doing the past eight years,' I'm probably not going to agree with that. We tried it that way for eight years and here we are. Here we are."
With political clashes aside, for the rest of the meeting Tierney did what he said he most wanted to do, which was listen. He listened to locals express the need for changes in how grant subsidies are offered for residents wishing to install wind turbines at home, and he listened to residents of Plum Island express the need for funds to dredge the Merrimack River and solve the erosion problem that threatens their community.
Peter Fitzsimmons of Newburyport saw the forum as a unique opportunity to talk about how Democrats and Republicans can work together to stem the tide of jobs being exported overseas, a trend that's spanned the administrations of both political parties, he said.
"I lay this on both Democrats and Republicans," said Fitzimmons. "It's going to go on year after year unless something is done."
"Some of the things I think unnecessarily helped (the trend) was the tax structure we have that encouraged companies to move over there," Tierney told him. "That can be reversed and we're looking at that right now."
Along with providing Newburyport with one of its feistiest political debates in recent memory, the Saturday event proved a chance for Tierney to speak one on one with members of the district, and his grasp of the issues impressed Gail Hampton Vaudo and her husband Tony of West Newbury.
"He comes across as very ethical and knowledgeable," said Hampton Vaudo, who took notes throughout Tierney's speech when conversation turned to issues she and her husband follow closely, like alternative energy.
"I think he really does understand the issues, whether it's a local issue having to do with Plum Island, or other national issues," she said.
"He's on top of everything," her husband agreed.
Though the question and answer session was only scheduled to last from 12:30-2 p.m., Tierney was still speaking one on one with constituents 90 minutes after the meeting's close.
"He has a lot of patience too," said Hampton Vaudo. "Some of the questions were a little long."
