O’Malley discusses future of Democratic Party at Politics and Eggs

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Jonas Ben Riala, Crier Staff

Former Governor and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malley returned to St. Anselm this week for the traditional Politics and Eggs, held at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Here he talked about the future of the Democratic Party, the state of the nation and opening the possibility of a new race for president.

Martin O’Malley has held a long and fruitful career in American politics, as a Mayor of Baltimore and as Governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015. During his terms as Governor he actively worked on gun control legislation, ended capital punishment and legalized gay marriage. While it was long an open secret in Washington, O’Malley publicly announced his intention to run for President just months after his tenure as Governor ended.

His challenge was competing in a field with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, landing between two passionate camps of voters. He pointed out during his speech that “The mood that animated the electorate last time around was a mood of anger, rage and retribution, and in that atmosphere, I found myself between a rock and an angry place and couldn’t get enough oxygen even to have my message heard”. He certainly had difficulties of getting heard, withdrawing from the race early after getting only 0.6% of the votes in Iowa.

He has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since then, with his political work limited to consulting on various Democratic Party races across the country.  He has also accepted fellowship and teaching positions at Carnegie Mellon University, Georgetown University, Boston College, and most recently at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. It is from his teaching experience that he points out his faith in the future of America, stating “If you want to know where a country is headed, talk to its young people.” He further said that “You will rarely find among them people that deny climate change is real … You will rarely find people who bash new American immigrants or want to deny rights to gay couples or their kids.”

Eggs and Politics has long been a tradition for Saint Anselm College and is considered by many a mandatory stop for any potential candidate mulling a race. Indeed, Donald Trump stopped by back both in 2014 and 2015, as have Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz Chris Christie, Ben Carson and many more. It is in fact not O’Malley’s first visit to the traditional event either, having last been in 2015 after earlier announcing his campaign.

Speaking at a “Politics and Eggs” event hosted by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics on Tuesday, O’Malley told the crowd he has been focusing on state-level races, but believes Democrats have an opportunity to win back the House and Senate. Their success, he said, depends on Democrats recruiting good candidates in State House and Senate races.

The former Governor also made a jab at his opposition during the 2016 presidential campaign, noting that he was history will show that he was the only one who was a lifetime member of the Democratic Party. But the speech was mostly civil, staying away from anything too controversial or sensitive.

At the event the back wall was lined with camera crews during the breakfast, and reporters from the major New England news stations were present. One may have been fooled by the media presence and location that O’Malley would make a larger announcement than what he actually did. His most direct comment of the day was a quote to NBC, stating he was “keeping an open heart and an open mind about running again for president”. But the air of was rather muted, focusing instead to urge his fellow Democrats to embrace the future.

“We have to shake ourselves out of the pity party,” O’Malley said. “We have to hold out and cast away the fear of the future that has become the stale currency of our current politics, and instead embrace it, not be afraid of the light that shines within us. Look into the eyes of our kids and call forward that goodness.”

Junior Madison Mangels was chosen by the former Governor to ask a question. She wanted to know “what advice he would have for young people who are passionate about politics and want to make change.” O´Malley responded that young people should get involved in local campaigns noting that he was able to gain top positions on campaigns by volunteering as a college student. Other New Hampshire citizens questioned O’Malley on the ban of transgender soldiers in the military and gun control.

With the midterms being held this year and the beginning of the next presidential campaign not long after, one would be right to expect candidates to begin courting the voters and sticking out feelers for the prospects of running their own campaign.

Former Ohio Governor, John Kasich also made an appearance in the Granite State, speaking at New England College to give a fireside chat. Preparations for the next NH primary it seems are already beginning.