Photo | Dee DeQuattro

Gemma announces for congress, takes jabs at Doherty

Posted: 4/15/2012 7:46:58 PM
Updated: 4/15/2012 7:47:54 PM

In front of a crowd of 60 people at Prospect Terrace Park in Providence, Anthony Gemma announced his second bid for congress in the First District.

There was no mention of Gemma’s primary opponent, sitting Congressman David Cicilline who beat Gemma in the 2010 primary. Instead Gemma focused his speech on his message and Republican Candidate Brendan Doherty.

“This election comes down to a simple choice: Who among the candidates is best equipped and therefore most likely to create thousand of well-paying, long-term jobs in Rhode Island and by extension America,” said Gemma. “The Republican challenger, for whom the next job will be the first job he created?”

The attack continued, “Actually, that’s not fair. Brendan Doherty does indeed know how to create jobs. For himself. Let’s not forget he left public service as soon as he became eligible for his state pension. And now he wants more.”

Gemma said that Doherty lives in a “public sector bubble” and has no clue about the problems that face Rhode Islanders. He said Doherty “is the last person we can afford to send to congress.” Charging that Doherty does not have the basic understanding of policies needed to bring about a economic recovery in Rhode Island. “To say his grasp of economic realities is weak would be the understatement of the century,” said Gemma.

Gemma touted his own business experience saying “As an owner of successful businesses, I’ve had to worry about making payroll.”

He also said he understands the struggles of business owners. “ I alone among the candidates for Congress from Rhode Island First know what it is like to wake up early and go to sleep late and work tirelessly through my day to make sure my fellow Rhode Islanders have a paycheck.”

Gemma invoked the spirit of the Democratic Party by referencing “the New Deal” and “The New Frontier and introduced his own idea, “the New Idea.”

“The new idea is simply this: Change America for the better by changing the very definition of how a member of Congress does the people’s business,” said Gemma.

Gemma said part of the “New Idea” will be a reinvention of his jobs plan from his 2010 congressional campaign and a plan to make higher education more accessible and affordable.

Gemma stressed the importance of Democratic control of Congress and said that is why he needs to be the candidate in the general election.

“The numbers don’t lie,” he said “In the General Election, I am the only Democrat who can beat Brendan Doherty.”

Gemma did make mention of Congressman David Cicilline’s recent public apology after misleading voters about the fiscal state of Providence however he did not mention the Congressman by name.

“I can tell you what I won’t do in Congress: I won’t have to apologize to you for putting my best interests ahead of your best interest. I won’t have to apologize to you for evading responsibility for my failures. I won’t have to apologize to you for breaking the sacred trust between the people and their elected representatives and I won’t have to apologize to you for lying to you do that I could win your vote on false pretenses,” said Gemma.

The Doherty for Congress campaign wasted no time issuing a response to Gemma’s candidacy.

 “Mr. Gemma has been hinting for some time that he might enter the race for Congress, so despite his apparent indecision, today’s announcement comes as no real surprise.  Obviously, Gemma shares the frustration felt by many Rhode Islanders with David Cicilline’s mismanagement of the City of Providence and his attempts to hide the City’s fiscal crisis.  As the only candidate with the proven track record of leadership and the character necessary to restore economic growth to Rhode Island and throughout America, I will continue to reach out to the voters of the First Congressional District regarding my plans to cut wasteful government spending, balance our budget and get Rhode Islanders back to work,” said Doherty in a statement.

Dee DeQuattro | WPRO News