Bielat Talks Health Care Reform, Social Security

The turnout for Sean Bielat's campaign stop at in Hopkinton last night filled long before Bielat himself took to the stage. 

Marty Lamb was the first to speak, introducing Bielat and giving his take on the race.

“We have an important and winnable race coming up,” Lamb said of Bielat’s 4^th district run.

Bielat has been in this position before; in 2010 he challenged Barney Frank for the district, which at the time didn't include Hopkinton.

Bielat's focus for last night was on the economy, the government's spending and the political machine that has been running Massachusetts for many years.

“We live in a time where the number one issue for us in the district and in the country is the economy and jobs,” Bielat said.

One of the specific points he discussed was social security, a topic that prompted audience questions about reform.

“If you care about keeping Social Security, you need to make some changes,” he said, adding that at the current rate it will run dry within a few decades.

Bielat stressed that many aspects of the government, including the defense department and healthcare reform, have become bloated.

"I'm against Obamacare,” he said and agreed when an audience member suggested repealing the entire affordable health care act.

Bielat also spent time talking about how important it was to get the government back in the hands of the citizens and away from long-term politicians.

“It’s a stark choice on Nov. 6, and I hope that you can vote for someone who isn’t trying to be a career politician," Bielat said. “We’ve got 83 days to topple one of the biggest political dynasties in American History," referring to democratic hopeful Joe Kennedy.

While Bielat spent some amount of time looking forward to the Nov. 6 general election and the potential for a campaign against Kennedy, he still needs to beat out Elizabeth Childs and David Steinhoff in the Sept. 6 primary to secure his party's support.

Hopkinton residents in attendance included Ken Weismantel, Chairman of the Republican Town Committee.

“I think he’s clearly the best candidate there is for our district,” Weismantel said. “And I think many other republicans in town feel the same way.”

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