Dahlberg: Intent Was Not Cancellation of Rally

Two weeks ago, the idea of speaking at a July 25 Tea Party rally in Lexington seemed like a good idea to Eric Dahlberg, a Chelmsford Republican running in the 3rd Middlesex District for state Senate.

After all, his opponent in the primary, Sandi Martinez, was on the docket to speak, along with several other candidates for various offices. So Dahlberg contacted organizers to see if he could participate as well, and got on board.

But Dahlberg said today that as publicity on the rally ramped up mid-week, he saw that an updated list of speakers included Brian Camenker, president of MassResistance, an organization that calls itself the leading pro-family grassroots activist group in the state. 

Others have characterized MassResistance as a hate group – including Dahlberg, who after seeing Camenker's name on the rally list told Tea Party organizer Jesse Segovia he no longer wished to participate.

"I think I should be honest, I didn't feel comfortable sharing the stage with this group," Dahlberg said. "People judge you by who you associate with."

After Dahlberg canceled, he said other politicians also pulled out shortly thereafter, and ultimately organizers canceled the event. Dahlberg said he had no idea that the plug would be pulled on the rally entirely – nor was his motivation in bowing out to put an end to the rally.

"It was not my intent to shut down the event," he said. "I elected not to participate, I fully expected it to go on."

Dahlberg said he's not against groups that oppose gay marriage, but he had two reasons for not wanting to be a part of the same event as the MassResistance president.

"This group seems to go a little further with their agenda – they're a hate group," he said. "Second, it's also not what the Tea Party movement is all about, it's irrelevant."

Dahlberg said he's participated in several Tea Party rallies in the state, and would do so again to talk about taxes, spending, jobs and good government.

The decision to forgo the Lexington rally was nothing personal against Camenker, and Dahlberg said he respects people's rights to say whatever they want.

But he also said he has a right not to participate in an event with a group that "in my view goes over the line," he said.   

"I'm a Republican, and we're a minority in the state. We have to be careful," he said. "I don't want to give people ammunition to say the Republicans are a bunch of right-wing kooks who hate gays."

Since the rally was canceled, Dahlberg said he's heard from people who applaud his decision not to speak, and others who felt he should have remained a part of the rally. Dahlberg said he will instead spend the weekend in Lexington handing out flyers and knocking on doors to meet residents.

Other speakers who had been scheduled to speak at the rally include Carla Howell, Center for Small Government president; Todd Feinburg, WRKO Radio talk show host; and Mary Connaughton and Kamal Jain, candidates for state auditor.

Also, U.S. Congressional candidates Gerry Dembrowski (7th District), Mike Stopa (3rd District) and Tom Weaver (5th District).