BOSTON — If you’re a military veteran in Massachusetts, one political advocacy group does not appear to want you running for office, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican. Political advocacy group Progressive Massachusetts, which supports several Democratic politicians and causes in the Bay State, is coming under fire after Political Director Jonathan Cohn criticized state Sen. and Majority ...

A lawn sign of Senator Mike Rush.

TNS

BOSTON — If you’re a military veteran in Massachusetts, one political advocacy group does not appear to want you running for office, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican.

Political advocacy group Progressive Massachusetts, which supports several Democratic politicians and causes in the Bay State, is coming under fire after Political Director Jonathan Cohn criticized state Sen. and Majority Whip Mike Rush (D- Norfolk & Suffolk) in a post on X for his reelection campaign’s lawn sign indicating his veteran status.

Rush is currently a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves. He has also served over 30 years in the U.S. Navy, including a tour during the War in Iraq.

“Senator Mike Rush’s lawn signs have such a strong conservative vibe. If I were a voter who didn’t know anything about him, I would think he was a Republican,” Cohn posted to X on July 27, indicating his displeasure with the potential connotation of Rush highlighting his veteran status with being Republican. “Because I am a voter who knows a lot about him, I *also* think he’s a Republican.”

Rush’s campaign signs are navy blue, white and red and feature a collection of white stars in the upper right-hand corner. The sign features Rush’s name in the center and the word “veteran” on the bottom, both written in white.

State Sen. John Velis (D-Hampden & Hampshire), a U.S. Army veteran in his own right, slammed Cohn for what he calls “anti-veteran rhetoric,” calling on him to apologize to Rush.

“To suggest the use of red, white, and blue and the word, “Veteran,” on a lawn sign automatically makes you a Republican is absurd,” Velis said in a written statement. “Mike Rush has a distinguished career of service in the United States Navy and as a leader in the Massachusetts Senate. For the head of this group to attack his record of service and patriotism is reprehensible.”

“This is exactly the sort of head scratching mindset that turns people away from the Democratic party. Rejecting military service patriotism is not the way out of the wilderness for Democrats,” he continued. “Progressive Mass and Cohn should apologize to Senator Rush and Veterans everywhere, and thank them for their service to our nation.”

Cohn is standing by his comments.

“Lawn signs almost always mention party affiliation, and the most common time from my experience that they don’t is when Republicans are trying to hide their party registration because they know they are out of step with their district,” Cohn explained to the Herald.

“I was commenting on that and the design choices (color and typeface, most notably the conservative red and the large “R” in Rush), both of which mirrored many lawn signs and campaign websites from Republican candidates I have seen over the years,” he continued.

Cohn went on to slam Velis for his criticism of his comments; saying the state senator is “wasting time” going after him, also further slamming Rush for his legislative record.

“I’m confused that Velis is making this about the presence of “veteran” on the sign when that’s not in my post and not at all something I commented on. There’s no party affiliation indicated by the presence of “veteran” since veteran status is something that Democratic candidates, Republican candidates, and even smaller parties will highlight in campaign materials,” Cohn continued.

“It’s unfortunate to me that a senator would waste time attacking me as an individual, but he’s doing that because it’s easier than defending the history of votes against reproductive rights, civil rights, and immigrants’ rights in Senator Rush’s record,”he said.

The Massachusetts Republican Party also chimed in, questioning why military service is considered a partisan issue.

“When did service to country and display of the American flag become partisan issues?” MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said to the Herald. “Progressive Democrats have essentially stated that these are now Republican themes only. How sad these are now the values of their party. ”

“The MassDems refrain from commenting on people’s lawn signs but do support candidates of all parties sharing their veteran status with their constituents,” MassDems spokesperson Laura Giordano told the Herald.

While veterans fill Democratic seats on Beacon Hill, the all-Democrat Massachusetts federal delegation also has two outspoken U.S. Marine veterans in Rep. Jake Auchnincloss and Rep. Seth Moulton. Both congressmen honorably served in the Middle East while Moulton has promoted his veteran status during his Senate campaign. Republican senate candidate John Deaton is also a Marine veteran.

Cohn is the co-founder of Progressive Massachusetts and serves as the organization’s Political Director. In this role, Cohn “leads legislative agendas, manages candidate vetting, and advocates for policy changes across the commonwealth,” according to the organization’s website.

The Herald has requested comment from Cohn, the Massachusetts Democratic Party, and Rush.

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