Wasn’t Tony Hwang’s video ad a shocker?!?

Right up front, let me say I like Tony Hwang. I have met him several times at events around his legislative role and at informal gatherings. He is a nice fellow, very affable and engaging. He is great at remembering your name. He certainly shows up, with many accurately saying that where two or more are gathered (and a camera and microphone are at hand), Tony will be there. He’s the kind of guy I might like to buy a house (or a used car) from. Just not a good legislator for Connecticut.

Imagine my surprise when I was scrolling through a story on Yahoo and there is Tony’s smiling face in a video advertisement. So much for targeted political advertising, but I couldn’t stop myself from watching the 60-second bit.

What Tony said really shocked me. “… it is so important for us to differentiate what happens in Washington versus what happens in our communities. We are your neighbors. We are people you see up and down Main Street. There’s no Democrat or Republican way in caring about local education, public safety, local opportunities for everyone to succeed.”

Wow, was Tony running away from being a Republican, from the issues that members of that political party “in Washington” are attempting to foist on all of us in this election? Was he trying to get elected on a “Neighbors” ticket, turning his back on the agenda of Donald Trump, Project 2025 and the MAGA members of the party on the Republican line on our ballots?

MAGA Republicans have consistently fought against attempts at implementing reasonable gun control legislation, opposed a women’s right to choose and blocked socially important legislation in favor of big corporate interests.

Tony has consistently voted with Republicans in the CT legislature on measures against sensible gun control legislation, supported and endorsed politicians opposing reproductive rights and freedoms, and voted against paid family medical leave and expanding it for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

So, if he quacks like a MAGA Republican, acts like a MAGA Republican and, critically, votes like a MAGA Republican, it’s pretty sure Tony is a MAGA Republican.

But hey, maybe I’m wrong, maybe Tony really isn’t a MAGA Republican. Well, I know one way he can demonstrate that, by joining the growing list of hundreds, now thousands of principled Republicans who repudiate Donald Trump and endorse Kamala Harris for President. He could encourage his supporters with his signs on their lawns to follow him by adding “Republicans for Harris-Walz” sign.

Or better yet, vote for Rob Blanchard and the rest of the Democratic ticket to replace him and the votes he and his fellow Republicans cast for a MAGA Republican agenda. Then we can do what Tony asked for in his ad, “… to make Connecticut a balanced and collaborative, wonderful place to live.”

Keith Bradley, MD