There are lots of rumors that John Kerry is going to retire after his 2008 Presidential run, which opens up the Senate seat for the MA congressional delegation.  It's going to be a brutal primary, and the players are already putting together their warchests.  

I don't have a favorite right now, but Marty Meehan, the sleazy Democrat, is making it quite easy to determine who shouldn't get the nomination. It's not that he won't relent and put some of his $5M kitty into the Democrats taking over the House.  It's that he doesn't even hesitate before lying to us about why he's keeping it.

Meehan balked at MoveOn's strategy, which is targeting 70 Democrats in safe seats throughout the nation with large campaign accounts. His money is staying put.

"I couldn't spend any more time raising money for the party," said Meehan, who's donated $125,000 in required "dues" to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee over the last two years and raised another $230,000 for gubernatorial and congressional candidates.

So he's already doing a lot of work, and that's why he can't part with any of his $5 million pot.  No wait.

Meehan questioned the ethics of the group's objective, saying "funneling" money from one political account to another lacks transparency.

However, that raises questions about everyday practices in the House, where every member of Congress is expected to transfer campaign funds, regularly amounting to $100,000 or more, to the DCCC during the two-year election cycle.

"The way to reform Congress isn't to be funneling money from one account to another," said Meehan, adding that supporters should donate directly to a candidate or a party committee.

Oh so it's an ethics problem now?  Whatever.  And then there's this.

Meehan laughed in an interview when asked if he takes the criticism personally. Then he answered no, saying he doesn't blame MoveOn for trying to raise money for Democrats, and adding that he's received more calls supporting him than asking him to unload his account.

I can't believe this guy.  He's telling us with a straight face that he's getting more calls to put his personal political gain above taking power from Republicans?  Um, ok, Marty.

I think Meehan's in trouble.  People have long memories for this kind of immoral cheapskate behavior, especially when the stakes are so high.

Pete Wilson, 69, of Lowell and a Meehan supporter, is angry at the congressman for not doing more to put Democrats in control of Congress, which he says is the quickest way to end the Iraq War.

Wilson's son, Benjamin, a 23-year-old Marine lance corporal, is serving in the war.

"Marty is keeping my son in Iraq by his refusal to support the DCCC," said an emotional Wilson. "He's not doing anything and my son is sleeping in the sand."

That's about right.  Congressman Meehan's office numbers are as follows:

978-251-3151
202-225-3411

Be polite.  After all, it's not nice to insult people whose dreams of becoming a Senator are crushed by their own pettiness and greed.

UPDATE: Apparently he's chipping in some cash. Good for Marty!

UPDATE, AGAIN: Never mind.