Years ago, I heard a little known candidate for Governor bemoan politics as blood-sport. He argued then, as he argued for years, that Americans needed to “stop acting as partisans and start acting as citizens.” He idealistically asked his supporters at Faneuil Hall that day in 2006 to recognize cynicism for what it is: a drug to be set aside.
You all know Deval Patrick. You know his history and his record. But what I care about right now is that he spent his years on the campaign trail and as Governor talking about civic participation and encouraging everyone to become an active player in civic life. He preached a message of unity and community through difference.
If David Axelrod is right and the election of the election of the next president is a reaction to the current one, I can think of no more important message, coming from no better messenger, than Deval Patrick in 2020.
We can debate his record, and if he reenters public life I would love to do that, but for now we can agree that on a national stage he is a progressive in every sense compared to the median politician. Deval Patrick is a 2 term Governor with a long record of accomplishment to point to. But a campaign for President is ultimately about the message. And despite what the pundits say, the Democrats have a message to hammer home: that they are the only ones who are fighting for the working class and middle class – of all identities and races. And Deval Patrick is the right messenger for this time, just as he was in 2006.
He believes:
That, yes, “together we can” build a better future for all Americans. That everybody deserves access to health care – that the work of the ACA is not done and we need to push for truly universal care. That we are going to protect Social Security and Medicare for the elderly.
That we need to invest in education. That we are willing to fight for students and make sure they can get a quality education free of crippling debt.
That we need to reestablish our role as leader of the free world and this starts with knowing who our allies are.
That we don’t have time to waste on debating climate change, and we need to dramatically reduce our emissions yesterday, and we are ready to invest in the tech and infrastructure to do it.
That our nation was founded by immigrants, and immigrants make it stronger. He has already made the case for accepting more refugees and immigrants, not fewer. Watch the video. What better possible contrast is there between Trump and any Democrat out there?
That we are going to take on systemic racism piece by piece. That we are going to fight for civil rights, against the pathetic so-called “alt-right” trying to intimidate people of color. Who better to do that than the man who led the Justice Department’s investigation into church burnings in the ‘90s?
That our democracy is under threat from powers foreign and domestic and we need to revitalize it by making it easier to vote, not harder.
Finally, it’s all well and good that Barack Obama was the first black president. But being the first doesn’t really much matter unless there’s a second.
If you want to knock him on his lack of foreign policy experience, I would question whether that’s something the American electorate has really cared about in the last 25 years: none of the last four Presidents, from Clinton, W, Obama, to Trump (!) had any foreign policy experience when they entered the office.
The argument is the same argument Deval Patrick has always made: that we have to hope for the best, and work for it. That we have to start acting like citizens again. I don’t know if that’s a winning message, but I sure would like to see somebody try it out.
I know, I know. Deval is pretty comfortable right now, and who knows if he even wants to run – even wants to enter public life again. Tough. He should see the need for someone with heart, guts, and true progressive principals, and rejoin the fight.
Of course, there’s Elizabeth Warren. I’d love to see her run, and I could write a whole other equally-passionate post supporting her. She would be a great President. Period. End of Story. But the truth is I really like her where she is. Who else can fill her role in the Senate? She is a phenomenal advocate for progressive causes, and as President her killer agenda would have to be diluted by the nature of the job and the events of the day. We need her there. We need progressives in the Senate AND in the presidency. Why do we have to live in a world where just because somebody is a great Senator they have to run for President? Can’t we spread the progressive love around to all branches?
The idea of America is an idealistic one. We live in cynical times – bouncing from scandal to scandal, outrage to outrage. We are barraged with the message than nothing matters any more. Maybe I’m just an old fogey, but, I think the American people want more than the capitalistic nihilism that the other side offers. I think they want hope. I think they do believe that words matter, that ethics matters, that people – every one of us, no matter how much money we make, or what our skin color is or who we choose to love or how we identify – matters.
One last thing: I know Deval Patrick is not reading this, but I bet some of his old staffers are. If you are reading this, please pass on this message to the Governor: quit Bain. Publish a book and test the waters. You don’t have time to waste. For all of us, it’s time to take your own advice and start acting like a citizen again. Break’s over. What’s next?
jconway says
Hey Doug or John, you can at least post under your own names. You’re among friends.
Christopher says
I’m sure either of them would, so what makes you think this is one of them? FWIW, John Walsh is currently focused on Setti Warren for Governor.
jconway says
I was being cheeky, they are the only two people I can think of that are excited by this idea. While I was disappointed in his tenure and would be underwhelmed by his candidacy, I respect his candor in admitting how close he came to resigning early in his term to take care of Diane during a severe depressive episode. Politics aside, if you read that chapter it closes the book on a Patrick presidential campaign.
Christopher says
OK, I hadn’t heard he almost resigned, but I also liked his tenure more than it sounds like you did.
JimC says
I think your pseudonym is a bit off-message.
But props for the advice to quit Bain.
AmberPaw says
Deval Patrick was no friend to the indigent defense bar and tried to replace it with 100% state employees, and Jay Gonzalez was his minion in seeking to add 750 state employee public defenders while touting it as “cheaper”, despite renting offices, benefits, and pensions. He also continued the policy of underfunding the courts, and balancing the budget with debtor’s prisons and procrustean, punitive court fees and probation costs. No thank you. Not in favor of Deval Patrick for president. Gives a good speech, a very cordial and kind man in person, but doesn’t seem to have any interest in working people, the poor, or the disabled.