Must-read profile on Deval Patrick in the current Phoenix. The article has a lot of really intriguing biographical info, but the main gist is the establishment’s perception of Patrick as a idealistic, naive political unknown who doesn’t know the rough-and-tumble of MA politics, who doesn’t know how to play the game:
Then there was the strange letter Patrick sent to prospectivesupporters, in which eloquent tributes to Massachusetts and to the roleof government were coupled with oddly plaintive requests for help.("Tell me your thoughts not just about the political calculations, butabout how I should be thinking about and learning about what peopleneed and how an enlightened, engaged governor could help," Patrickwrote. "… Especially ask your kids what they need in a governor andpass that thinking on.") To some political veterans, it all seemedridiculously half-baked. "To send out letters asking five-year-old kidswhat they think about you running for governor? It?s stupid!" complainsone Democrat. "You don?t know why you?re going to run? Don?t run." "Ifyou want to run for governor," adds Scott Ferson, a politicalconsultant with the Liberty Square Group, "it?s nice to know why youwant to run, instead of saying you?re going to figure it out."
Let’s think about this. A political neophyte sent out a letter asking people what they cared about. He could have prepared some canned BS — "I want to help working families blah blah health care wah wah I believe the children are the future argle bargle" — and even those much-maligned kids would have smelled the Hormel. Instead, he decided to act like a responsive public servant. You know, like they have in democracies.
As I mentioned in the comments of another thread, this is similar to the "listening tour" strategy adopted by Hillary Clinton when she was "thinking" of running for Senator in NY. I’m not Hillary’s biggest fan, but give her credit: it was a smart move, she did it well and gracefully, and she won.
Furthermore, the way to beat Romney is simply to be more ambitious, to expect more from our civic culture than low, low taxes. This state has a history of producing folks who appealed to the common good … and oh yeah, it’s a Commonwealth.
For now, Patrick seems content to do it his way:
"You can trivialize any gesture that people make to try to offer a wayfor people to be heard, and there are a lot of examples of that inpublic life. I think it?s time to turn that around."
I, for one, am all ears.
Well, I read the Phoenix article and came away feeling much the same as you. With the exception of asking your five year old, I thought the whole concept of asking people what they want government (and a governor) to do is a good idea. Not only is it akin to Hillary’s “listening tour,” but it also has an overtone of Dean’s “it’s about you, not about me.” So, I’m good with it. And, thrilled that we democrats may have choices besides tired old Tom Reilly.
Right on. And let’s be clear that the “five-year-old” quote was from the unnamed Democrat, not Patrick himself.There will always be people resistant to idealism. It’s scary! But I’d much rather hear Patrick — or any candidate — speak from the heart, than to hear the usual “safe” crap that the consultants think is cool.Be the breath of fresh air, Deval. Life is short: be the candidate you want to be.