The Baker campaign has released a video that once again transmits the message that Karyn Polito is nothing more than a shallow campaign device for Charlie Baker. Devoid of any substance, the video is an inspirational/aspirational bit of fluff that boils down to “I’m a mom and can name five MA cities”.
(And check out the cheesy music and visual effects – they didn’t drain the coffers making this one!)
What do we know about Polito after the video that we didn’t beforehand? Nothing.
Here is how the Baker campaign was promoting the video, as reported by Go Local Worcester:
The video, entitled “A Better Direction,” debuted on Monday night at the Boston Regional Women for Chalie (W4C) summer kickoff event. More than 100 women supporters from the area came to show their support.
“I am honored to partner with Karyn because as a mom, small business owner and public servant with a bipartisan track record, she gets it. She knows the people of Massachusetts deserve a better direction, the opportunity to get ahead, great schools and safer, stronger communities,” said Charlie Baker.
Polito’s role in the Baker campaign apparently remains unchanged: say nothing substantive, but look mom-like and positive and lead the ladies to Baker.
For those who don’t think she’s playing the role of Top Female Token for the Baker campaign, ask yourself this: How often is Polito portrayed or introduced as a mom? The answer is “usually”. Her interactions with children got heavily featured in the video’s visuals, and Baker himself says “I am honored to partner with Karyn because as a mom…”.
When a campaign makes being a parent one the candidate’s top-billed skills, the message sent is that the candidate doesn’t have much else on their resume to tout. Because let’s be honest, virtually every home on the block contains a mom. They’re not rare.
But we all know that Polito has a decent resume, so what gives? Why would the Baker campaign keep throwing a vapid mommy in our faces?
Could it be that the Baker campaign is using the cynical ploy of dangling a mommy co-candidate out there to lure in the female votes for Baker? As if all it takes to attract the female voter is a shiny mommie dangled before her eyes? If your answer is “Nah, they’d never be that crass”, then what’s your explanation?
With this video, the Baker-Polito campaign once again shows us the invidious sexism upon which the campaign is framed. The big man with the ideas, and his vapid girl sidekick. Ick.
2nd to last paragraph. You may want to edit and correct the typo?
I assumed they spelled it correctly, that the campaign was being cutsey by imitating the Boston brogue with that deliberate misspelling. However, now that you raise the question, I can find nothing on the Women for Charlie website to indicate that the spelling was used by that group. So, it looks like it’s probably a typo in the Go Local Worcester article. In light of that, I’ll edit out my repeat of “Chalie” in the place you mention.
n/t
I had quoted a typo not realizing that it was a typo. I’m glad to have corrected that. Keep up the good pedantic work!
I find myself having trouble gathering up any sympathy for her. I find her pretty lacking in integrity and even, in some sense, humanity.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20100530/NEWS/5300513/0
so I have no sympathy for her either. In fact, I can’t decide who is more troubling. Baker for running “their” campaign this way, or Polito for agreeing to it. Lots of ick to go around.
The video strikes two themes: (1) We’ve had one-party Democratic dominance for too long and (2) this state should be great! No connection is made between them: would more Republican power unleash the potential of Massachusetts and, if so, how. Otherwise it’s a big dose of Feel Good.
I’m not convinced that Mr. Baker has been particularly un-vapid. The main focus, I think, has been on his reframing himself as a Nice Guy.
This video from September is pretty empty too: I want everything to be good! I want to grow the economy! I want partnership! bipartisanship!
At least in terms of getting good press coverage and coming across in a positive manner. I honestly don’t understand who is handling Polito, but they are doing a terrible job. I don’t recall Jane Swift or Kerry Healey trotted out in such a fashion during their campaigns.
Polito nearly beat Grossman, and I don’t think it was by baking cookies. This is also the risk when you select an LG candidate and try and kill two birds with one stone-attract women and keep social conservatives in the fold. I don’t recall that strategy working so well for a certain Republican presidential candidate in the recent past.
Their campaign might as well be saying: “Look at us we have a woman! we are socially progressive Republicans (now please look away at her voting record…)”
I noticed she is driving a Lincoln, a UAW-made vehicle.
When you are this early in the campaign, this type of ad works fine. Karyn is just like any mom, balancing work and raising a family. It helps her relate to most votes, IMO. She is there playing basketball with her son or young boy as many parents do, I certainly have. Karyn isn’t worried about breaking a nail. On the other hand, does Martha Coakley know what it’s like to raise kids and balance a career and how expensive it is or is she “out of touch”?
Nothing wrong with mentioning Fall River, Lawrence, and New Bedford. These are Democratic strongholds who have the same or worse problems than 8 years ago. Leave no community behind….
Ms. Polito doesn’t act like most of the mom’s I know. The moms I know don’t “balance” building medical waste treatment plants in residential neighborhoods with raising their families. Most moms I know draw from their feelings about their children and husbands to oppose such plans.
Nah, Ms. Polito acts more like some of the more distasteful men and women I know, who lie to their families about their career, lie to their coworkers about their families, lie to their managers about their peers (and vice-versa), lie to their customers about their product, and pretty much say and do whatever they currently feel is in their immediate self-interest (“It’s just business”).
She reminds me more of Pixie Paladino than any “mom” I know.
So do other people. People with children don’t think people without children have much credibility in areas that involve children.
The mom-politician has been a thing for a while now. I’m surprised that anyone is surprised.
No one on BMG is going to vote for Polito anyway. Lot’s of people are going to vote for the Baker ticket because of her. Enough to win? Don’t know at this stage. Is it the right strategy in a state where 40% are voting against you no matter what and you need most of the swing 10-15%? Yes.