Kerry Healey = Karl Rove
Though I’m busy as hell right now, I still can’t beLIEve Kerry Healey’s recent playbook - first, distorting Patrick’s past civil rights cases (in which his worst recent failing was forgetting exactly the extent of how hard he advocated for justice), dismissing Patrick’s own experience of violence against him as a kid, and now, attacking Patrick’s family members, regarding a sexual assult case within a marriage from 13 years ago. Has she NO shame?? And of course, she claims the attack on Patrick’s brother in law doesn’t come from her campaign…right. And if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you over the Charles…
Fact is, that this is the typical Republican playbook. Sure, we can’t prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was Healey’s feverish opposition research that produced this slimy, ridiculous line of attack (unless we get our hands on some emails…). But it has Republican fingerprints all over it. Not a far leap from push polling to leaking oppo research about the private lives of family members. Take this quote from the Herald: “Nantel said the board recently learned of Sigh’s rape conviction and after reviewing his record, ‘determined he is required to register.’”
“Recently learned,” huh? How very…conveeeeenient.
And there’s nothing like getting 20,000+ Patrick volunteers pissed off and angry at the unfair, mean, unproductive attacks on our candidate. Expect a massive showing on Sunday at Patrick’s “Rally for Change” on the Common (bandstand) at 2:30pm. We will be carpooling from Chelmsford (1 Central Square) at 1pm if you want to join a caravan of supporters from our area.
Patrick’s statement on the whole thing is after the flip:
STATEMENT FROM DEVAL PATRICK
For nineteen months now, I have answered every one of your questions. Today I just need to speak my mind.
Thirteen years ago, while living in San Diego, California, my sister Rhonda was the victim of a sexual assault. I have not made her experience a subject of this campaign, because I believe it serves no victim to have to relive such a thing in the public eye. But the media today has tried to take that option from me.
The assailant was her husband Bernie. He plead guilty to the charge and served a short time in jail in California.
In 1995, about a year after my sister moved to Milton, she and her husband reconciled. They took a personal crisis and rebuilt a life. They have raised two wonderful children. They are deacons in their church and live a deeply religious faith. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this past summer with a recommitment ceremony. They now counsel troubled couples. Their lives are about redemption, forgiveness and grace. I am proud of their turnaround and I love them both.
I got into this race with no illusions. In a world where negative campaigns are commonplace, I expected to have my own accomplishments trivialized, my own judgments questioned, my life choices challenged. I haven’t always liked it, but I knew it was a price I would have to pay to be an agent of change — not just in our policies, but in our politics.
And I took the time to prepare my family for what I thought would be coming.
My sister and her husband went through a difficult time, and through hard work and prayer, they repaired their relationship and their lives. Now they and their children — who knew nothing of this — have had their family history laid out on the pages of a newspaper. Why? For no other reason than that they had the bad luck to have a relative who is running for governor. It’s pathetic and it’s wrong. By no rules of common decency should their private struggles become a public issue. But this is the politics of Kerry Healey. It disgusts me. And it must be stopped.
Kerry Healey has never offered a single reason why she should be governor that doesn’t depend on tearing me down. She has no vision, no plan, no positive agenda, and no leadership experience. Her record on jobs and the economy, on health care, on higher education, on crime has been one of shortcuts, gimmicks and failure. And so rather than deal with that, she has done everything she can to change the subject.
Well, my message to the Healey campaign is that I will not let you run from your record any longer. You can try all you want to change the subject and shift the blame, but we are going to expose for all just how your failed policies and your failed politics are the reason so many people are stuck and struggling and losing hope. The garbage peddlers who shopped this story around town are part of that failed politics, too.
We are going to ask the people to choose whether the politics of fear, division and personal destruction is what they want or whether we’re better than that and are ready to finally throw out those who dump this trash in the public square.
We need a change. Gimmicks, slogans and dirty politics are no substitute for progress. The politics of fear is no acceptable alternative to the politics of hope. That’s the change we need. And if anybody in the Healey campaign or in the public thinks I am unwilling to fight for that, you have badly underestimated me.
Come to the rally on Sunday on the Common. Let’s show Kerry Healey that her kind of Karl Rove tactics do not work in Massachusetts.
October 13th, 2006 at 8:54 pm
You are just as guilty as Deval in Slandering Kerry Healey. Do you have proof that she did this. Where is it. Your beef lies with the Boston Herald for reporting it not Healey. Lies and Slander Lies and Slander.
“Fre’em All Deval”
October 13th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
I too think that this was either a) a concerted effort of the Healey campaign or b) someone with strong ties to the Republican party. It disgusts me greatly and I will think about it twice next time I consider voting for a Republican.
October 13th, 2006 at 9:50 pm
Get a grip, seriously IND. Come on, how else would the board have gotten the info conveniently at this time?
Further, Deval is not accusing her. You can read, correct? Let me illuminate:
But this is the politics of Kerry Healey. It disgusts me. And it must be stopped.
IE, this is the sort of distortions Healey engages in. Whether or NOT she was the cause of this one. NO where in that statement does he accuse her, just compares her other attacks with this one.
The garbage peddlers who shopped this story around town are part of that failed politics, too.
Too obvious for anyone with half a wit…but obviously, Deval is not saying Healey is THE garbage peddler - though she is one, he doesn’t specifically say she did THIS instance. (I say, if the shoe fits…)
It is MY surmising that this is awfully conVENient for the board (by the way, Healey is second in command at the exECutive branch), not Deval’s. I, the writer of this blog, surmise that it looks like a Healey move.
Guilty conscience, much? Fact is, this whole negative campaign of Healey’s is backfiring, so y’all are running away from it now. This looks like it was part of that crappy and pathetic campaign of linking Deval to rapists and cop killers (despite the fact that Deval has been nothing if not a champion of the Constitution, fairness under the law, and equality) but once the initial onslaught backfired…well, as I said, explain the CONVENIENCE of this Herald bullshit to me, please.
October 13th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
But , nothing said about the FACT that the Romney/Healy administration advocated the use of clowns..(yes, actual clowns) within Department of Correction facilities…Talk about being SOFT on crime..Soft on crime is allowing 3 years and our state correctional facilities to be run at sub standard staffing levels…leaving one officer per (approx) 100 inmates in any given unit, or the carte blanche given to DOC management staff to harrass and fire officers for doing their jobs with the lacksadasical attitude of the Romney/Healy Administration toward the millions of dollars in law suits ruled in favor of officers for harrassment, illegal terminations, violations of basic human rights, management staff that doesn’t have the foggiest on how to deal with inmate populations, opting to release cons rather than keep them, etc..soft on crime?
As far I am concerned, the only candidate in this race who is soft on crime is Healy (with the Criminology background, right?)
AND from what I understand, the Herald, which I already consider a rag, has been nonstop with the Deval beating..and was the first and only newspaper to bring forward the “Prison Clown Capers”…and YET, refuses to bring this forward again..WHY is that???
I do have to note, as the proud wife of an outstanding correctional officer, the Healy/Romney administration has been NEGLIGENT in providing the tools for our prison system to do the job they were recruited to do…Our Correctional Officers are THE last line of defense between Convicts and the rest of society.
Furthermore, just a little tid bit…in the days of less education funding (overall), less money to put officers on our city streets…the Romney/Healy administration approves a 19% (yes a NINETEEN percent) raise for the State Police Force…Anything wrong with that picture?
Our communities are suffering, having to lay off police officers, not being able to hire more police officers to combat the increase in violence on the streets, in our cities and towns…and the State Police receive a NINETEEN PERCENT raise…WOW…Guess you know, who the State Police are going to back…Funny thing is…prior to their contract settlement, they were more than thrilled to endorse Reilly (A Dem).
October 13th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
FYI-IND…to stress a previous point made…while Herald reported, they outright refused to bring forward a story they published about clowns in our State Correctional Facilities, to make “life more enjoyable for the inmates”. Get YOUR facts straight.
October 14th, 2006 at 12:03 am
It is clear that Healey has nothing going for her, but to let the dogs loose. IND is apparently one of them, with his “Fre’em All Deval” comment. But this dog won’t hunt in Massachusetts.
October 14th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Let’s hope not!
October 21st, 2006 at 6:40 pm
I am outraged by Devil Patrick’s shameful behavior towards women and Kerry Healy. As I women and a victim of an assault I am very upset that Devil supported a CONVICTED rapist. His horrific behavior at the debate the other night telling Mrs Healy to “get off her high horse” ie, come to the hood was racist and sexist. He is leveraging his “blackness” (aren’t you a zillionari too devil). The two biggest issues are taxes and crime, where do you think he’ll stand. Well, crime we already know, “free’um all” and taxes, well, hold on to your wallet if this bamboserler gets elected.
October 21st, 2006 at 9:08 pm
Hilarious. You do know you’re posting on such an old thread that I’m pretty much the only one who catches the new comment, right?
Methinks this person might very well be lying about his or her past, frankly, because this smacks of comment spam from “the other side” and not a genuine victim. If you are actually a victim, I apologize, but my bullshitometer is going off…
If you are who you say you are, obviously you are also very blinded and can’t see the truth. I can’t really help you with that, and hey, someday when you have an unfair trial and demand justice I hope someone like Deval is there for you. Since that’s why Deval did what he did - it was a bad trial and everyone, I don’t care how much you hate them, deserve a fair trial. We aren’t in favor of lynchings - that’s why victims don’t run our justice system, the state does on their behalf.
October 22nd, 2006 at 8:48 am
Lynne writes
>posting on such an old thread that I’m pretty much the only
> one who catches the new comment, right?
Actually, I usually read the site through RSS. Volume rather than age is usually what causes messages to drop off my screen.
For the little my sideline perspective is worth, The racist talking point won’t reach bubba as well as pointing out that sometimes innocent people are accused of crimes. –Even though both are equaly true.
W/ “Ann”, it might be worth posting her IP#, there are probably a few people other than yourself with the skill and interest to track it down.