Ah, Halloween. In my neighborhood, possibly the very best in Tewksbury, our houses are not large but the spirit of All Hallow’s Eve runs thick. We all gather together in one neighbor’s driveway, bringing our be-costumed kids, our bowls of delicious miniature sized chocolate confection, appetizers, and what-have-you, to stand around the fire and shoot the breeze until its time for the neighborhood fright night picture.
Last Tuesday’s veritable balmy weather provided the perfect backdrop to perhaps the best Halloween yet, well the best in recent memory. Kids dressed in a mélange of the horrific, the cute, and the creative gathered for the picture then took off with their dads through the criss-cross streets begging candy from the rest of the neighborhood.
The neighborhood mothers sat around the fire, recounting events of the day and relaxing. We had stay at home mothers, professionals, business owners, and more, all chit chatting about what’s happening in the lives of our fabulous progeny.
After the fathers came back from the annual neighbor candy fest everyone hung around and of course, the conversation turned to politics and the gubernatorial campaign. Negative advertising and vapid campaign slogans aside, I was surprised to learn that despite the huge lead in the polls, Deval Patrick was not universally loved by my neighbors.
Even some mega-“progressives” I know are less than enamored with Patrick. In reality, the Patrick lead is more a result of the nationwide liberal backlash against President Bush and the War in Iraq than a genuine belief that Patrick is the better candidate. This campaign shows clearly the populace’s desire for a unifying figure; a governor that inspires and can bring people together. Patrick’s soaring rhetoric-filled ads, juxtaposed against Healey’s critical vitriol and even Mihos’ amusing animated “head’s up” ads are the very image of that positive leader so many of us want.
Should the Healey campaign’s allegations that Patrick was knowledgeable and involved in misleading negative advertising bear out, Patrick has another and bigger problem. And if the Boston Herald, which has begun reporting links between Patrick and the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association and shadowy spots from Virginia based 527 non-profit The Patriot Majority Fund, is correct, then we all have to question exactly what Patrick plans to do when he takes office.
Patrick’s website woefully lacks the sort of nitty gritty details about the campaign that most Massachusetts voters like to know prior to the election. The governor’s race is and should be about more than philosophical backlash with no lasting impact on state politics. This Halloween, Patrick also wears a costume; hiding behind the special interest groups he purports to reject.
Ms. Miller’s email address is jaynewmiller@comcast.net.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
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