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Nominate-best-2010

Patrick apologizes, kind of

Q. When is an apology not an apology?

A. When it's phrased conditionally, e.g., "I apologize if..."

Example: Deval Patrick's pseudo-apology for failing to detail the full extent of his involvement with the Benjamin LaGuer case. Here's what Patrick said yesterday: "I apologize to anyone who feels we didn't come forward with all the facts." [emphasis added]

Let me be clear: Patrick had good reason to get involved with the LaGuer case. And it's absurd to criticize him for effectively representing Carl Ray Songer. The fact that Kerry Healey is making these major campaign issues highlights the basic poverty of her candidacy. But Patrick needs to handle Healey's attacks far more artfully. If he can't, he'll be trouble come November.

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9 Comments

  • Ryan said:

    He's in no trouble. Mark my words, the next poll that comes out will prove it. If he lost anything because of all this Laguer/Ray Songer stuff, it will be 5 points at the most. The people who are going to fall for Kerry Healey's crap and think that Deval had devious plots on such easily-accessed issues such as the Laguere case (as opposed to a simple mistake, where he didn't know the exact dates)... those people probably weren't going to vote for Deval Patrick anyway. It's all tantamount to Gabrieli's attacks on Deval about illegal immigration. It just didn't fly - and neither will all this drummed-up hoopla filled with lots of sound and fury, but signifying nothing.
    October 6, 2006 5:46 PM
  • QM said:

    I'll agree that it's absurd to criticize Saint Deval for doing his best to defend the cop-killer once Saint Deval took the case. But there's absolutely nothing wrong with criticizing him for taking the case in the first place.
    October 6, 2006 6:33 PM
  • o-fish-l said:

    "Patrick had good reason to get involved in the LeGeur case." Excuse me? Writing to the parole board, then donating cash to free a brutal rapist who he now claims he really didn't know anything about? PLEASE! Even Patrick must realize the error of his ways if he is willing to be untruthful about it all. "And it's absurd to criticize him for effectively representing Carl Ray Songer." Absurd? In a state that has overwhelmingly voted for the death penalty for cop killers, it's "absurd criticism" to point out that Patrick chose to spring a convicted cop-killer from FL death row and make him parole eligible? The Phoenix must have obtained a particularly potent batch tonight. I think I'm getting a contact high.
    October 7, 2006 12:44 AM
  • Adam said:

    o-fish-1, you know as well as I do that--before the 2002 DNA test linking LaGuer to the rape--there were serious doubts about the legitimacy of the case against him. Remember that comment the jury foreman made? "The goddamned spic is guilty just sitting there. Look at him. Why even bother having a trial"? If that doesn't strike you as problematic, you're the one who's smoking smothing. Remember, too, that John Silber and Robert Cordy (Weld's ex legal counsel, Cellucci nominee to the SJC) had their own doubts about the case pre-2002. As for Patrick getting Songer off death row: I'm no attorney, but I'm guessing that, if Patrick had offered Songer tepid representation because of Florida voters' apparent preferences on the case in question, he'd have been guilty of malpractice. If I'm wrong, please let me know.
    October 8, 2006 4:23 PM
  • jeffery mcnary said:

    o-fish, i just left your mother. she told me to let you know she's ashamed of you and don't bother picking her up on l street.
    October 8, 2006 8:30 PM
  • Roger said:

    Adam, Looks like Patrick has taken a real hit since the Healy attacks. They are practically neck-and-neck now: http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_284101956.html
    October 12, 2006 4:20 AM
  • bostonph said:

    18 points is neck and neck?
    October 12, 2006 6:53 PM
  • Mr Lunch Bucket said:

    Just a year ago defense lawyers were being crushed in the media for defending drunk drivers. It has taken Deval to raise the profession to what it is (defenders of constitutional rights)and he has provided vindication to those who stood up to Kerry Healey's publicity driven agenda and tried to put sense into drunk driving legislation. Any Comments?
    October 12, 2006 11:49 PM
  • Roger said:

    bostonph: I was being sarcastic.
    October 13, 2006 3:24 AM

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