Thursday, June 08, 2006

Irony alert! Or, thoughts on the Cult of Patrick

In an item posted earlier today, a pro-Deval Patrick blogger argues that it's not fair to call Patrick's supporters a "cult," as Joan Vennochi does in today's Globe. She prefers the term "movement." "A cult is centered around a particular, charismatic, powerful individual," she explains. "[A] movement grows out of ideas, debate, and discussion."

The name of her blog? The Deval Experience.*

Here's what I find cultish about some--some--of Patrick's supporters: if you make any criticism whatsoever of their candidate, however measured or subtle, a certain segment of Patrick loyalists automatically dismisses you as a purveyor of cynicism. (In doing so, by the way, they're following the candidate's own lead.) This, in turn, creates an insular worldview in which the merits of Patrick's candidacy simply can't be debated.

Let me be perfectly clear: I think Patrick is a likable guy and a really intriguing candidate. But I also think his supporters should be willing to defend his campaign on the merits, instead of automatically hiding behind the cynicism argument.

*NOTE: Not "The Deval Patrick Experience," as I initially wrote.

6/8/2006 3:02:41 PM by Adam Reilly | Comments [15] |

Thursday, June 08, 2006 2:20:21 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Cult? As in Kool Aid Drinkers?

Ernie Boch, III

Thursday, June 08, 2006 2:26:57 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Don't be so cynical, Adam! ;-)

sco

Thursday, June 08, 2006 3:01:16 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

"But I also think his supporters should be willing to defend his campaign on the merits, instead of automatically hiding behind the cynicism argument."

I agree. And I also think that Reilly supporters should be able to defend his support of the income tax rollback in terms other than "the people voted for it, therefore it is the best thing to do for the state," and the Gabrieli people should be able to stand up for their guy with more than "he's rich and can spend as much money as Kerry Healy."

Maybe then we'll have an actual race!

Daniel

Thursday, June 08, 2006 3:23:09 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

If I'm around in September (might move this summer), I'm likely to vote for Patrick in the primary. But I have some major concerns with him, partifcularly with his corporate history, which makes me wonder how he'll treat labor (among other things). Most patrick supporters I've encountered are cool to hear that.

I think that in any campaign, you get true believers, and with an idealistic campaign (which his approximates, though it's not really that radical), you get somewhat more. It's not a cult of Patrick, but it's an annoying turn-off in his camp and others'.

Mister Goat

Thursday, June 08, 2006 3:27:39 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Nicely put, Mister Goat.

Adam

Thursday, June 08, 2006 3:45:32 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Venocchi's column may have been entertaining, but it trivializes the campaign, the candidates and the issues. There are important questions to ask, but making cute remarks about a Patrick "cult" is not helpful. And, interestingly enough, while Joan complained repeatedly about the candidates self-centered talking about themselves instead of the people, her whole column seemed to be about her sensibilities and not the issues which face Mass. voters. Shame on you, Joan --hoist on your own rhetorical petard!

Paul Pilcher

Thursday, June 08, 2006 5:32:21 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Its the typical lefty mentality. They can never defend a logical argument when you put them in a corner. It is because many of their ideas are idealistic and have no basis in fact. There is really no defense. Patrick feeds into all their idealistic needs .

Bob

Thursday, June 08, 2006 9:26:58 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Isn't there something, well, cynical about accusing those who raise questions about Deval's candidacy of engaging in cynicism?

D. R. Tucker

Thursday, June 08, 2006 9:51:18 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

If we could have a discussion about issues, that would be great. I think most Patrick supporters, including myself would welcome that. Many times though those discussions lead off with the premise that Patrick supporters are living in some sort of tax and spend fantasy land, lounging around drinking kool-aid cocktails. It's just rubbish and not conducive to having a dialogue.

Susan M.

Thursday, June 08, 2006 11:09:47 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

"But I also think his supporters should be willing to defend his campaign on the merits, instead of automatically hiding behind the cynicism argument."

I agree completely. What is usually missing in the Democratic Primary is statesmanship. You know, the ability to engage in dialogue at length on the issues, while acting with civility and politeness and respect. Anything less than this turns off the voters completely. We then have a bloodied and uncivil Democrat challenging a civil and respectable corner office exec- thats the visual.

And to Daniel's earlier comment, that is exactly what I mean. I may be a Gabrieli supporter, but I could cite tangibles in both Reilly and Patrick's candidacy which are compelling. your sort of dismissiveness helps no candidate, certainly not your own.

As far as a cult of personality- possibly. It's neither unheard of nor unusual, is it?

lisa

Friday, June 09, 2006 7:12:58 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Through the caucus process and into the convention, I think all three campaigns are populated by true believers who defend their candidate fanatically. That's who commits and works early in the process. I think all three democratic campaigns were peopled with "cult-like" followers in the early months.

Moving now towards the September primary, however, all three campaigns need to speak to, convert, and enlist regular voters who want to really know about issues. So, the "cult" aspect of all three campaigns should be diluted from here on out. Any campaign that is still relying on ideological purity at this point and not already naming town coordinators, setting up a regular contact strategy with super voters, working up detailed issue and position papers, etc. is making a big mistake.

lenstewart

Friday, June 09, 2006 7:38:43 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

The merits of precisely which issue would you care to debate, Mr. Reilly? Bring it on!(

You are no relation, I take it, to another guy who's running on the Democratic ticket?

On the subject of cynecism, or enthusiasm, or what you will call it -- I quote from your June 7 piece about a possible Patrick/Healy matchup in the November general election: Deval Patrick is "the lone Democratic candidate who can actually inspire."

MCPR

Friday, June 09, 2006 9:02:58 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Joan Venocchi usually gets it right. She got it right here.

Everyone knows the far left and teachers' unions have controlled the stat dem party for decades. Mutual benefits. I have no problem with teachers' unions’ tactical move here.
However, the far right has started to speed up in bringing the republicans down. There will be somewhat of an implosion. Until the dems do that with the lefty's dems will have tough tough time getting corner office with any state democratic poster boy. Nothing against Deval, but he is that poster boy. Easy to attack.

Ernie Boch, III

Friday, June 09, 2006 10:22:45 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

len stewart, i think you have it exactly, when you speak about the business of the moment for campaigns. I disagree with you on the makeup of the three organizations, however. Using my region as a sample (and bearing that in mind as well) it breaks down like this- Patrick has many of the grass roots people, the newer pols and the left-est of the party field workers. Reilly has the traditionalists, the old guard, many reps and senators and their immediate loyalists. I have never seen that bode well for dedicated organizing locally. Gabrieli has many of the O'Brien workers, every moderate still calling themselves a democrat, those who were both underimpressed with Patrick, and don't like Reilly. It's interesting to see how this translates in the field as the real race gets underway.

lisa

Sunday, June 11, 2006 8:51:28 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

> Nicely put, Mister Goat.

Thanks, Adam!

Mister Goat

Comments are closed.