Last week, a Globe profile of at-large Boston City Councilor Felix Arroyo quoted Giovanna Negretti--the executive director of Oiste, the statewide Latino political organization--analyzing the motivation of some of Arroyo's white supporters. Here are the relevant lines: "'White yuppies are gentrifying our neighborhoods,' Negretti said,''so there is a guilt trip factor here: 'We're the ones moving into these neighborhoods, we should at least support a Latino candidate.' It's not the issue, but it is a contributing factor.'"

Now Oiste's backing away from Negretti's comments, or at least from the Globe's rendering of them. This afternoon, Oiste put out a press release accusing the Globe of taking Negretti's remarks out of context. The full text follows, but take special note of these lines near the bottom: "Finally, Felix appeals to White progressives because Whites are now gentrifying our neighborhoods and they feel compelled to support and build the community that they have moved into. They do this by supporting our local businesses, our public safety programs, and our elected officials. It was no way our intention to alienate our supporters from the white community nor to imply that white voters vote for candidates of color due to a 'guilt factor.'"

Media criticism isn't my bailiwick, but Oiste's complaint strikes me as weak. Reread the Globe quote again: white guilt is described as one reason for Arroyo's mounting popularity, not the only reason. And while Oiste and/or Negretti may not have intended, as their press release puts it, "to imply that white voters vote for candidates of color due to a 'guilt factor," Negretti's comments do exactly that. Unless the quote in question was fabricated, this isn't the Globe's problem. It's Negretti's, and Oiste's, and Arroyo's.

Why the rush to backtrack? Chalk it up to political considerations generally, and to Arroyo's quest to top the ticket in November's at-large election in particular. The notion that a candidate of color might benefit from the support of guilty white liberals doesn't strike me as A) illogical or B) objectionable. The problem, though, is that whatever benefit Arroyo gets from this dynamic might be jeopardized if the dynamic is publicly discussed.

Arroyo has a real shot at garnering more votes than any other at-large candidate on November 8. And if he does, his chances of using his council job as a springboard to higher office will increase exponentially. But even if you're an Arroyo supporter, this shouldn't preclude honest discussion of Arroyo's political identity, his strengths and weaknesses, and the sources of support. When I read the Globe piece last week, I was impressed by the willingness of Negretti--who's one of the sharpest young members of Boston's political class--to talk plainly about the politics of race-based guilt, a subject which (like many subjects dealing with race) is rarely discussed. Now, though, I'm disappointed by her willingness to retreat into political double-speak. The Arroyo campaign must have applied some serious pressure here.

Here's the press release in question. (Note to all Spanish-language speakers: I've deleted both the inverted commas and the accented i in Oiste's name due to formatting problems with the Blogger software program.)

"On Wednesday, October 26, 2005, the Boston Globe published an article featuring Councilor Felix Arroyo. The comments made to the reporter were taken out of context and we would like to share with your readers the true essence of what in fact was said. When asked why White voters were voting for Felix, Giovanna Negretti, Executive Director of Oiste, explained three points which she thought to be the among the contributing factors (not the only ones) to why White voters choose to vote for Felix:

Felix appeals to progressive White voters because he stands firm on the issues he believes in. In a time when many leaders take a wishy-washy stance on controversial issues, Felix is a breath of fresh air. He will always and without a doubt stand firm on what he believes in. For example, he is passionate about the petroleum issue. So he drives a car fueled by vegetable oil. It's not a sexy issue but he believes in it. People respect that he walks the walk.

He also appeals to progressive White voters because he works hard and shares their concerns on many issues such as affordable housing but he is often times very unconventional about his approach to these issues which is refreshing and inspires hope.

Finally, Felix appeals to White progressives because Whites are now gentrifying our neighborhoods and they feel compelled to support and build the community that they have moved into. They do this by supporting our local businesses, our public safety programs, and our elected officials.

It was no way our intention to alienate our supporters from the white community nor to imply that white voters vote for candidates of color due to a "guilt factor". Having said this, it is important to note that Oiste does not endorse candidates, therefore this statement is in no way intended to endorse or not endorse a particular candidate. Instead, it is meant to clarify information in order to educate our constituency more effectively."

10/31/2005 5:32:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Monday, October 31, 2 p.m.--Meets with Dr. Eli Opper, chief scientist of Israel's Ministry of Industry.

Sunday, October 30--No public events.

Saturday, October 29, 11:45 a.m.--Attends fundraiser for the Scott County Republican Committee, Davenport, Iowa.
Saturday, October 29, 5:30 p.m.--Attends Dallas County Steak Fry and Pie Auction, Waukee, Iowa.

Friday, October 28, 7:10 p.m.--Attends fundraiser for Michigan attorney general Mike Cox, Birmingham, Michigan.

And to think, some carping Democrats think Romney's not engaged in the state's business.

10/31/2005 11:27:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Earlier today, Sam Yoon emailed his supporters and signaled that he'll be making Dorchester the focus of his campaign between now and election day.

Here's how the at-large Boston City Council candidate put it:

"Our campaign has decided to focus our volunteer efforts on Dorchester-because Dorchester is my home, and because I feel very strongly that Dorchester deserves another voice on the City Council! So this weekend we are focusing all of our energy to get the word out-I am the ONLY candidate from Dorchester in this year's at Large race. Dorchester is the place to secure our vote...and to propel us into City Hall."

Two things seem odd here. First, if this is Yoon's strategy, why is he announcing it publicly? Doing so just gives his opponents a chance to respond accordingly.

Furthermore, the wisdom of focusing on Dorchester seems deeply questionable. His results there were a mixed bag in the preliminary: he placed second in Wards 15 and 17, third in Ward 14, and sixth in Wards 13 and 16. Is Yoon going to neglect Ward 3, Boston proper, which includes Chinatown and where he finished first in the September preliminary? How about Wards 4 and 5, the Back Bay, where he ran a strong second and received nearly as many votes as Felix Arroyo?

Maybe this is a Machiavellian misdirection. But if it's really Yoon's plan, he's taking a big risk.

10/28/2005 1:25:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

"I made that statement more in jest than in reality."

Tom Menino on his 1993 vow to serve only two terms if elected mayor, in today's Globe story on the possibility of Menino seeking a fifth term in 2009.

10/27/2005 12:35:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

A new City Hall-focused blog by Herald Reporter Kevin Rothstein debuts today. Rothstein's first posting is well worth reading--in it, he offers an indictment of the various City Council candidates that's as damning as it is succinct. "[T]his place is in full campaign mode," Rothstein writes. "Current and hopeful city councilors are dancing a funny dance, trying to look independent without crossing the mayor..." Well said, Kevin.

10/26/2005 10:14:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Looks like Barbara Lee is taking an interest in Susan Passoni's city-council candidacy. Earlier today, Passoni's campaign announced that she (Passoni, that is) will appear at Lee's Women Senate 2006 fundraiser on Friday, October 28. That event's going to be packed with high-powered female politicians, including Hillary Clinton and Dianne Feinstein. If Passoni--who, according to a campaign press release, is going to be feted as "one of the women leaders of Massachusetts"--can soak up just a bit of the fundraiser's sisterhood-is-powerful vibe and parlay it into extra cash and organizational muscle in the campaign's final days, she might give Jimmy Kelly a tougher time than anyone expects in District 2. After all, Andrea Cabral appeared at Lee's Revolutionary Women Boston 2004 fundraiser during the 2004 Democratic convention--and look where it got her.

10/25/2005 1:03:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Here's the gist of the new Boston Globe-CBS 4 poll on Boston's mayoral race: Bostonians think the city has serious problems, but they don't blame Tom Menino.

Hmm. If voters don't think Menino's even partially responsible for rising crime or troubled schools or the dearth of affordable housing, how can Maura Hennigan--or anyone else, for that matter--hope to unseat him?

According to the aformentioned poll, 66 percent of respondents said they'd vote for Menino if the election were held today, while 27 percent said they'd go for Hennigan. Expect the actual margin to be considerably closer, however. Menino's critics tend to be afraid of making their opinions known publicly, lest they meet with His Honor's wrath. Witness the unwillingness of "Andrew," who's identified as a Hennigan supporter near the end of the story, to use his last name. It's a safe bet that several of the 500 respondents queried for the poll didn't want to risk voicing their supporter for Hennigan, even in a confidential setting. Having said that, these numbers won't help the Hennigan camp's efforts to stir up interest in the race as the campaign enters the home stretch.

10/24/2005 10:34:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

I'll be on NECN's NewsNight with Jim Braude this evening at 8:30, discussing the big Beacon Hill story of the moment--i.e., the dilution of Melanie's Bill and the Excellent Iberian Adventure of state rep Eugene O'Flaherty and amigos. . Please tune in if you have a chance, and feel free to offer any criticisms in the comments section.

Taping the spot this afternoon was a bit surreal. I honestly never thought I'd agree with Barbara Anderson, but for the most part, I do here. I even agree with Mitt Romney. What's the world coming to?

10/21/2005 4:45:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Interesting at-large candidates' forum at UMass-Boston last night. Granted, plenty of time was devoted to the repitition of well-worn themes (Patricia White is a woman, Ed Flynn is a veteran, Sam Yoon is an Asian-American, John Connolly used to teach poor Latino kids, etc.). But the segment where the candidates were allowed to question each other directly was fascinating. Some highlights:

--Yoon and Felix Arroyo lavishing affection on each other one hour after Arroyo, district 7 councilor Chuck Turner, and district 4 councilor Charles Yancey issued their group endorsement of Yoon;

--Connolly telling Yoon, his fellow challenger, that he hoped they could serve on the council together, then giving Yoon a softball question about his (Yoon's) housing policy;

--White accusing Connolly of stating, at a forum in Roxbury last week, that the number-one problem facing that neighborhood is potholes, and Connolly accusing White of completely misrepresenting his remarks;

--Matt O'Malley trying to cozy up to council president Michael Flaherty by asking how they could work together to implement his (O'Malley's) education agenda, and Flaherty giving O'Malley the Heisman by saying, in effect: Well, Matt, here's how you and I and a WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE could work improve the city schools;

--Flynn complaining, in his closing statement, that he'd been ignored all night long;

--O'Malley taking credit, in his closing statement, for deep structural shifts in Boston's political fabric ("Is there a New Boston? Damn right there is! And I helped create it!").

Good stuff, that.

10/20/2005 4:35:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

City councilors Felix Arroyo, Chuck Turner, and Charles Yancey--or, as they prefer, "Team Unity"--have something to say about the at-large city council race. And at 6 p.m. today, just before this evening's at-large debate at UMass-Boston, they're going to tell us what it is.

I'd be stunned if it's anything other than a group endorsement of Sam Yoon. Yes, things were a bit tense between the Yoon and Arroyo camps earlier this year. But Yoon--like Arroyo, Turner, and Yancey--is a progressive of color. And he's the only challenger who fits that description.

Whatever the three incumbents actually do say tonight, the upcoming announcment points up their total lack of public engagement in this year's mayoral race. As anyone who follows the council knows, four members of that body--Arroyo, Turner, Yancey, and mayoral challenger Maura Hennigan--almost always vote together. Despite this, though, "Team Unity" has yet to speak out on behalf of Hennigan's candidacy.

Practically speaking, this silence is probably wise. The loftier ambitions that Arroyo and his supporters clearly harbor will be boosted if he tops the at-large ticket this year. If he antagonized Menino, though, Arroyo's chances of finishing first would drop dramatically. Turner has no opposition, and Yancey isn't going to be pressed by J.R. Rucker. Still, both councilors still need the mayor to deliver services to their districts. And if Menino is reelected, as most people expect him to be, he'd surely hold a grudge if Turner and Yancey had worked to elect his opponent.

Even so, Hennigan has to be rustrated that her longtime allies are leaving her out in the cold. And Turner's recent praise of Menino's record on racial issues must really have stung.

10/19/2005 12:10:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

What's with Sam Yoon and the Italians?

In September's preliminary city-council election, Yoon--who's seeking an at-large Boston City Council seat--parlayed an endorsement from House Speaker Sal DiMasi into a strong finish in the North End. By my calculations, Yoon got 347 votes in the neighborhood, second only to Patricia White, who received 385. And White had two big advantages: she's the daughter of an ex-mayor, and she was a female candidate running in an area increasingly populated by young, single women. (The next three at-large finishers in the North End: Michael Flaherty with 261, Steve Murphy with 249, and John Connolly with 203.)

Now District 1 Councilor Paul Scapicchio, who represents the North End and East Boston, has publicly endorsed Yoon as well. The endorsement--which was announced in a 1 p.m. press conference today--is the second endorsement from a sitting councilor for a challenger in this year's at-large campaign.* (District 8 councilor Michael Ross made the first endorsement by throwing his endorsement to Patricia White.)

NOTE: I had mistakenly pegged Scapicchio's endorsement of Yoon as the first endorsement from a sitting councilor for an at-large large challenger. Thanks to Anonymous for setting me straight.

10/18/2005 4:00:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Unless the Boston media can shame Tom Menino into debating Maura Hennigan, today's installment of the Paul Sullivan Show, on WBZ News Radio 1030, will be the last time the mayor and his challenger square off before Election Day.

I had assumed that--like the forum that took place at BU on Wednesday--tonight's event would be structured to the point of absurdity in order to protect Menino. But earlier today, WBZ program director Peter Casey told me otherwise. "The format is, there is no forum," Casey said. "They're both guests on Paul Sullivan's show, and just like any other guest, there are no rules or conditions for their appearance. Both guests will be on from 8 o'clock to 9 o'clock. [Sullivan] will handle the questions, he'll let callers ask questions, and he'll let the two guests talk amongst themselves."

If this holds up, this evening could be very, very interesting. Be sure to tune in to 1030 AM from 8-9 p.m.--or, if you've got other plans, look for the webcast on the My WBZ On-Demand page in the coming days.

10/14/2005 3:00:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Here's Maura Hennigan's new radio ad, which debuted today on WRKO, WBZ, WCRB and WODS. It strikes me as an effective spot. Having said that, check out the uplifting music that precedes Hennigan's comments--it's not supposed to be funny, but it is.

10/13/2005 5:21:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

There's such a thing as too much Andrea Cabral, and this is it.

Today, the Globe takes a look at at-large candidate Matt O'Malley as part of its ongoing series of city-council-candidate profiles. The piece's main storyline is that O'Malley has grown up since his inaugural campagin two years ago. Not great PR, but not bad.

On the other hand, the secondary storyline--that O'Malley, who ran Cabral's Suffolk County Sheriff campaign last year, is leaning heavily on the sheriff in his current run--works to his detriment. A few paragraphs near the end are especially damning:

"Standing next to Cabral at the Green Street T station last week, O'Malley watched as she worked the crowd. Dozens of passengers, some toting briefcases, others bearing backpacks and iPods, stopped to talk with the sheriff.

''Good morning, how are you? That's Matt," the sheriff said over and over, smiling broadly, and gesturing toward O'Malley. ''Please consider Matt for City Council."

Still, many blew past O'Malley, but he took it in stride...."

To make matters worse, the accompanying photo puts Cabral in the foreground. Here's some unsolicited advice, Matt: You're the candidate. The sheriff isn't.

10/13/2005 3:57:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Remind me again...Why was I excited about today's mayoral forum?

It was better than nothing, I guess. But unlike last month's forum at WGBH--which looks, to date, like the clear highlight of the 2005 mayoral race--this afternoon's event was utterly forgettable.

Who's to blame? That's an easy one: the Menino camp. Instead of merely insisting that there be no head-to-head interaction between the candidates, which is asnine enough, Boston's honorable mayor refused to even appear on stage at the same time as his opponent, at-large city councilor Maura Hennigan. As a result, we had half an hour of Hennigan followed by half an hour of Menino. In the WGBH debate, the audience watched two candidates trading responses to tough questions that came directly from knowlegable city residents. Today, though, neither Menino nor Hennigan was ever forced out of their comfort zone. Which, of course, is exactly what the incumbent wanted.

The student-centric focus of the forum, which was sponsored by Boston Intercollegiate Government, didn't help matters. The questions came from students at several local universities, and were filtered through the moderator, former governor Mike Dukakis, whose occasional jokes represented the afternoon's high points. The topics discussed weren't unimportant, exactly--later closing times for Boston bars came up, along with the city's new keg-tracking ordinance--but in general, they were hardly central to the city's well-being. The mayoral candidates should be talking about their vision for the Boston Public Schools, or how to contain the Manhattanization of Boston, or the recent uptick in violent crime, not offering platitutdes about how important students are to the city.

This Friday at 8 p.m., Hennigan and Menino have their last scheduled event together: they're slated to appear on Paul Sullivan's talk show on WBZ radio. (That's 1030 on your AM dial.) Please, Paul--do everything in your power to make the mayor talk with his opponent, or at least respond to her criticisms. This is getting old.

10/12/2005 7:55:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

I'll be offering my take on this afternoon's mayoral forum--which takes place at Boston University--in a few hours. In the meantime, if you haven't already, take a look at the forum WGBH sponsored two weeks ago. Maura Hennigan won that one decisively; you can watch it here.

If things go badly for incumbent Tom Menino again today, we'll have a real race on our hands. In fact, we may have one already. The conventional wisdom has always been that Menino is headed for a lopsided win. But Hennigan's performance on September 28 convinced plenty of skeptics that she deserves to be taken seriously.

It also gave her some great PR fodder heading into the campaign stretch drive. Last night, at a "Women for Maura" even in Jamaica Plain, the Hennigan camp debuted a new mailing that should reach Boston voters this week. It's a pretty slick piece. The front features a solid portrait of the candidate looking serious and, well, mayoral. The back, meanwhile, includes excerpts from the Globe and Herald's assessments of the last forum, with the key text highlighted for emphasis (e.g., "...Maura Hennigan succeeded in making the Menino administration look time-worn last night..." and "Maura Hennigan eviscerate[d] Mayor Tom Menino with cutting, well articulated criticism...," respectively).

All the pressure's on Tom Menino this afternoon. Let's see how he responds.

10/12/2005 2:20:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Cyndi Roy--formerly a reporter for State House News Service--is the new communications director for the Massachusetts Democratic Party. She replaces Jane Lane, who left to become vice president for communications at Philip W. Johnston Associates, the consulting firm run by state Democratic Party chair Phil Johnston.

Lane has a keen grasp of the state's political landscape, and dealt skilfully with the press. But Roy is an astute observer of Beacon Hill herself. It's a good pickup for the Dems, who need to be firing on all cylinders if they want to retake the Corner Office next November.

10/11/2005 3:26:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

A happy belated Columbus Day to you and yours.

Interesting contrast between the Globe's and Herald's takes on Mitt Romney's Monday speech in North Carolina. The former paper plays up Romney's warning that Islamic militants want to create a theocracy here, or in the Middle East, or somewhere. There's also a detailed synopsis of Romney's self-proclaimed achievements, including his claim to have cut more government jobs "in Massachusetts than any other state in America." (We'll see if that one holds up.) The Herald--using an AP story that seems absent from BostonHerald.com--doesn't touch the governor's statements on Islamic radicalism, but says Romney gave credit to Democratic legislators (!) for aiding his efforts at reform.

Color me cynical, but as a prominent Mormon politician--whose faith may pose problems with evangelical voters--does Romney really want emphasize the perils of mixing religion and politics?

10/11/2005 11:57:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

This is getting strange. In today's Globe story on the Andrea Cabral affair, US Attorney Michael Sullivan seems to flat-out contradict the account offered by Cabral, her attorney Walter Prince, and her friend Ralph Martin in yesterday's press conference. Here are the key paragraphs:

"In a statement released last night, Sullivan said the assertions by Cabral's lawyers were false. 'There has never been any such investigation of the US attorney's office by the Office of Public Integrity regarding this matter,' he said.

"Referring to Martin and Prince, Sullivan said, 'I was surprised that two well-respected members of the bar would be so reckless with the facts.'"

But then Globe reporter Shelley Murphy throws in this nugget: "The Justice Department's Office of Responsibility is conducting a leak investigation over a story that appeared in the Globe about the federal grand jury investiation, according to Sullivan." How does that square with Sullivan's earlier comments?

To further complicate matters, Sullivan's aforementioned emphatic denial sems to involve a DOJ branch that doesn't exist. Take a look at this list of the DOJ's constituent parts. Unless I'm missing something, there's no Office of Public Integrity. There is an Office of Professional Responsibility, which was mentioned by name at yesterday's press conference. (This, presumbably, is what Murphy is alluding to when she mentions an Office of Responsibility.)

It would be truly bizarre if Sullivan is denying an investigation by a nonexistent DOJ office. We need more information here. From both sides.

10/8/2005 9:31:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Talk about a role reversal. Until today, an investigation by US Attorney Michael Sullivan's office threatened to derail Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral's career and undermine her status as a political icon. Now, though, Cabral is in the clear. And Sullivan has some explaining to do.

At a press conference this afternoon, Cabral said that, back in June, she asked the Department of Justice to investigate the US Attorney's investigation of her. Among Cabral's complaints: leaks of confidential grand-jury information to the Boston media.

Late last month, Cabral learned that the DOJ had initiated a review of her case. About 10 days later, Sullivan's office told Cabral's attorney that its investigation of the sheriff would be closed, with no charges brought. If this acccount is correct, it sounds, essentially, like Cabral called Sullivan's bluff and forced him to back down.

There's no response yet from the US Attorney's office. And I'm still waiting (pessimistically) for comment from the DOJ on whether its review of Cabral's case is continuing. For now, though, it's hard to imagine a more satisfying outcome for the sheriff. And it's impossible not to wonder if Sullivan--whose political ambitions are no secret--got a bit too cute for his own good.

10/7/2005 4:34:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Good news for Andrea Cabral and her fans. It looks like Cabral won't be charged in connection with the firing of Sheila Porter, the nurse who was working as an FBI informant.

Cabral is holding a press conference in her attorney's office at 2 p.m. today. I'll be relaying the gist of her comments. Given Cabral's value as a political symbol--and the fact that some people see her as a contender for higher office somewhere down the line--it'll be interesting to see if she takes a conciliatory or combative tack. Based on Cabral's reputation, I'm gambling on the latter. But you never know.

10/7/2005 11:20:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Her loyalty to W. is unquestioned. She's a Christian. She loves birthdays. But what else goes on inside Harriet Miers' head?

Now you can find out!

10/6/2005 10:39:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

So now Mitt Romney plans to announce his re-election plans in late November.

Why the delay? Maybe, the Globe suggests, it's because Romney wants to advance his legislative agenda. Or maybe he's trying to help lieutenant governor Kerry Healey lock up the Republican nomination.

Left unmentioned is the fact that our governor is a total drama queen.

10/6/2005 10:07:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

I'm talking about the attorney general and would-be governor, who's no relation.

A just-released UMass-Boston poll has Reilly looking like the Democrats' best gubernatorial bet. In a hypothetical matchup with Republican incumbent Mitt Romney, Reilly wins 53-38 percent. That's compared to a hypothetical 47-39 percent win back in June. Meanwhile, Deval Patrick-- Reilly's sole declared Democratic competitor--loses to Romney, 42-37 percent. (In June, UMass had Romney winning this hypothetical matchup, 39-34 percent.) As for potential Democratic candidate Bill Galvin, he bests Romney as well, 46-42 percent.

Romney, of course, will likely have dropped all pretense of seeking re-election by next November to devote himself to full-time presidential campaigning. But if lieutenant governor Kerry Healey's the Republican nominee, Reilly still looks stronger than Patrick, crushing the LG 53-28 percent. Patrick ekes out a hypothetical 37-34 percent win over Healey, with 29 percent of respondents undecided, and Galvin tops Healey 46-33 percent.

There are plenty of other interesting numbers worth pondering. But the most intriguing may be this: Asked how likely they'd be to support a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage--which could go to voters in 2008--30 percent said "very," 10 percent said "somewhat," 9 percent said "not very," and 49 percent said "not at all."

Looks like both Tom Reilly and the pro-gay marriage forces are doing something right.

10/5/2005 10:00:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Have you read Suzanne Smalley's front-page Globe story on the state of the Boston Police Department as Tom Menino seeks another term?

If not, don't. Or at least, not until you've read this excellent article by my colleague David Bernstein first.

It's hard to tell if Smalley read David's piece. She mentions the declining homicide clearance rate in Boston, but fails to put those numbers into any kind of context. Of course, doing so might have required crediting the Phoenix, something the Globe is loathe to do.

One other point about the Globe's treatment: it leaves unasked the open question of whether Kathleen O'Toole is the right person to be leading the BPD.

10/5/2005 2:40:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

In today's Globe, Jeff Jacoby takes a whack at gay marriage supporters, accusing them of a "strong antidemocratic streak." He then calls that streak a key characteristic of modern liberalism. It's a bogus argument.

We live in a republic, not a democracy. We elect legislators to make decisions for us. Here in Massachusetts, the legislators we've chosen exercised their judgment at this year's constitutional convention, and acted to kill an amendment that would have replaced civil same-sex marriages with civil unions. If voters think their legislators betrayed them on this issue, they're free to kick them out next year. That's how our government works.

Jacoby's attempt to rewrite history in service of his argument is especially aggravating. Here's his take on some of the watershed moments in American political history:

"In an earlier era, liberalism and respect for the vote went hand in hand. Liberals fought to extend the franchise to women. They were leaders in the civil rights movement, raising their voices -- and sometimes laying down their lives -- for the right of Southern blacks to vote. A century ago, progressives championed the direct election of US senators, a movement that culminated in the adoption of the 17th Amendment in 1913."

If Jacoby thinks these gains would have been ratified by popular vote, he's kidding himself. The amendments he celebrates took effect because Congress and state legislatures did the right thing, not because a majority of citizens thought they were good ideas. And the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 didn't pass because a majority of southern voters (i.e., white southerners) or the national electorate thought it was a good idea. It passed because civil-rights activists successfully highlighted the brutal realities of the southern status quo, and the federal government finally stepped in to do what the states wouldn't.

The key advances in American democracy haven't been made by popular fiat. They've come when lawmakers and the courts (remember Brown v. Board of Education, Jeff?) drag the public in the right direction.

10/5/2005 4:38:00 AM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

10/3/2005 8:30:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |  

Apologies for the late post. As a blog novice, I'm still learning to balance blogging and reporting for the paper, and today I've neglected the former. I'll try to rectify this tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's WGBH's rebroadcast schedule for the mysterious vanishing mayoral town forum (see postings below). It's not On Demand, but it's better than nothing. (Remember, the forum's still available on the Greater Boston web site in webcast and podcast format.)

Sunday, October 9 at 2pm and 7pm on WGBH World (Comcast 209)
Monday, October 10 at 7pm on WGBH 2
Monday, October 10 at 11pm on WGBH World
Tuesday, October 11 at 12midnight on WGBH 2 (late Monday night, early Tuesday morning)
Tuesday, October 11 at 5am and 11am on WGBH World
Tuesday, November 1 (a week prior to the election) at 7-8pm on WGBH 2.

10/3/2005 8:15:00 PM by Adam | Comments [0] |