| I have mixed feelings about Joan Vennochi's column today. On one hand, she said what everyone is thinking.
On the other hand, everyone thinking it does not automatically justify saying it. It's not fair to compare anyone to Barack Obama, even someone as theoretically close to him as Deval Patrick.
Promising a different kind of politics as a candidate and delivering on it as a public official is a delicate task. The now-worn narrative about Patrick's early missteps includes his choice of state vehicle - a Cadillac - and the expensive new drapes he ordered for his office. He ran as an outsider, then quickly started losing the inside ballgame to legislative leaders. He alienated his liberal base by pushing for casinos. He alienated the general public by backing a state senator for a $175,000-a-year job without explaining why and then leaving her to twist in the wild political winds that followed.
Communication is Obama's great strength and Patrick's great weakness. The Massachusetts governor is effective one-on-one. But, unlike Obama, he has trouble driving a cohesive political message and doesn't seem to enjoy the mission.
This tidbit is devastating:
From the day he won election, Patrick did the opposite. In one of his first public addresses following the election, Patrick told a gathering of New England newspaper editors and publishers that they missed the story of his triumph because they didn't understand his campaign. He periodically complains about media cynics; such critiques don't win any media champions.
Missed the story? Was he drunk? You could argue that they missed it before the primary, but the only reasons the Globe didn't declare him the winner immediately after the primary was that they wanted to appear objective.
It's one thing to decide that, and another to annouce it to the press.
A running theme, which I disagree with somewhat, is that Obama enjoys the game and Patrick doesn't. I think the guv looked pretty cheerful when he cornered the Legislature on its ethics bill. Obama campaigned cheerfully, but seems to be getting some Washington culture shock.
May each man be on his best game. |
