GenealogyDeval Patrick on the hustings
Deval Patrick put in a full day of campaigning on Saturday, May 21.
His first campaign stop was in North Adams, at 9 AM, where he was greeted by an enthusiastic audience of several dozen north-Berkshire denizens. The event was co-sponsored by Berkshire Brigade and the Democratic Town Committees (DTCs) of Adams, North Adams, Lanesborough, and Williamstown.
I didn't attend the first event, since I was doing "the advance" in Pittsfield for Patrick's 11 AM appearance. I was told he got a warm reception and good reviews in North Adams. By the time we got started in Pittsfield, all the seats in the meeting hall were taken, and people were standing along the walls and in the back. I did a rough count of about 100, and I probably missed a few people.
Lee Harrison, a State Committee member and the Chair in Williamstown, did the customary introductions of elected officials in the room, who included Mayor Ruberto of Pittsfield and State Rep Denis Guyer of Dalton.
Sherwood Guernsey (former State Rep) explained to the audience that The Berkshire Brigade is a new county-wide Democratic Party organization, and urged those in the room to participate in its events, such as the one we were witnessing (co-sponsored, btw, by the DTCs of Alford, Great Barrington, Monterey, Sheffield, and Stockbridge.
Sherwood then turned to me for an introduction of the candidate. Here is my recollection of what I said (modified slightly for clarity):
I am going to say some nice things about Deval Patrick, and I want to make it perfectly clear that these sentiments represent my personal opinion, not those of any organization.The Berkshire Brigade, which is sponsoring this meeting, is a Democratic Party organization, and as such will wholeheartedly support whichever candidate wins the Primary next year.That said, it is my hope, and my expectation, that our candidate will be Deval Patrick.I have known Deval for a relatively short period of time, but in that time, I have come to think of him as a friend. I hope that as you get to know him, you will come to feel the same way.Deval Patrick is also our neighbor. He and his family are building a second home in Richmond, only about 10 miles from here. I have been to the construction site, and as a member of Alford's Conservation Commission and the author of our Scenic Mountain regulations, I believe I am qualified to speak about this subject. I can assure you that the site is being developed in an environmentally sensitive and responsible way. As far as I am concerned, it is just one more piece of evidence that Deval shares my values.And anyway, won't it be nice to know that, when Deval becomes Governor, maybe (just maybe) State Route 41 will be plowed a little sooner and a little better than would otherwise be the case?A week ago today, I was a delegate (along with several other people in this room) to the annual Convention of the Massachusetts Democratic Party at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. There, I heard Deval Patrick give a speech about why he wants to become our Governor.Deval first told a little about his background. Then, he said a few words about his values and his vision. And then he made it clear that his campaign would be a positive one.He said, "when the naysayers tell you we can't do something, don't listen to them, but say instead, 'yes, we can!'"And then he said, "when the naysayers tell you we can't do something else, don't listen to them, but say, 'yes, we can!'"When he used that phrase the first time, we heard him, and when he used the phrase "yes, we can!" the second time, a few people joined in the chorus. By the time he said, "yes, we can!" the third and fourth and fifth times, the entire Arena was screaming "Yes, We Can!"It was a very emotional moment for me. I had tears streaming down my cheeks. It wasn't just what he said, although what he said was great. It was also my realization that finally! finally! I had a candidate that I could support with all my heart.It is a great privilege, and a pleasure, to introduce to you our friend, and our neighbor, and our next Governor, Deval Patrick.
Mr. Patrick gave a brief rundown on his reasons for running and told us of his priorities (health care, education, and jobs). He then took questions and comments from the floor. Most people who spoke to me later were very favorably impressed. In fact, several people told me things like, "I'm sold!" or "Finally, the real deal!" or "I can spend a lot of time on this campaign -- let me know what I can do." I also heard later on, third hand, that others found him to be well-spoken and able to effectively handle even hostile questions.
Probably the most problematic question put to him, not surprisingly, had to do with his connection to Coca Cola. His answer was better (shorter) than I'd heard him do in the past, less defensive and more positive. He's obviously learning how to be more effective at selling himself, but needs to turn this and other challenges into more affirmative statements about his values. I'm sure he'll get there.
He was caught flat-footed by a question concerning the environment, partly because of the specificity of the query. He promised to educate himself by reading an article given to him by the questioner. This, I think, personifies the "listening tour" nature of his appearances to date, and those who are frustrated by Patrick's stance (or lack thereof) on a subject dear to them should take the opportunity to plead their case and to educate him. He truly is listening and learning as he goes around the state. The fact that he's in the Berkshires 18 months before the election says a lot.
The session ended on a high note, with a couple of observations from members of the audience. The last comment was especially eloquent, coming from a leader of the local black community, concerning the need to get the message out to and secure the involvement of a more diverse audience.
I'm sure the crowd would have liked to listen to more, but time was up, and we were off to an event in Northampton. There, a similar-sized crowd (I estimate 80 to 100) awaited Mr. Patrick.
From there, he went on to two more events in Greenfield and Worcester. I was reminded of my days as a stock market analyst, making the rounds, visiting clients, selling ideas. The topics are different, but goal is the same. And believe me, it's tiring! Lots more days like this in the future for the candidate. I look forward to watching the campaign evolve and grow.
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