Despite Deval, Convention Another Step Backwards for Democrats
Well, it's five days after the Democratic State Convention and I'm finally getting my ass in gear to type up my post-convention thoughts. My lack of comment wasn't due to any lack of time or similar circumstance as has limited my blogging in the past. Rather, my frustration and anger at the happenings in Worcester made me wonder if any thoughts I had would really be useful out in the blogosphere. Nonetheless I do have strong feelings about the convention, and to me the reason for even having this blog is to put my opinions out there, whether others want to read them or not.
First of all, my attempt at live-blogging the convention left much to be desired. Trying to blog through my internet-enabled cell phone was an interesting experiment in modern communications tools, but the traditional numerical keypad that remains on cellular technology meant I was writing blog posts as I would dial a number or compose a text message. Looking back at some of the live posts I made you may find it surprising to learn that, because I wasn't using a keyboard, it took nearly 20 minutes to write those entries. If I ever try live-blogging again, it certainly won't be from my phone.
As for the actual meat of the convention, obviously I was wrong when I predicted that Chris Gabrieli would fail to make it on to the primary ballot. With 15.36% of the vote he just squeaked past the minimum threshold required. However, my error on this prediction was just a technical one: Gabrieli did have enough delegates vote for him on the first (and only) round ballot at the convention and in that case I was wrong. However I do not believe that many of those convention voters will cast a ballot for him in September nor do I believe that the choice to vote for him at the convention was made on these delegates own accord. It's quite well known that House Speaker Sal Dimasi -- a Reilly supporter -- made a deal with Gabrieli to send some Reilly delegates his way at the convention, to ensure that all three candidates appear on the ballot, thereby allowing Reilly a better chance a wining the primary with Gabrieli cutting into Patrick's base.
Going in to the convention, the argument made by the Gabrieli campaign was a strong one. They said that because of his proven trackrecord as a candidate and loyal Democrat, Chris Gabrieli is entitled to a spot alongside Patrick and Reilly in the primary. As a supporter of John Bonifaz for Secretary of Commonwealth because of his work on behalf of voting rights for all people and ballot access for all parties, it would be hypocritical of me to say that, simply because I support another candidate Gabrieli shouldn't be on the ballot. To those delegates that showed up to the March caucuses undecided and eventually supported Gabrieli, and even those that switched from another candidate by their own choice, I have no ill will.
However, I strongly believe that the actions of Speaker Dimasi and the Reilly campaign are despicable. They were an underhanded move to bypass the party rules not actually for the benefit of the Gabrieli campaign, but for the destruction of that candidate who was actually the favorite of most convention delegates.
Such immoral and devious tactics deserve no place in a party that has sought to position itself as the ethical alternative to the corrupt Republican Party. If such dealings continue to take place year after year (as they have in both Democratic State Conventions I have attended in Massachusetts), the Democratic Party has no right to continue questioning the steady drop in registered Democrats over the last
two decades.
I think most telling is are two small paragraphs at the end of the Globe's convention coverage:
Party leaders, who faced a potential uproar if either Gabrieli or Reilly had failed to make the ballot, appeared pleased.
"It will be an extraordinarily competitive primary campaign," Philip W. Johnston, the party's chairman, said after it became clear Gabrieli was going to be part of the primary race.
Why even have a convention, with rules determined by party activists, if you make it so easy and give subtle approval to mischevous tactics which defeat the very purpose of those conventions and rules? Such insider dealing among Massachuetts Democrats has led to the defeat of every Democratic Gubernatorial candidate for the past 20 years.
Has the Party learned nothing?
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