MASS PARTY ELDERS PUT THE KIBOSH ON NEGATIVE ADS

[globalvillage]

By David M. Shribman
Sat Aug 5, 8:04 PM ET

BOSTON -- The party elders are watching.

They're watching television, and they're watching the Democratic gubernatorial candidates, and there had better not be a disparaging word about any of them.

In the long war against negative advertisements in politics, there never has been anything quite like the board of elders the Democrats have set up as they work to win back the governor's office on Beacon Hill for the first time since Michael S. Dukakis held it, an eon ago in 1991.

This is how it will work: If one of the three candidates for the Democratic nomination steps out of line, the elders will step all over him. Or, as Philip W. Johnston, the party chairman, put it in a conversation the other day: "If you run very vicious ads in the last week or two, when your political consultants tell you to pour it on, you'll hurt the Democrats' chances of winning the governorship, and we'll say something -- and you'll pay a price politically."

Besides Johnston, the elders are Dukakis himself, Cameron F. Kerry (John Kerry's brother) and Katherine Clark (a leading Democratic activist). All are political veterans, all have close ties to people in the three Democratic gubernatorial campaigns, all have no aversion to speaking their minds.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucds/20060806/cm_ucds/massachusettspartyeldersputthekiboshonnegativeads

This was featured in the print edition of my local paper today. Good that the Mass Dem self defense plan is getting national exposure, I think it's critical and brilliant in it's simplicity.
Since the media seems to delight in propagating political attacks, we'll have to hold candidates accountable ourselves.
Nice work, Massachusetts. This is how it's done.

[TayTay]

1. Loved Dukakis' comment: "Can't hurt, might help."

And the Ultimate Powers behind the Powers That Be in this case are very concerned that Massachusetts have a Democratic Governor in place for '08. The Utlimate Powers are tired of the usual Dem on Dem carnage that happens every four years and have made Their Pesence known in this race. They have used, albeit subtly, the great and mighty clubs that They have available to enforce Their edicts through Their imperial guards.

The Ultimate Powers control a great deal of money in the Great Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They have been fundraising for '06. They have the power to confer said money on the winner of the Dem primary. They also have to power to not confer money, campaign workers, personal appearances, press-generating events and so forth on those who defy Their will. So it was in the beginning, so it shall be at the end.

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (No one else is going to do it.) Long live the Utlimate Powers and Their beneficient edicts for the good of the Democratic Party in this noble state! (LOL! LOL! LOL! I love this place, btw. It's so damn funny.)

[globalvillage]

2. Did you notice who wrote it?

David Shribman is the executive editor and VP of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Not a Boston paper or the AP.
We're giving you guys your props, here. You deserve it.

[TayTay]

3. Shribman was Boston Globe Bureau Chief for years

and, I believe, won a Pulitzer for his coverage during his tenure at the Globe. He is very well versed in the strange ways of Massachusetts politics. He is also very, very familiar with the Ultimate Powers and how They operate.

Thanks Pittsburgh! Love the way the article makes Mass look sane. Doesn't happen often around here.

[globalvillage]

4. That's very cool.

It's nice to have that perspective. If you need to borrow him for a while, I'm willing to negotiate an exchange.

[TayTay]

5. A reporter for a Senator?

Geez, you're going to have to sweeten the pot on that one. How about a visitor's pass wherein one Senator comes to PA, campaigns most heartily for Casey then comes homes? A loaner, not a keeper.

[globalvillage]

6. I was suggesting a loan.

I'm not completely insane. But if you could leave him here just long enough to train our newbie Senator, I'd be forever grateful.

[TayTay]

7. That could be doable

If the Senate switches Parties, thee will be openings on various committees and the 'old hands,' though technically still Junior Senators, will be available for training the new young whippersnappers.

It's a deal.