From Deval Patrick -- standing up to unbelievably dirty tactics in Mass!

[The Witch]

I just got this from my mother... it is unbelievably strong & courageous.

For nineteen months now, I have answered every one of your questions. Today I just need to speak my mind.

Thirteen years ago, while living in San Diego, California, my sister Rhonda was the victim of a sexual assault. I have not made her experience a subject of this campaign, because I believe it serves no victim to have to relive such a thing in the public eye. But the media today has tried to take that option from me.

...

My sister and her husband went through a difficult time, and through hard work and prayer, they repaired their relationship and their lives. Now they and their children -- who knew nothing of this -- have had their family history laid out on the pages of a newspaper. Why? For no other reason than that they had the bad luck to have a relative who is running for governor. It's pathetic and it's wrong. By no rules of common decency should their private struggles become a public issue. But this is the politics of Kerry Healey. It disgusts me. And it must be stopped.

...

Well, my message to the Healey campaign is that I will not let you run from your record any longer. You can try all you want to change the subject and shift the blame, but we are going to expose for all just how your failed policies and your failed politics are the reason so many people are stuck and struggling and losing hope. The garbage peddlers who shopped this story around town are part of that failed politics, too.

Listen to the rest of the speech here.

[Eric J in MN]

1. Can you explain the story to people outside of Massachusetts? NT

NT

[survivor999]

2. About time he responds...

He's taken a hit in the polls, which is pathetic because his opponent is just not very smart or likable.

[zanne]

3. The governor's race

Deval Patrick won the Democratic primary, to the joy of Massachusetts progressives. Kerry Healey. the Republican candidate for governor and presently Lieutenant Governor (and evil incarnate) has been smearing Patrick since the day he won the primary. Her campaign advertisements are nasty,(the way only Republican advertisements can be), and she can't speak about her accomplishments in office, because she hasn't had any. So, instead, she chooses the low road and smears Patrick. Patrick's sister once filed a complaint against her husband for rape. It was a long time ago, but the Kerry Healey campaign picked it up and used it in a commercial. Pathetic. I think it lost her votes.

[Hav]

5. .

That's pretty dirty and has nothing to do with Patrick. How can she expect to win like that in the most democratic state? I didn't see the TV spot but I guess that the majority must have found it disgusting and despicable.

[Eric J in MN]

6. How does that supposedly reflect badly on Deval Patrick? (NT)

NT

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. His opponent has nothing to be proud of, so she digs up anything

to smear him. She thinks this kind of stuff will cast him in a bad light. What she hopes to accomplish here makes no sense, but then again no republican ever had anything meaningful to crow about.

She is a witch, with a capital B.

[Hav]

4. .

Patrick did quite well in the last polls I've seen.
I hope that tactics like these will backfire big time in Massachusetts.

[seabeyond]

7. this is where repugs spending their money. dig dIG DIG.... into

the private lives. we see opponent going after fords father and now this guys opponent going after his sister.

sick sick sick republicans. shame on them

[DURHAM D]

8. Can't get the link to work. n/t