1. When does Massachusetts next elect a Governor?
2. When and how is the Democratic candidate for Governor chosen?
3. What do Romney, Swift, Cellucci, and Weld have in common?
4. What do our President and Governor have in common?
5. What is the importance of our Governor nationally?
6. Why does the choice of Governor matter?
7. What will the next Democratic governor have in common with Clinton, Carter, Johnson, Kennedy, Truman, and FDR?

Answers:

1. Tuesday, November 7, 2006.

2. The September 19 primary determines which candidate becomes the Democrat on the November ballot. If you’re a Democrat or a voter who hasn’t chosen a party, you can vote in September to help determine the outcome.

3. Weld, Cellucci, Swift, and Romney have all been Massachusetts governors. They are all Republicans.

Each became bored with the Governor’s work, declaring “mission accomplished.” Each shares the Republican philosophy that private incentives are the automatic solution to most of society’s problems.

They projected an image of competence. It’s hard to think of accomplishments. It’s far easier to see evidence of what they allowed to slide.

Since they served one after the other, for 16 years they’ve hired the leaders of state agencies and many other employees, spanning a wide array of services: public health, public higher education, revenue collection and distribution to cities and towns, public safety, highways and bridges, environmental protection.

In most of these areas, we’ve gone backward during their 16 continuous years of “leadership.”

We’ve lost jobs and population. Public health and environmental programs have been cut. Public colleges are increasingly unaffordable. Bridges are in disrepair. Community hospitals have been closing, and more residents are without health insurance. Cuts in local aid have left municipalities struggling.

4. Our President Bush and Governor Romney are both executives responsible for the effectiveness of public services. Both are Republicans and promote the Republican philosophy of government.

5. Governors have political clout on the national scene. As Governor Romney said recently, “Having more Republican governors means more Republican congressmen, senators and better support for the presidency.”

6. Like the President, Governors are responsible for appointing the leadership team of the executive branch.

They can work hard to improve services or they can let things drift.

Governors determine priorities and the effectiveness of services.

Their threatened vetoes can suppress progressive legislation.

They decide how to allocate funds appropriated by the legislature, which projects to push and which not to push.

They can use the “bully pulpit” to promote their agenda, since a single voice and face are easier for news organizations than scores of legislators’.

7. Like our next Democratic Governor, the last six Democratic presidents (four had been governors) were chief executives known for moving our society several steps forward, for the Common Good.

Roosevelt planned and won a mandatory war, led the formation of the UN, created Social Security, unemployment insurance, minimum wage.

Truman increased the minimum wage, expanded Social Security, desegregated the military, and signed the Marshall Plan.

Kennedy was responsible for the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the Peace Corps, scientific advancements.

Johnson gave us Medicare and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, expansion of federal aid to education, and antipoverty programs.

Carter’s administration was responsible for an increase of 8 million jobs, a decrease in the deficit, a national energy policy, expansion of the national park system, strengthening of Social Security, appointing record numbers of women and minorities, and an emphasis on human rights.

Under Clinton, the largest budget deficit in American history was converted to the largest surplus, 22 million new jobs were created, the unemployment rate was the lowest in thirty years, and higher incomes benefited all types of workers, not just those at the top.

All chief executives are constrained by conditions they inherit – including the economy and the composition of the legislature – as well as the length of their time in office.

In spite of challenging circumstances, all these Democratic chief executives made our nation stronger, and our lives more prosperous and secure, because they worked for the Common Good.

Their Democratic values can be seen in what they chose to make priorities.
 
If you agree that on balance our country made progress under Democrats Clinton, Carter, Johnson, Kennedy, Truman, and Roosevelt, doesn’t it make sense to try out a Democrat as governor for the first time in twenty years?

As mentioned in an earlier column, I made that mistake when I cast my ballot for Republican Bill Weld for governor in 1990 and have regretted it ever since. Weld was smart, charming, and seemed honest – and was much more likeable than the Democratic candidate.

After Weld left for greener pastures, our corner office has been occupied by Governors Cellucci and Romney. We’ve had almost 16 years of Republican executive “leadership.”

In my view, these Republican governors have failed to carry out our Commonwealth’s business responsibly. (Republicans seem to get tired of the job quickly. They’re not very interested in delivering public services.)

When you vote for a governor – whether a Democrat or a Republican – you’re sending a message about your political views, and you’re also lending your support to a party. Because, once elected, that governor will be a lynchpin in his or her party across the state and across the nation.

Parties are networks of people of like-minded political views. They don’t agree with each other on every issue, but they share a general philosophy.

Governors assist other members of their party in numerous ways, including fundraising, promoting their party’s messages, and supporting its tactics.

Take fundraising as a sign of linked support. Governor Weld led the fundraising for California Republican Governor Wilson (and Wilson was an early supporter of Republican President George W. Bush). Weld donated to New York’s Republican Governor, to the Republican who tried to defeat Democrat Hilary Clinton for Senate, to Pennsylvania Republican Senator Arlen Specter, and even to the very right-wing Pennsylvania Republican Congressman Rick Santorum. Governors Cellucci and Romney gave substantially to the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Contrast the donations made by our last Democratic Governor, Mike Dukakis: to Democratic Congressman Tierney, Democratic Senator Kerry, and Democratic Senator Kennedy, to name a few. And, like other governors, he has shared crucial advice, information, and contacts with the goal of strengthening his party.

The behind-the-scenes efforts of all governors to promote their party go far beyond their direct campaign contributions, but these are the easiest to trace through public records.

Members of a party support each other, understanding that they can accomplish more when they stick together. There are times when they disagree, but even the most independent leaders will not often defy their party– because they depend upon each other to accomplish what their constituents elected them for. They agree with their party’s goals.

So if you’re a Democrat at heart but you decide to vote for a Republican, you’re indirectly lending support to the Republican network.

We don’t know whom the Republicans will nominate for governor next year, but the candidate will likely be clean-cut and intelligent, and will probably avoid talking about why he or she is a Republican – hoping you’ll vote without paying attention to the party he (or she) is dedicated to.

Today Republicans control the White House, the Senate, the House, the Supreme Court, and a majority of state governorships, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, and Massachusetts. We now have the perfect opportunity to observe the true priorities of the Republican Party, since the Republicans aren’t forced to compromise with Democrats very often these days: huge tax cuts for the very richest Americans while running up an enormous irresponsible deficit, which threatens the future financial security of the nation.

The priority of the Democratic Party, on the other hand, is the common good. We believe in a society that fosters the well-being of the people – people from all income levels, all ethnic and racial and religious backgrounds, all ages.

That’s why during the last two generations the Democratic Party pushed hard – usually with vehement Republican opposition – to reduce poverty, increase access to health care, improve public transportation, eliminate discrimination, prohibit child labor, protect consumers, provide for the unemployed, expand employment, improve working conditions, protect our air and drinking water, make education available to all, encourage fair business, and strengthen our national security through international agreements.

We were able to make progress on behalf of all Americans and our posterity when Democrats were winning the Presidency and the Congress.

Next time you vote for national or state leaders, think about which party you wish to support. Don’t make the mistake I made when Weld (R) ran against Silber (D).