Today, I received a fund-raising letter from the Deval Patrick 2010 Committee. Below is a copy of the reply that I mailed back to them:
Dear Governor Patrick,
In 2006, you ran on a campaign of Hope and Change. I liked what you had to say and what you represented; so I gave you my money, my time, and my vote.
In 2008, your friend from law school, Barack Obama, campaigned on Hope and Change. I liked what he had to say and what he represented, so I gave him my money, my time, and my vote.
Now, in 2010, you are beginning to campaign for re-election. In the three years you have been governor, I have seen the MBTA fall apart, the Mass Turnpike is crumbling, the toll-booths are always clogged, and you have attempted to require New Hampshire retailers to charge Massachusetts sales tax. Further, in spite of the many studies showing the economic and cultural devastation such a move would cause, you continue to support bringing casino gambling into the state. I have written to you about these issues and feel that my voice has been ignored.
In your solicitation letter, you write:
Leading through my values is the reason 97.4 percent of our residents have health insurance today…
We have mandatory health insurance today because your predecessor, Mitt Romney, signed the bill in 2006. I do not understand how this relates to you. Additionally, I have friends who can not afford to buy health insurance and have to pay a tax penalty.
Leading with our values is why just a few days ago we passed landmark education reform…
I’m glad to hear this, but I am surprised that the only thing you mention having done between your election and now is this one item from “a few days ago.” It’s been over three years, have you done anything else?
Leading with those values is why we are rebuilding roads, rails and bridges,…
If this is happening, it is not happening anywhere near my community, where the roads and bridges are in the worst condition I have ever seen them and driving has become hazardous.
And leading with those values is the reason why in Massachusetts you can marry anyone you love.
Again, not true. Gay marriage is legal in Massachusetts because of a decision of the Massachusetts supreme court, made under the objection of your predecessor, Mitt Romney. What does this have to do with you or your leadership?
You are taking credit for events that happened before you assumed office and that you had nothing to do with. As for anything you’ve done since becoming Governor, I see little except excuses and shifting the blame.
In your letter, you neglect to mention some of the important actions that you have taken, such as:
- Canceling the scheduled elimination of the Mass Turnpike tolls;
- Appointing interim senator Paul Kirk;
- Threatening a state boycott of the Hyatt because, as a belt-tightening measure in order to stay viable, they outsourced their cleaning service;
- Not spending the federal stimulus money intended to be used for fixing our roads and bridges.
About your opponents in the upcoming election, you write:
The challengers are good people who have an honorable desire to serve. But one wants to walk away from health care reform … Another wants to cut services … even deeper than the current fiscal crisis has required us to do… Another trivializes the reforms we have delivered…
Governor Patrick, you make an excellent case for supporting one of your rivals. Unless you turn things around very quickly, I will do just that.
In order to regain my support, you must reverse your position on casino gambling, remove the tolls on the Turnpike, and release the federal stimulus funds for repairing our roads and infrastructure instead of spending them on back-salaries as you have been doing.
I hope that this letter does not fall on deaf ears.
related:
Charlie Baker for Governor (Republican)
Tim Cahill for Governor (Independent)
Christy Mihos for Governor (Republican)
Jill Stein for Governor (Green)
