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One for the win column
© by Barbara Anderson
The Salem News
Thursday,
November 6, 2014
“... the thrill of
victory ... and the agony of defeat ... the human drama” of
political competition ... (borrowing from ABC’s Wide World of
Sports)
Must begin with what I care about most: America may yet be saved for
my grandchildren! Americans in general finally admitted the Obama
mistake and moved to reclaim our future. Republicans took over the
U.S. Senate, solidified the House and won Republican governors —
including ours!
I have waited a few decades for Charlie Baker to become the governor
of Massachusetts, and here he is! I have also waited a long time to
see Martha Coakley depart the political landscape — and was not
surprised to see her lack of grace in doing so, as she didn’t even
address her supporters election night. Too bad that Baker/Polito
supporters at their event didn’t get to hear Charlie announce their
victory.
Tisei supporters at the 6th Congressional District event were sad
that Richard lost, but we got to see a very gracious concession
speech. Chip and I spent the evening with old friends and new; we
can all be proud of our excellent candidate. This was just one of
those unusual political dramas, with an attractive newcomer entering
the scene by dramatically unseating a Democratic incumbent.
Question 1 passed; there will be no automatic gas tax hikes every
year. Rep. Leah Cole deservedly won. Tom Lyons came close.
Unfortunately, very few of the incumbent Democrats who voted for the
automatic gas tax hikes were defeated, though there were some good
Republican candidates. I’ve never understood this oddity, as
taxpayers have won other ballot questions while being unable to
unseat the legislators who created the problem the initiative
petition process had to fix.
In the rest of the country, Republicans control many state
legislatures. But why dwell on other states? Those of us who still
live here have chosen to put up with Massachusetts state politics;
I’m sure I’m not the only one grateful today for not having moved to
New Hampshire to “live free (then) die.” Places, like people, often
change. In the old Granite State, Scott Brown would have won easily.
Next year, Massachusetts will have a more “live free” governor than
New Hampshire.
This is personally significant for me. I was 37 years old when
Citizens for Limited Taxation led the 1980 ballot battle for
Proposition 2½: Our ally was the Massachusetts High Technology
Council. In order to help us keep this new statute, MHTC hired a
communications guy — Charlie Baker, just out of college. It wasn’t
long before some of us began looking forward to his eventual
gubernatorial campaign.
Now I’m 71 years old. When I add up my career wins and losses, this
one rounds out the good news for me. And, someday, I can relax into
retirement, knowing that Charlie will continue to protect
Proposition 2½. Will feel safer if he gets the ability to sustain a
veto in the next election, though.
New Hampshire did elect Frank Guinta as a Republican congressman;
Massachusetts still has none — though at least our liberal Democrats
will have less influence than ever. It would have been wise to send
at least one Republican to Washington. However, I wasn’t surprised
by Seth Moulton’s win, figured this would happen when I saw his
announcement in The Salem News last winter.
Though I remained enthusiastic in support of Tisei, I think Moulton
could have won on his resumé alone. I did want to have a congressman
I could respect, am disappointed that he had to resort to wild
accusations about Tisei being radical right, anti-women and
anti-veteran.
Never mind, I doubt that he’ll be my congressman for long. This is
one ambitious young man; I predict he’ll run for U.S. Senate at the
first opportunity, and eventually, like John Kerry, run for
president.
I’ve always been torn about the “gracious concession speech.” It was
nice of Tisei to tell us that he and Seth had become friends during
the campaign (never mind the false accusations) and wish him well.
Charlie was amazingly kind to Coakley as she refused to concede,
gently chastising his supporters that “every vote must be counted.”
I’m not that nice. All politics is personal (or is that “local?”
Never mind.), and I blame her for the fact that my friend Gerald
Amirault is still forced to be on probation, ankle bracelet, fees
and all, for a crime that never happened. Glad she lost and that we
all got to see her true colors on her way out.
Years ago, in 1990, we taxpayers lost a ballot question to repeal a
bunch of Dukakis tax hikes, including his “temporary” income tax
rate increase. This one surprised me; I was certain we would win.
When it was time to concede defeat, I was heading for the stage,
planning to look directly into the TV cameras and say “What, voters,
are you nuts?” when I was waylaid by Domenic Bozzotto of the Hotel
Workers Union, a tax-cut ally at the time. He told me firmly that I
would first accept the loss and then declare victory in that we had
helped elect Bill Weld and Paul Celluci, and I did as told. But I’ve
always regretted my good behavior — especially since we are still
paying some of that “temporary” income tax hike, 25 years later.
Can still argue for being completely honest about a ballot question
loss; it’s different when one’s own self was the loser, then
graciousness is needed. Of course, I’ve never put myself in this
position, never ran for office (not counting Danvers Town Meeting
member in the early ’70s). So, let me close here today by expressing
my admiration for those citizens who put themselves out there, into
a very dusty, sometimes even muddy, arena, seeking our votes.
The comments made
and opinions expressed in her columns are those of Barbara Anderson
and do not necessarily reflect those of Citizens for Limited Taxation.
Barbara Anderson is executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation. Her
column appears weekly in the Salem News and other Eagle-Tribune newspapers.
More of Barbara's
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Citizens for Limited Taxation
▪ PO Box 1147
▪ Marblehead, MA 01945
▪ 508-915-3665
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