We have two large newspapers here in Boston--the Boston Herald and the Boston Globe. The Boston Herald, everyone knows, is Boston's print version of FOX News. The Boston Globe is supposed to be the paper for educated progressives in Massachusetts, which makes it all the more damaging the string of articles they have featured on Ed Markey since Scott Brown dropped out and Stephen Lynch entered the race. There haven't been any articles on the actual issues.
First the stupid DC house question:
http://www.boston.com/...
The congressman says he made 34 round trips from Washington to Boston last year, but he declined a Globe request to provide his daily schedules for the last two years. His opponent in the Democratic primary, Representative Stephen F. Lynch, also declined. Lynch keeps a primary home in South Boston, where he is seen frequently and where his wife also lives.
By contrast, Representative Michael E. Capuano’s office supplied a list of dates showing he had spent more than half his nights in his Somerville home over the past two years.
Markey and Representative James P. McGovern of Worcester are the only members of the state’s House delegation to own houses in or around the District of Columbia, with members of their families living there.
They then had an opinion piece defending Markey's DC home, but it was behind their paywall, and only served to remind readers that MARKEY HAS A BIGGER HOME IN DC THAN IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE HORRORS!
And then the union question, Lynch's strong union ties were emphasized (even though Markey's getting more union endorsements), but again, behind a paywall so only the hardcore news junkies could read it.
Then a platform for the GOP's view of Markey, and of course this is publicly viewable:
http://www.boston.com/...
“You are judged by the company you keep, and it’s disgusting for Congressman Markey to rub elbows with a man best known for his solicitation of prostitutes,” she said. “Markey should immediately cancel the fund-raiser and denounce Spitzer’s abhorrent and unacceptable behavior. Anything short of a public condemnation and cancellation would send the wrong message to women.”
Markey’s spokeswoman, Giselle Barry, said the event would not be canceled.
And finally this one this morning, which is one of the worst twisting of a candidate's words I've seen in print:
http://www.boston.com/...
“I think the day of African Americans automatically supporting the Democratic candidate are over,” Swan said. “We have a more informed electorate that wants to weigh where the different candidates stand on the issues.”
Dickerson said someone from Lynch’s campaign has already reached out to request an opportunity to address his church, and he expects other candidates from both parties to do the same. African American voters, who are overwhelmingly registered as Democrats, could be especially influential in the party’s primary, and Lynch’s campaign was quick to seize on Markey’s comments.
“I don’t think it’s right to compare Citizens United to the Dred Scott decision,” Lynch said in a statement. “Dred Scott kept an entire race of people in bondage and perpetuated the horror of slavery in America. I’m not sure there are any Supreme Court decisions that rival Dred Scott in infamy.
Lynch said he also supports constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
Republicans tried to cast the comments as an example that Markey is out of touch.
“Agree or disagree with federal campaign finance law, it’s ridiculous and offensive to compare it to the horror of slavery,” said Brad Dayspring, communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
I hope that's not too much block quoting.
My point is that a lot of older Massachusetts voters get their local news from the Boston Globe. Of course they are going to think that Lynch is the progressive candidate, what with Markey's DC "mansion", his "denigration of women" and now his "denigration of black people". All of these are made up, Lynch has a $300K condo in DC in Scott Brown's old condo building, and the other two assertions are ridiculous, but this position is very damaging to Markey because people trust the Globe to tell them the truth.