[Not to readers: for those of you who aren't familiar with Deval Patrick or the Governor's race in Massachusetts(despite the coverage it's recieved on Dkos), here's some
backround info. I also cross-posted this on
my website, which focuses on Massachusetts politics.]
Oh-oh, another Frank Phillips article on Deval Patrick. Even bigger oh-oh, it's about Ray Rogers and Killer Coke. Let the Swiftboating continue...
Aggressive moves by gubernatorial candidate Deval L. Patrick's aides and supporters to seize on a misstep by one of his Democratic rivals has put union organizer Ray Rogers under scrutiny by state campaign finance regulators...
That's right folks, it has nothing to do with the fact that Ray Rogers possibly broke the law. It has nothing to do with the fact that Tom Reilly's campaign was in discussion with Ray Rogers regarding his "shadow campaign."
It's all Deval Patrick's fault - seizing on a political misstep! Those bastard politicians! It doesn't matter that laws were probably broken, Patrick is a political opportunist to the maximum degree, taking advantage of poor, old Tom Reilly.
...part of a plan Patrick's strategists hope will blunt attacks on him for his role as Coca-Cola's general counsel.
Blunt attacks? We're trying to blunt attacks? How about get the truth out - something Frank Phillips, the "reporter," is not interested in.
Sadly, that's JUST THE FIRST PARAGRAPH!
How sad that the Globe is losing all its journalistic integrity over the '06 race. Here's how the first paragraph should have been:
The Office of Campaign and Political Finance, acting on a complaint filed last week by union leaders who have endorsed Patrick, is reviewing accusations that Rogers, director of the New York-based Campaign to Stop Killer Coke, may be violating election laws. The complaint alleges Rogers failed to report his expenditures and may have coordinated his visit last week to Massachusetts with other gubernatorial campaigns.
But sadly, it didn't come till after Frank Phillips used code-words to make it sound as if Deval Patrick had
any role in this whole Ray Rogers-Frank Phillips scandal. He didn't. It was all Ray Rogers, Tom Reilly - and Frank Phillips for
being complicit. But I guess
Democrats Swiftboating Democrats somehow makes the Boston Globe happy - when Deval Patrick is the target - so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised by another example of biased, terrible reporting.
It's not the unions filing complaints (because Ray Rogers claimed to represent unions), it's always:
The unions' complaint reflects how Patrick's strategists and supporters plan to deal with expected attacks on his record as general counsel at both Coke and Texaco and his role on the boards of Ameriquest Mortgage Co. and United Airlines. (Emphasis mine.)
As if it were Patrick filing the complaint, in just some ordinary fashion. In fact, this whole scandal is "routine" as Phillips says. These sorts of complaints happen all the time... NOT. It would be one thing if Phillips used any evidence whatsoever to call Killer Coke routine, but he doesn't. I highly doubt if he'd find one - other than the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, of course. But even they didn't get caught.
Worst of all, this is how Frank Phillips ends the article:
``I have had no conversations with any officials or representatives of any campaign," Rogers said."
Way to go, Frank. Don't let the truth get in the way of your agenda. It wouldn't help your biased reporting to mention that Joan Vennochi proved that quote was an outright lie.
So, remember, everyone - it's all Deval Patrick's fault. He's the dirty politician, not Tom Reilly. He's the one playing politics, not Ray Rogers. Deval Patrick somehow hurt the gays when he got them all fully equal domestic partnership benefits. Deval Patrick should be blamed for Coca-Cola's role in Columbia, though he resigned from the company in protest. It's all Deval Patrick's fault. After all, you read it in the Boston Globe.