What Hillary Really Said

The View has tried, with marginal success, to go easy on the Hillary articles, at least until it is clear that she is to be the Dem’s candidate of choice for the 2008 presidential election. Let’s just say that her candidacy, if it occurs, is sure to be a target-rich environment, so why jump the gun. But last Sunday, the Boston Globe proved once again that there is no length to which it will not go to demonstrate its partisan support. Using its lead editorial, the Globe rushed to defend Mrs. C. because, in its opinion some of the remarks she made during an interview with the Globe editorial board on October 10th were so “badly twisted” and “magnified” that it felt compelled to reprint a segment of the interview transcript in an attempt to straighten out the record.

The case in point involved Hillary’s contention that while she has many ideas for new government programs, she recognizes the need for fiscal responsibility and claims to have a funding scheme for each program. Ideas? She has a million of them. How about the $5,000 baby- bond for every baby born in the United States? Oops, never mind. And while she makes several references to “her” capacity to pay for them, we all recognize that it will be the taxpayers who ultimately foot the bill. What she really means is her ability to earmark specific tax revenues for her own proposals.

Putting its best spin on the interview, the Globe claims that what Hillary was actually saying is that she “opposes big government spending.”

The Clinton strategists recognize the need to run a centrist campaign so as to appeal to the moderate voters as well as the liberal base. Politicians of all stripes have long used similar strategies to broaden their appeal. But in her case, the veneer of the new moderate Hillary has a monumental task in papering over a long and well-documented history of left-wing orientation. The voters, of course, must look beyond campaign rhetoric to try to determine just what a particular candidate’s true values might be, a handy thing to know when you are voting someone into a powerful office for four years. To do so, we rely on an un-biased media. By leaping to Hillary’s defense in this case, rather than letting her comments stand on their own, the Globe not only does a disservice to its readers, but also lends support to the long-held contention of many that the Globe is a shill for the left.

This campaign, which already seems to have been going on forever, still has a long way to go. There will be ample time to frame the choices voters will face. At the same time, be careful, be very careful, where you get your information. In the meantime, for a good critical analysis of just what the globe did print Click Here

and read what Harry at Squaring the Boston Globe had to say.

A Win-Win on Health Insurance Costs

Criticizing government has long been a major-league sport in the Bay State, so when something positive comes out of Beacon Hill, we need to pay attention. In July, The Governor signed a bill that allows for cities and towns to join with state employees in electing coverage under programs provided through the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission. According to all sources, the state program, using the leverage of its large number of covered employees, is able to provide quality health insurance at a substantial savings over plans written for individual municipal employee groups. In addition, the GIC’s record of annual premium cost increases has been substantially below those of most individual arrangements.

Due to the timing of the legislation, it has been difficult, so we are told, for municipalities to take advantage of the new option by its October deadline. The Town of Saugus, one of only a handful of towns that have signed up for this year, estimates possible savings of between $1 million and $1.5 million per year. At a time – is there ever not such a time?- when cities and towns are struggling to keep property tax growth under control, here is a true win-win opportunity. Municipal officials and employee groups should take advantage of this opportunity to show their willingness to achieve significant savings on the spiraling health insurance costs without any loss off benefits. Such opportunities don’t come around too often. The remaining municipalities now have a year to decide whether or not to go the GIC route next fiscal year. This would seem to be ample time for officials, municipal workers unions and other employee groups to embrace this cost-saving approach and, in the process, perhaps gain some taxpayer good will.

cc: Editor, Old Colony Memorial

The Man from Pinpoint

In his new book, My Grandfather’s Son, Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, breaks his long-standing silence and produces a poignant memoir of his upbringing, his educational experiences, and the events that helped mold his personal philosophy of independence and self-sufficiency. Much has been written about Thomas, especially since his contentious 1991 confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, about this man that liberals love to hate because of his conservative views on many social issues. In reading this frank and revealing book, I was struck by how his life’s journey had dovetailed with the emergence of the modern Civil Rights movement which provided him a unique vantage point from which to hammer out his own point of view.

Born in 1948 in the tiny village of Pinpoint, Georgia, Thomas entered a world where black people still lived a segregated existence and during his early years, he had ample experience of the limitations such a system imposes. He came of age just as the budding Civil Rights movement emerged with all of its exciting potential. Thomas had an insider’s perspective as young blacks found themselves surging ahead into uncharted waters. Fortunately, he had been raised with a strong set of values that helped him chart his own course.

Thomas was raised in Savannah by his maternal grandfather, Myers Anderson, whom he called Daddy. A stern man, Anderson used his own brand of tough-love to teach his belief in self-reliance, hard work and tenacity. While the young Thomas bristled under Daddy’s discipline, he found ample opportunity in later years to fall back on these values. Another powerful influence came from the catholic nuns who taught at the segregated parochial schools that he attended. In addition to providing him with strong academic foundation, the nuns were also instrumental in helping him attend The College of the Holy Cross that he entered following several years of wrestling with the strength of his religious vocation in the seminary.

Thomas worked hard to graduate from Holy Cross as well as Yale Law School. And while his strong academic skills stood him well, he struggled financially, especially in law school where he was a married student with a wife and child. But the more telling struggle was the one he waged with the emerging battle for Civil Rights. As an undergraduate he was part of the black student movement and experienced the heady rhetoric and activism that sought to right century-old wrongs. While Thomas had plenty of firsthand experience of life under the old ways of segregation, he was troubled by some of the new ideas being put forth, especially those that stressed separatism and rejection of white society. He also disagreed with some of the new social theories, such as forced busing to achieve school integration. He felt that while this solution allowed for statistical “progress”, it did not do enough to address the issue of providing quality education for all students. He distrusted the disturbing trend towards increased emphasis on government programs rather than stressing self-reliance as a means of improving one’s lot in life. His experience with Affirmative Action left him bristling over the fact that when he went in search of his first job, he found that his hard-won Yale Law degree was devalued in the marketplace by the assumption that black graduates had not been held to the same standards as other students. At the same time, his efforts to build a career, trying to balance the needs of his family against his determination to achieve a measure of job satisfaction should resonate with generations of young people, especially those who lacked a strong support system, who sought to make their way in the world.

In 1991, President George Bush nominated Thomas to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court. Among the qualities that supported his nomination was his hard won conservative philosophy that made him an attractive candidate for the Republicans. Unfortunately, it also made him a marked man for the democrats who quickly geared up to block his appointment. The chain of events is well documented, but it is important to recall that the charges brought by Anita Hill came by way of a supposedly confidential FBI investigation that was leaked to the press by committee staffers. In spite of the fact that the Judiciary Committee had already passed his nomination to the full senate, the hearings were re-opened to air Hill’s lurid uncorroborated charges in the public arena. And while, in the final analysis, it boiled down to his word against hers, Thomas brought a spotless record to the table while Hill’s employment record detracted from her credibility.

Fortunately, there were enough tough minded supporters who refused to let Clarence Thomas get Borked. But for a man who had struggled to live his life in a just manner, he realized that Hill’s charges would stick to him forever. Yes, he was eventually appointed to the Supreme Court, but he was left with a besmirched reputation that, in some quarters, will never be retored. In an attempt at blocking the appointment of a man who’s only sin was his conservative views, his detractors, left wing liberals all, stooped to the old segregationist trick of accusing a black man of sexual impropriety. It was more than ironic to watch members of this same group rush to defend Bill Clinton a few years later when was impeached for lying about using the Oval Office as a lair for sex with a subordinate.

On October 9th the Boston Globe ran an editorial by Derrick Z. Jackson’s that I thought at first was a review of My Grandfather’s Son. After reading the article, however,I realized that Jackson, in all likelihood, hadn’t bothered to read the book, which he neglected to name. He simply used snatches of the book to do a hatchet job on the Supreme Court Justice who, according to Jackson, should just forget about Hill’s charges since he had “won” in 1991. The Globe added editorial balance by running a cartoon next to the article depicting Thomas’ car spinning mud on Anita Hill posing as an innocent bystander. Nice Touch. If any of these journalistic wizards had bothered to read the book, they would have realized that the recalling of anecdotes of Hill’s employment were an effort at understanding why she made these charges which Thomas labels sees as totally false.

It is not hard to see how liberals can disagree with Clarence Thomas, but throwing fabricated dirt on his Supreme Court nomination is a far cry from a thoughtful debate on the issues. Don’t make the same mistake as the Globe staff. Read this book and you will come away with an appreciation of the ordeal that Clarence Thomas underwent and the inner steel that allowed him to survive it.

President's Veto Prevails

Thanks to the fortitude of those republicans, and two democrats, who refused to be strong-armed by the “For the Children” chorus, The U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday not to override President Bush’s veto of H.R. 3162 that would have expanded coverage of the Child Health Insurance Program which provides federal money to the states to fund health care coverage for children of low-income families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.

The plans for expansion would add approximately 3.8 million additional children to the program bringing the total to 10 million. The expansion would result primarily from raising the maximum allowable family income for recipients to four hundred percent of the poverty level, or $82,600 per year. Does this sound like low income?

The bill, which calls for an increase of $35 billion to bring projected costs to almost $60 billion over the next five years, has a number of other defects which its supporters gloss over. Moreover, this bill clearly goes way beyond the program’s original intent of helping low income children access health care and is clearly part of a pattern for expanding government control over health care.

It is important for all of us to realize that the health care issue will be a featured part of the current presidential campaign. It will be important for all to look beyond the rhetoric to the facts behind the proposals.

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Congratulations to Jim Ogonowski and the great effort he made in the special election for the Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District . Jim garnered forty five percent of the vote, placing second to winner, Nicki Tsongas who registered fifty one percent. These impressive results, running against a candidate with a highly recognizable name and in a heavily Democratic district shows the potential of getting out the message. Well done, Jim.

A Frank Libertarian?

According to Barney Frank (D-MA), if people enjoy an activity, there is no reason not to allow them to engage in it, as long as it causes no harm. Case-in-point: Casino gambling, which Frank supports for Massachusetts. If we follow this logic, couldn’t the same case be made for legalizing prostitution and other “victimless" crimes? The State of Nevada, where prostitution is quite legal, certainly thinks so. But I digress, as it’s not clear how gambling qualifies as an activity that causes no harm given the concerns about crime, addiction, traffic, and other social problems that come along with casino gambling. And in spite of the countless studies that have shown legalized gambling to be a nasty regressive tax on the poor. Frank argues that the government has no business telling people what to do with their money. Think about that statement coming from one of the bluest of the blue man group, known as the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation. But even if you accept that on face value, the state, by legalizing casino gambling is actively promoting a vice-riddled pass time within close proximity of its citizens. Think of the advertising currently done by the Mass. Lottery that clearly encourages people to participate. I can't wait to see the ads for the new casinos.

Frank thinks casino gambling would be a plus for Massachusetts as it would, he reasons, bring a supply of good jobs. In fact, he would like to see a casino located in the Fourth Congressional District, which he represents. And while he bristles at those that might look down there noses at casino-related work, it is important to question whether these are the types of jobs that our government should be promoting. Are these the types of jobs that involve the development of a skill base through education and experience that will help the worker thrive in an increasingly competitive work place? With few exceptions, casinos employ mostly unskilled workers in jobs with little advancement opportunity.

The Democrats, led by Governor Patrick, are proposing a watershed change to the cultural fabric of our state, rationalized by the endless quest for more tax revenue. What we need is careful and thoughtful analysis, not specious comments posing as leadership.

Eagle-Tribune endorses Ogonowski for Congress

In a refreshing contrast with the "progressive" blather emanating from Morrissey Boulevard, the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune has endorsed Jim Ogonowski for the congressional seat representing the Massachusetts Fifth District. Citing both his business and military experience, the paper goes on to draw the sharp contrast between Ogonowski and his major opponent, Democrat Nicki Tsongas, who’s primary body of experience stems from being the wife of the late Paul Tsongas.

Backed by the usual laundry list of Union backers, Tsongas is poised to chime right in with the fully Democratic Massachusetts Congressional delegation and its commitment to providing a governmental solution to every problem. Jim Ogonowski, by contrast,brings a thoughtful and creative approach to the issues of the day.

Read the endorsement and its incisive analysis of the clear choice facing Fifth District Voters. May clearer heads prevail.

http://www.eagletribune.com/puopinion/local_story_284115543

Globe Endorses Tsongas for Congress

The mighty Globe has examined the campaigns of Democrat Nicki Tsongas and Republican Jim Ogonowski and has concluded that Ms. Tsongas is the better candidate to build on the progressive leadership of former Congressman, Marty Meehan, whose resignation set the stage for next week’s special election in the Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District. If progressive means liberal, and I assure you that it does, The Globe is correct. Nicki Tsongas is definitely singing from the lefty hymn book.

Ms. Tsongas is four-square behind the push to over turn President Bush’s recent veto of the bill that would expand the State Children’s Health Insurance program. Jim Ogonowski is taking a more cautious approach as he is concerned about some of the provisions in the bill, such as the possibility that benefits might extend to the children of illegal aliens, or as the Globe calls them, undocumented immigrants. Not to worry says Nicki. Nor is she apparently concerned about the cost of this massive expansion of government health care. This giant step towards socialized medicine deserves a more thorough examination beyond the mantra, “it’s for the children.”

Tsongas is also said to have the most-clearly defined plan for reducing US involvement in Iraq. If the Fifth Congressional District ever decides to declare war on, say, Vermont, this brand of expertise should come in handy. In the meantime, she can join the congressional Greek chorus criticizing the President.

The Fifth is a blue district and perhaps any republican would face an uphill slog to election. At the same time, however, a serious discussion of the issue deserves more than an analysis of which candidate is more progressive.

A Literary Salon in Norwell

A new Norwell salon is creating quite a buzz on the South Shore and beyond. Developed and operated by our friend Kathleen Cosgrove, The Peacock Style & Color Lounge, located at 707 Main Street, not only provides cutting edge (pun intended) salon services, but also has a bit of a literary flair. How many salons do you know of that have a cast of characters? If you want to find out just how the adventures of Penelope Peahen, her sister Flo and Flo’s husband Ernest play out amid this state-of-the-art styling emporium, you’ll just have to pay them a visit.

We met Kathleen through our membership in the South Shore Writers Club where she balanced her writing interests with her career in the corporate arena. When she opened the Peacock, she achieved a long-held entrepreneurial goal. We are glad to see that she is not leaving her literary talents behind.

Take a look at the website, catch up on Penelope, then come on down and re-do your do.

http://www.peacockstyle.com/

A Voice of Reason

With the rush to establishing Massachusetts as a casino gambling Mecca, our own Vinny deMacedo has emerged as one of the few voices of restraint and reason. According to an article in the September 22nd issue of the Old Colony Memorial, State Representatives Vinnie de Macedo (R-Plymouth) and Tom Calter (D-Kingston) attended the monthly meeting of the Plymouth County Selectmen’s meeting on September 20th,to discuss the issue of allowing casino gambling in Massachusetts. DeMacedo made it clear that he is against the establishment of casinos anywhere in Massachusetts, and particularly in Plymouth County. Rep Calter indicated that he has not yet made up his mind on the issue. State Senate President Therese Murray, who was not present at the meeting, is known to be a supporter of casino gambling. Once again, Vinny de Macedo is demonstrating his clear thinking brand of leadership on an issue that could potentially change the culture of our home state for all time.

Politicians are quick to point to the “need” for additional tax revenue while paying lip service to providing relief for the tax payers. Allowing casinos seems like a painless way of bridging the gap as presumably only those citizens choosing to visit the casinos will be out of pocket. What is being ignored is the seepage of the casino culture into the surrounding communities. If anyone thinks that the casinos will be hermetically sealed cocoons of vice, they had better do some re-thinking.

On the Road, Once Again

A seven-day bus trip is about as hellish as it sounds, but as a way to see some spectacular natural sights, it was well worth it. Traveling through the Grand Canyon and several other national parks and monuments was an amazing experience, especially for those of us who have spent most of our lives on the east coast. The splendor of the vistas, created by nature, was awesome and outdone only by the massive scale. The Grand Canyon is over 275 miles long, which is about the distance from Boston to Syracuse, NY! So it is nearly impossible to see it all, perhaps in a lifetime. Moreover, a given vista changes with the time of day and the play of natural light, so that even a static view offers a changing scene.

Among the many contrasts was the difference between seeing the Grand Canyon exclusively from the rim (no mule rides down to the canyon floor for this cowboy) and the visiting Zion National Park in Utah where we actually stayed down on the canyon floor and were able to view the majestic rock formations from the ground up.

But when it comes to contrasts, nothing could match the wrenching change in traveling from the natural wonders of Zion to the man-made vulgarity of Las Vegas where we spent the last two days. The Tour Company maintained that it needed a terminal point that provided adequate air service to get everyone home. While this might make some logistic sense, it would have been fine with me if they had just dropped us at the Las Vegas airport. This, my first, trip to “Vegas” came at an interesting time in that our state governor has recently recommended the establishment of at least three casinos in Massachusetts as an easy way to generate an expected flood of new tax revenues and create new jobs. While, admittedly, Las Vegas takes the gambling-as-industry concept to absurd heights, a few days in Las Vegas makes one wonder if this the direction we should take. The View will have much more to say on this in future posts.

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Among the emails waiting for me on my return was a brief message from old friend, and Abington Minister, Stan Duncan, who I met through our membership in the South Shore Writers Club. Stan’s new book, If You Lived Here, You’d be Home by Now, is close to being released. You can get a preview peek at:

www.lulu.com/content/782924

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The trip, with a few exceptions, was exciting and inspiring, but as Dorothy would say, there's no place like home.