Democratic Leadership — Is your vision with the Republicans or Democrats?

Ordinary hard working Democrats are putting up a fight to support the Massachusetts Democratic candidate for Governor, Jay Gonzalez. We stand at intersections; make phone calls, and canvass door to door, putting in hours and hours of time to help elect Jay Gonzalez.

Governor Baker portrays himself as a “moderate”, it’s a big part of Baker’s campaign strategy.

And, recently media reports and Baker video ads have appeared featuring democratic mayors endorsing Governor Charlie Baker.

What a shame when Democratic leaders work against ordinary hard working Democrats; who are members of Democratic town committees, and the coordinated campaign. Party leadership cannot be promoting a strategy that runs counter to the efforts of ordinary Democrats in the field.

Two Calls To Action

If Republicans, specifically Governor Baker, are using the endorsements to help win the election. Then a critique of Democrats who endorse Governor Baker is not a personal attack, but rather two calls for action. One, a call to all Democrats to counter the Democratic opposition to our Democratic candidate. Two, a call to those Democrats who do endorse the Governor to relinquish their democratic leadership in the party.

In the 2018 gubernatorial debates the biggest argument against Baker; is that he doesn’t have the vision to make the investments in education and transportation the commonwealth needs. Yes, he might do a reasonable job on some parts of government to manage things okay, but that’s not enough!

We as ordinary Democrats know that the reason we need to support Democratic candidates, is to give ordinary Americans the opportunities they need on education, transportation, jobs and more, not just a few.

Conservative Democrats & The Platform

A raise in taxes is required to achieve the Massachusetts Democratic platform. Conservative Democrats who endorse Governor Baker share his vision that the future of the Commonwealth means not growing revenue.  Democrats who support the Republican platform should really rethink their position in the party. If you cannot support the Massachusetts Democratic Party’s vision for the future please be honest and say so, don’t pretend to be a Democrat in name but follow the spirit of the Republican Party and Charlie Baker.

There are 47 mayors in Massachusetts. 22 Massachusetts mayors; including 10 Democrats, 7 independents and 5 Republicans have endorsed Baker’s re-election campaign.  There are more Democratic mayors supporting Baker than Republican mayors. This is a lot of Democratic mayors, but I’m not naming names because I want to focus on the issue rather than the personalities. I want to make the point to hard working democrats that the Democratic leader you just defended and supported isn’t supporting the Democratic vision for the Commonwealth.

If you endorse a Republican who doesn’t believe in investing in the future of the Commonwealth you are giving many ordinary Democrats cause to rethink their support of the party. You go against the wishes of the majority of the ordinary democratic voters to have an investment in the future of the Commonwealth.

An endorsement of Baker is a sign of support for no growth, and a lack of support for the Democratic platform. It may not seem as if there’s a direct line between endorsing Governor Baker and the election of President Trump.  There is. Democratic leaders who don’t vigorously defend the Democratic platform, cause confusion and a decline in support for the Democratic Party. If you are against the actions and policies of Republicans like President Trump. The way to stand up is a strong show of support for the Democratic Party Platform to grow our Commonwealth with revenue not populism.

We should expect our local Democratic leaders to support our Democratic candidates publicly. If our leaders are not able to lend their support. Okay, vote privately, never help republican candidates like Governor Baker in the media and in campaign ads. Democratic leaders need to take a stand with the Democratic Party Platform. If not, we as hard working Democrats in the Jay Gonzalez campaign should expect those Democrats who publicly help Governor Charlie Baker, to be honest with themselves, and the party, and step down from their leadership positions in the party.

The 15% Rule – Democratic Conventions

Known as the 15% rule. There’s a requirement in the Massachusetts Democratic Party that candidates for state wide office receive fifteen percent of the State party delegate vote at the State Convention to appear on the ballot for office.

Folks disagree with the rule, proclaiming the rule should be changed.

Dan Cohen on “15% rule promotes insiders, has to go: Mass. voters prefer CEOs, outsiders.”

Jerfold Duquette on “Party Matters Matter.

And in the article “Time to kill 15% Rule before it kills the Dem Party.” Continue reading “The 15% Rule – Democratic Conventions”