Notes From D.R. | Random Thoughts on the Passing Scene

The operators of the prominent Massachusetts-based conservative blog Hub Politics have drawn fire for alleging that Deval Patrick has cynically exploited his race in an attempt to win the 2006 Bay State gubernatorial election. While some have chosen to passionately attack this assertion, a far wiser strategy would be to analyze it.

Essentially, Hub Politics claims that the press and certain voters have rallied behind Patrick because he happens to be black. One part of this assertion is erroneous, but the other is not. Patrick has received a "free pass" from the press not because of his ethnicity, but because he reminds many reporters of the 2000 John McCain, "maverick" image and all. Anytime someone with a compelling life story and a forceful personality runs around claiming that they’ll change politics as usual, the press always falls for it. Even though many reporters hated Pat Buchanan’s politics, he was the darling of the press corps during his 1992 and 1996 Presidential runs. Some in the press were even fascinated by Steve Forbes’ 1996 bid for the Presidency because of the "maverick" factor.

The press loves to create political superstars: Gene McCarthy in the 1960s, Jesse
Jackson in the 1980s, Howard Dean in the 2000s. All you have to do is to bill yourself as a reformer and the press will swoon, no matter what color you are.

As for whether liberals are supporting Patrick for reasons of political correctness: there is no doubt that some progressives want to see Patrick become governor largely because they believe that if he wins, it will represent the "official" end to the racial tensions that tarnished the state during the 1970s busing crisis. Symbolism is of the utmost importance to some on the left, and a Patrick victory would be "proof" that ethnic tensions in Massachusetts have finally subsided.

Patrick is seen by some on the left as a true testament to American egalitarianism: figures such as Oprah Winfrey are viewed the same way. While certain progressives are skeptical of his ability to win, the Bay State left is happy that he has even made it this far, for his success up to this point is seen by the left as irrefutable evidence of progressive fairness and open-mindedness.

I object to almost everything Deval Patrick has to offer politically. I believe that if he is elected, he will not be kind as he rewinds the state back to the awful final years of Michael Dukakis. However, I don’t believe that he is in the position he is now owing entirely to political correctness. The PC mentality is a supporting player, but good old-fashioned slick marketing is in the main role.

UPDATE: More on the Healey-Patrick race. Plus, Hub Politics with a great follow-up post.