Christmas week 2013 has been a bad week for the Republican
Party in Massachusetts. Not for conservatives, mind you, but the Republican
Party, and only if one understands the
organization as best represented by “Mistah” Gabriel Gomez (per Ed Markey of
Maryland/Malden/Medford) and two time (or two-timing?) Gubernatorial candidate
Charlie “Half-Baked” Baker.
Party in Massachusetts. Not for conservatives, mind you, but the Republican
Party, and only if one understands the
organization as best represented by “Mistah” Gabriel Gomez (per Ed Markey of
Maryland/Malden/Medford) and two time (or two-timing?) Gubernatorial candidate
Charlie “Half-Baked” Baker.
The party may not be dead, but certain elements are like an
aggressive autoimmune disease attacking the very body politic of the conservative
movement in the Bay State, with the latest dust-up revolving on the word “Klan”
to describe two outspoken leaders of Red Mass Group.
aggressive autoimmune disease attacking the very body politic of the conservative
movement in the Bay State, with the latest dust-up revolving on the word “Klan”
to describe two outspoken leaders of Red Mass Group.
Of course, the aggressive auto-immune dysfunction has some
not-so-latent origins.
not-so-latent origins.
First, a socially liberal Republican (Richard Tisei, people)
loses by one point in MA-6 in 2012 to a Democratic incumbent seared with
corruption allegations. Then John Kerry resigns his senate seat to become the
Secretary of State, with rumblings of a 2016 Presidential bid thumping slightly
in the background (think zebras, not horses, people!) Behold, another US Senate
seat opens up. 2012 US Senate incumbent and losing runner-up Scott Brown says
“No!” to a third run for Washington, then he says “No!” to a bid for the Corner
Office on Beacon Hill; then he says "Good-bye" to his Wrentham home
and moves down (that's right, New Englanders, down!) to New Hampshire.
loses by one point in MA-6 in 2012 to a Democratic incumbent seared with
corruption allegations. Then John Kerry resigns his senate seat to become the
Secretary of State, with rumblings of a 2016 Presidential bid thumping slightly
in the background (think zebras, not horses, people!) Behold, another US Senate
seat opens up. 2012 US Senate incumbent and losing runner-up Scott Brown says
“No!” to a third run for Washington, then he says “No!” to a bid for the Corner
Office on Beacon Hill; then he says "Good-bye" to his Wrentham home
and moves down (that's right, New Englanders, down!) to New Hampshire.
But I am getting ahead of myself.
The metastasizing issue today is the disaster of Gabriel
Gomez. One of three candidates who threw his hat (or beret, or whatever) into
the ring for the special election US Senate race earlier this year, he had
first pandered to "Mister Governor" Deval Patrick for the interim
senate seat appointment. He supported Obama in 2008, and even showered him a
little campaign cash, so Patrick should have supported Gomez’ desire to get
away from the hoi polloi and hob-knob with the hoity-toity of the Beltway. Wow!
Can anyone spell "Opportunism"? Perhaps the growing number of
students in failing Massachusetts schools cannot, but a picture perfect
presentation in the dictionary would have smiling and serene Gabriel Gomez,
crew cut and all.
Gomez. One of three candidates who threw his hat (or beret, or whatever) into
the ring for the special election US Senate race earlier this year, he had
first pandered to "Mister Governor" Deval Patrick for the interim
senate seat appointment. He supported Obama in 2008, and even showered him a
little campaign cash, so Patrick should have supported Gomez’ desire to get
away from the hoi polloi and hob-knob with the hoity-toity of the Beltway. Wow!
Can anyone spell "Opportunism"? Perhaps the growing number of
students in failing Massachusetts schools cannot, but a picture perfect
presentation in the dictionary would have smiling and serene Gabriel Gomez,
crew cut and all.
Cut to the US Senate special election. The purple, wounded
waffling of the “Republican” was too much for a strong conservative to ignore
during the primary. Gomez was indeed “Obama’s Republican”. What’s the point of
stumping for a GOP whose heart thumps for the other team, and their standard-bearer?
Still, the Navy SEAL turned financier won the GOP primary. Does someone, anyone
believe that Dems worked behind the scenes to vault the photogenic Gomez into
the limelight? Let’s at least consider, if not embrace the idea. . .
waffling of the “Republican” was too much for a strong conservative to ignore
during the primary. Gomez was indeed “Obama’s Republican”. What’s the point of
stumping for a GOP whose heart thumps for the other team, and their standard-bearer?
Still, the Navy SEAL turned financier won the GOP primary. Does someone, anyone
believe that Dems worked behind the scenes to vault the photogenic Gomez into
the limelight? Let’s at least consider, if not embrace the idea. . .
Yes, Gomez paid more in taxes than Markey. He has a wife and
kids, and he was for all intents and purposes an outsider. He’s also Hispanic (from
my backyard, Los Angeles!) with a rags-to-riches story for the masses. But a
great history means nothing without integrity for the present and trust for the
future.
kids, and he was for all intents and purposes an outsider. He’s also Hispanic (from
my backyard, Los Angeles!) with a rags-to-riches story for the masses. But a
great history means nothing without integrity for the present and trust for the
future.
Gomez was a no-go on those last two accounts.
Following his loss, Gomez submitted an editorial to the
Boston Globe, changing his stance on the assault weapons ban. He was against
it, and now he is for it (channeling his inner John Kerry, apparently). Oh my
goodness. Can anyone with any sense of self-respect stand by such political grand-standing?
Gomez had a change of heart because the people of Massachusetts were right and
he was wrong? His wife softened up her former Navy SEAL husband, and made him
see the wrong thinking of his view. Right! And Markey still holds the mortgage
on a mansion in Malden.
Boston Globe, changing his stance on the assault weapons ban. He was against
it, and now he is for it (channeling his inner John Kerry, apparently). Oh my
goodness. Can anyone with any sense of self-respect stand by such political grand-standing?
Gomez had a change of heart because the people of Massachusetts were right and
he was wrong? His wife softened up her former Navy SEAL husband, and made him
see the wrong thinking of his view. Right! And Markey still holds the mortgage
on a mansion in Malden.
That’s not leadership, Mr. Gomez. That’s just sad. And this
guy was the face of the GOP for three months this past year? Stage four metastasizing
cancer has hit the Republican brand, and now must be removed.
guy was the face of the GOP for three months this past year? Stage four metastasizing
cancer has hit the Republican brand, and now must be removed.
Now to the “Klan” controversy.
Commenting on Facebook, Gomez attacked two leaders of Red
Mass Group with the following invidious invective:
Mass Group with the following invidious invective:
“[T]he level of ignorance and intolerance exhibited by them
and their small ‘Klan’ are an embarrassment to our civil society. Merry
Christmas.” (Source: http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/12/23/former-gop-senate-candidate-gabriel-gomez-throwns-klan-label-activists/OGLRWk8iezBxHOaDISdwhO/story.html#sthash.GNeEjfb6.dpuf
and their small ‘Klan’ are an embarrassment to our civil society. Merry
Christmas.” (Source: http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/12/23/former-gop-senate-candidate-gabriel-gomez-throwns-klan-label-activists/OGLRWk8iezBxHOaDISdwhO/story.html#sthash.GNeEjfb6.dpuf
Are you kidding me? How low can one go? Gomez has made quite
a mess of things now. Gomez has gone Koo-Koo for kicking his party down. By the
way, there is nothing civilized about playing the race card when a dedicated
community, online or otherwise, makes the case that the Republican Party should
stand for more than playing nice and blending nicely with the Democratic
hegemony on Beacon Hill.
a mess of things now. Gomez has gone Koo-Koo for kicking his party down. By the
way, there is nothing civilized about playing the race card when a dedicated
community, online or otherwise, makes the case that the Republican Party should
stand for more than playing nice and blending nicely with the Democratic
hegemony on Beacon Hill.
Since Gomez is Obama’s Republican, one would think that he
had advanced beyond such divisive, insidious rhetoric. The current Presidency
ushered in the tide-raising, oceanic post-racial society. Then again, Red Mass
Group should appreciate that Gomez’ gainsaying was not nearly as offensive as
Florida Democrat Alan Grayson’s outrageously offensive treatment of the Tea
Party, complete with burning cross for “T” and Klansmen in the background.
had advanced beyond such divisive, insidious rhetoric. The current Presidency
ushered in the tide-raising, oceanic post-racial society. Then again, Red Mass
Group should appreciate that Gomez’ gainsaying was not nearly as offensive as
Florida Democrat Alan Grayson’s outrageously offensive treatment of the Tea
Party, complete with burning cross for “T” and Klansmen in the background.
Or is it? Frankly, who can tell, since Gomez stood by the
kooky comment on Boston Public radio, then apologized, kind-of.
kooky comment on Boston Public radio, then apologized, kind-of.
For the Massachusetts GOP, it’s time to cut the crap, and cut
Gomez out for good!
Gomez out for good!