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May 14, 2010
More from the Gang of Possible Governors
Ed Fitzpatrick's column from last Sunday, about the gubernatorial candidates' appearance before the left-wing audience of the Women's Fund of Rhode Island and the Poverty Institute, was excellent. Two points thereon, first having to do with a question of abortion purity:
But Lynch also leveled veiled criticism at Caprio's voting record on abortion-related legislation, saying he "unequivocally" supports abortion rights and urging the audience "to evaluate people's records" because "State House folks try to chip away at that basic right."Later, when I asked what Lynch was referring to, his campaign manager noted that in 2001 the Senate voted 28 to 14 for the Women's Right to Know Act, which The Providence Journal described as "requiring that women who are seeking abortions must wait 24 hours and receive information ranging from health risks to the doctor’s identity." Caprio, then a senator, voted for the bill, the Senate Journal shows.
So "unequivocal support" cannot allow for a one-day wait to have the procedure? Must one advocate for drive-through baby killing?
On the opposite end of the ledger, John Robitaille fares much better, in Fitzpatrick's telling, than in that of the news department:
Robitaille, who was Governor Carcieri's senior adviser for communications, articulated a conservative philosophy without seeming like a skunk at a liberal lawn party. He noted he was a Republican. "But I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth," he said, explaining he was born in a Central Falls tenement.Robitaille noted Tuesday was Rhode Island Independence Day and said, "Wouldn't it be awesome if we could be here tonight to celebrate true independence for Rhode Island's families, Rhode Island's kids and single moms, to know that we had beaten the war on poverty?” But, he said, "We've lost that war" and "Government has failed us." He said high taxes are driving people out of the state.
The poor will be always with us. The best we can do is to open up paths for advancement and stop sweetening the air in the pit.
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>The best we can do is to open up paths for advancement and stop sweetening the air in the pit.
I've know a lot of Catholics who actually do just more than just those two...AND consider it the bedrock of their existence and religion.
And what, pray tell, do you mean by sweetening the air in the pit? Does that mean you advocate making life harder for those who already have it the hardest?
As to your "Baby Killers" and such phrases, that is another sign of someone who has either no compassion or no real religion. I notice you don't jump up and down about all the tens of thousands of nice young men and women that your conservative heros sent to war and died...or are horribly mutilated.
You don't complain much about the tens of thousands of innocent civilians your wars of aggression are killing - including plenty of babies, pregnant women, other children, etc.
If you want to ramble about the legal reproductive choice that the opposite sex has in this and most civilized countries, why not just say that and leave it there? Taking on the rhetoric of the "hating right" will probably not win you many fans.
Posted by: Stuart at May 14, 2010 5:25 PMMeanwhile, Governor Arnold has just proposed the radical reduction of welfare spending as the means to close California's yawning budget deficit.
Score another win for the public sector unions as the end game heats up.
Posted by: John at May 15, 2010 9:10 AM"Meanwhile, Governor Arnold has just proposed the radical reduction of welfare spending as the means to close California's yawning budget deficit.
Score another win for the public sector unions as the end game heats up."
The further public sector unions can distance themselves from welfare spending the better off they will be.
Posted by: michael at May 15, 2010 11:22 AMI have to give Robitaille a lot of credit. He went in there knowing he was facing an unfriendly crowd and he stuck to his conservative principles. I have a lot of respect for that.
Posted by: Brian at May 15, 2010 5:39 PMAnd let's not forget, 3 of the 6 candidates are "silver spoons". Caprio has to brag about "meeting with 600 business owners" (a number that grows every time he makes a speech). But Robitaile spent 23 years RUNNING a successful small business!! Sorry, Frankie...you gotta go.
I think Robitaille showed a lot of courage and resilience to not only attend the women's forum but to also really stick to his conservative beliefs, despite the hostile crowd. He is not one of those wishy-washy politicians, he's actually CONSISTENT! Robitaille possesses all of the traits we need in a governor, he is a fighter and will not back down. His appearance at the women's forum certainly demonstrates those qualities. He's got my vote!
Posted by: Jen at May 15, 2010 11:23 PMI think Robitaille showed a lot of courage and resilience to not only attend the women's forum but to also really stick to his conservative beliefs, despite the hostile crowd. He is not one of those wishy-washy politicians, he's actually CONSISTENT! Robitaille possesses all of the traits we need in a governor, he is a fighter and will not back down. His appearance at the women's forum certainly demonstrates those qualities. He's got my vote!
Posted by: Jen at May 15, 2010 11:23 PMJohn
You certainly have the right to use only part of your name as a commentor as do I but do you think that any serious political office seeker should hide behind an alias?
Posted by: Phil at May 16, 2010 7:12 AM