Surprising Survey From Crowd Of Governor Deval Patrick Rally by Joseph Gilbert

Surprising Survey From Crowd Of Governor Deval Patrick Rally
by: Joseph Gilbert

A very large and diverse crowd gathered at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston Saturday to hear Governor Deval Patrick and President Barak Obama speak. A sample of thirty of the attendees was asked a series of three questions:

1. Do you support Governor Deval Patrick and President Obama?

2. Why?

3. Can you point to any one way that your life has positively been affected by either Deval Patrick or President Obama as a result of any of their policies or actions during their time in office?

The questions were asked to a representative demographic cross-section of the diverse crowd including African-American men and women, white men and women and college students.

The answers for the first question were predictably and universally “yes”. The answers for the second question were surprising. Of all the people questioned, not one could say with any conviction why it was that they supported the governor or the president. The answers varied from “What do you mean, why?” to “I’m a life-long democrat”. Five of those questioned answered that the governor and president shared the same values. But, when asked what those values were, they were unable to articulate anything specific.

Two African-American women both wearing blue stickers that read “Deval Patrick Election Day Leader”, were asked why they supported the governor and president responded “They stand for everything I believe in”. “What is that, then?” After long seconds of silence as she pondered her answer, her friend blurted out “healthcare”.

At least that was in keeping with the Governor’s agenda items he articulated while addressing the crowd Saturday which included “affordable healthcare for all and a ‘just’ economy”. But, it wasn’t clear that his message was resonating with the voters. One man when questioned stated “they’re probably closer to my ideals [than the Republicans], but more Obama than Patrick. I don’t’ know much about Patrick’s policies.” This was after he stood in line for hours being whipped by a cold October wind with about no chance to getting inside the auditorium.

Another woman commented on Deval Patrick “you can’t judge if he’s done a good job or not. It takes time and a reasonable person would realize that it took ten years to pull out of our first depression. But, Massachusetts isn’t in trouble like the other states”.

The last question was “can you point to any one way that your life has positively been affected by either Deval Patrick or President Obama?” A college student from Cambridge stated “I think the Cory Reform was a great thing. It makes it easier for released prisoners to get housing and jobs”. “So, you’ve recently been released from prison?” the interviewer asked. “Well, no.” Only one person could point to a specific way that her life has been affected. She was laid off under Mitt Romney when he downsized state government but has since been re-hired by the state under Governor Patrick.

Either Barak Obama, Deval Patrick and the democrats are failing to communicate their message to the voters or their message has more to do with inspiring devotion and less to do with the issues.

Hundreds of prepared blue Deval Patrick campaign signs were strewn haphazardly along the curbs waiting for someone to carry them. As one supporter was standing with a Patrick sign, he lamented “I don’t want to carry this thing” and pitched it into the pile with the others.

About The Author

Joseph Gilbert was born and raised in a small town in Northern New York, along the Canadian border. He is a retired US Army Military Intelligence officer with tours in Germany and Korea and three combat tours in Iraq. Since retiring from the military, Joseph has started his own small business and has been active in local politics.

The author invites you to visit:
http://www.newenglandcollectors.com