Reilly: "Introducing the Next Lt Governor of Massachusetts"

[paineinthearse]

Rather presumptuous if you ask me.

by email



Dear Friend,

On Sunday afternoon, I had the opportunity to go to Dorchester to visit with a friend, a dynamic young leader and the next Lieutenant Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Marie St. Fleur.

Marie and I come from different places, but our journeys have been very similar. Marie immigrated to this country from Haiti with her parents when she was seven years old. My parents left Ireland in search of a better life and settled in Springfield.

Both of us share the same values. Both of were fortunate to have families and communities that wouldn't let us fall behind. And both of us have devoted our lives to serving others, giving voice to those who have had no voice, and fighting for ordinary people and their families.

I asked Marie to join me in helping change Massachusetts and move this state forward as the Lieutenant Governor on my ticket.

I have known Marie for more than 15 years. She started her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex when I was First Assistant District Attorney. She was an Assistant Attorney General under Scott Harshbarger, managing her own division. And she has been an effective representative for her constituents as a member of the legislature. At every stop, she has stayed true to her roots and used the opportunities she has been given to give voice to people who have been forgotten by our current leadership.

She is passionate. She is energetic. She will fight for what she believes in. And she is driven to help improve the quality of life of the people of this state.

Believe me, there is no better person than Marie St. Fleur to help me get Massachusetts moving and to give ordinary people a voice in government again. And she is going to make a terrific Lieutenant Governor.

Marie and I will make a great team. Together, we have the vision, passion and commitment to change Massachusetts for the better; to build a better future for our children and grandchildren; and to grow our economy and create jobs.

We will offer more than grand visions with no substance or no follow-through. We are both ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work on behalf of the people of Massachusetts, finding real solutions to the problems facing our state, our communities and our people.

Marie and I understand the lives of ordinary people, because those are the lives each of us has led. As a ticket, we offer a unique opportunity to speak to the issues that are facing families every day in every region and corner of this state.

I am so pleased that Marie agreed to join with me. She will be a true partner in this campaign and I would be honored to serve alongside her as we change Massachusetts and make this state great again. Please join me in welcoming Marie to our campaign and keep watching for updates on how we're going to make history and win in November.

Your friend,



Tom

[TaleWgnDg]

1. I vividly recall Marie St. Fleur's impassioned speech from the floor

.
I vividly recall Marie St. Fleur's impassioned speech from the floor of the 2005 Massachusetts Constitutional Convention. She began by saying that she was an immigrant from Haiti, a devote Roman Catholic. But that she was going to vote to keep same-sex marriage legal in Massachusetts. Not only for her own constituents but for the entire Commonwealth, Marie St. Fleur stated: "This (same-sex marriage) is about civil rights. This is about democracy. This is about history." All eyes were riveted to the podium as St. Fleur spoke positively about same-sex marriage. St. Fleur did not want to amend our state constitution. She didn't want to put words of discrimination against gays in our state constitution.


State Representative Marie St. Fleur
mass.gov/legis/member/mps1.htm

I, for one (and there are many many people who), believe that St. Fleur has an excellent public service record and who also believe that she will make an excellent Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.

Walsh, St. Fleur back gay marriage

Boston Globe, Michael Paulson, Feb 11, 2005

Two Catholic state lawmakers, Representative Marie P. St. Fleur and Senator Marian Walsh, said yesterday their religious faith had inspired them to support same-sex marriage, despite pronouncements from Pope John Paul II and Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley declaring that such marriages are incompatible with Catholic teachings.

Speaking as they were honored for courage by the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, the two Boston Democrats reflected publicly on the tension provoked by their decisions to support same-sex marriage during a heated vote in the Legislature last year. St. Fleur said she faced "a lot of anger" in her parish, and that some people placed "nasty" telephone calls to her home. Walsh talked about her difficult campaign for reelection in a socially conservative, heavily Catholic district.

"There were people whom I have known since I walked into that parish at 7 years of age, who could not understand how at this age I was moving away from all that I was born and raised ," St. Fleur said. "But I came to understand that I was not moving away, but was in fact affirming all that I had learned in all those CCD classes, and that it is one thing to read it in the Bible, one thing to go through the sacraments, but it is another thing to stand up and really support and demonstrate that the Bible too is a living word, just as the Constitution."

(bold-faced type and headline type added by TaleWgnDg)
. . . more at . . . http://www.mglpc.org/story.php?id=282
(Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Politicial Caucus, quoting the Boston Globe, February 11, 2005,
as last visited Wednesday, February 1, 2006)
.

.

[TaleWgnDg]

2. Well. Here's an unfortunate twist . . .

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Boston Globe reports that St. Fleur has had a long history of financial difficulties.

1.) student loan difficulties from law school
2.) a prior foreclosure of a home in Mattapan
3.) real estate tax difficulty w/ her present home
4.) income tax difficulty
5.) and there's some unsubstantiated talk about a lien not on file at the Registry of Dds.

. . . more at . . . http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/01/31/st_fleur_delinquent_on_taxes_loans/?p1=MEWell_Pos4

Waiting for more on this before coming to any conclusions . . . however, my first thoughts are that this "financial difficulty" isn't unusual coming from a working class environment then on to public service employment, meaning that the income wouldn't improve much one to the other.

However, that being said, it's difficult at best to accept such happenings from someone seeking the state's 2nd highest public service slot. At worst it could jeopardize her reputation, overall; and Reilly's bid to seek the corner office on Beacon Hill.

Awaiting more . . .
.

[pilgrimm]

3. Fake it till you make it ,I guess

[merbex]

4. This whole stunt reminds me of B*'s behavior following the 2000

election

The outcome still in doubt and suddenly B*'s supporters start calling him the President-elect as if the matter is settled

Reilly says Rep St Fleur will be my Lt Gov and that's it???

So she doesn't have to get the same support as the others,work for the nod as they have?

Stupid, ARROGANT move by Reilly

[MADem]

5. Well, he has every right to hitch his wagon to hers, and vice versa

...and the voters have every right to make their call with that info front and center in mind. There's no rule against it. He's angling for an early advantage with minority voters, clearly.

Remember how Jane Swift got the unceremonious boot from her party in favor of Skeletor the Ken Doll? Get lost, toots, and don't let the door hitcha...

If this doesn't play, it will be a similar event. Either lifted up on high, or down in flames!