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Dorie Clark
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September 6, 2002

Boston Herald Endorses Robert Reich as Democratic Nominee for Governor

State's Second-Largest Newspaper Joins 5 Other State Papers in Choosing Reich

CAMBRIDGE, MA -Building on the momentum gained from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Robert Reich's outstanding performance in last night's Boston Globe and TV consortium debate, the Boston Herald today endorsed Reich to be the Democratic nominee for Governor.

The Herald's endorsement comes amid a growing flood of endorsements from newspapers across the Commonwealth. In the last several days, Reich has also picked up endorsements from: the Brookline Tab, the Cambridge Chronicle, the Somerville News, the West Roxbury Transcript, and the Brandeis Justice.

In its endorsement editorial, the Brookline Tab wrote: "Reich has a proven track record of progressive politics and his vision for narrowing the economic equality gap is at once novel and possible ... With the State House at a virtual standstill because of the autocratic leadership of the house speaker, the people of Massachusetts need a leader who can direct it out of its current financial crisis. During his time at the White House, Reich fought Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay - and won. Certainly he can use those same political skills to lead a Legislature of Democrats."

Meanwhile, the Cambridge Chronicle opined: "If Reich follows through on his promises to weed out the patronage and sweetheart jobs, he will have made major steps toward solving some of the ills of his commonwealth. The money saved by eliminating such jobs could do wonders for state-funded programs slashed in this year's budget."

Full text of the Boston Herald editorial endorsement follows:

"Even in the rough-and-tumble world of Massachusetts politics - perhaps especially in the rough-and-tumble world of Massachusetts politics - sheer intellectual prowess, the ability to look at old problems with fresh eyes, is a gift beyond measure.

"Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich has that gift, and Massachusetts Democrats would be fortunate indeed to have him as their standard-bearer going into the November election. In fact, a November matchup between Reich and the uncontested Republican contender, Mitt Romney, would make this a world-class race for the Corner Office - and a race between two men who have made their mark somewhere other than Beacon Hill.

"And that's something that appears to be important to voters this year.

"To hear some Democratic candidates attempt to distance themselves rhetorically from their Beacon Hill roots is to watch an exercise in political gymnastics of gold medal caliber.

"Reich is the only Democrat untainted by the Beacon Hill mindset with its disdain for the concerns of ordinary middle-class taxpayers.

"For that reason, when Reich says, ``We can only do what we can afford to do,'' we are inclined to believe him. And he is well aware of the fact that those groups that scream the loudest are too often the ones that get the lion's share of scarce resources, leaving the poor and the powerless with less.

"Reich readily acknowledges that the state faces difficult fiscal days ahead, but insists that hard times can also provide an opportunity to manage better - to accomplish things such as doing away with those double-dipping sweetheart pensions for high-ranking state employees, merging road maintenance for the Massachusetts Turnpike and the state Highway Department and providing more home health care to keep the elderly in their homes and out of more costly nursing homes. "And, Reich notes: "I don't owe anybody anything. I'm running my own campaign on a shoestring. It's not as if I have promises I've made to anyone."

"That's what it means to be an outsider.

"We noted earlier this week Reich's opposition to the return of rent control ("It doesn't work, and it discourages new development,'' he says) and his proposals to change zoning laws to create more housing - above stores and in cluster-zoned areas, for instance. He also favors what he calls a "good neighbor bonus," extra state aid for communities that live up to their commitments to expand the stock of affordable housing.

"Reich's emphasis on the carrot of tax incentives for a variety of public goods (housing, job creation) is appealing.

"But above and beyond his policies, there is something rather appealing about his style. In the midst of a pending crisis over Medicaid prescription drug reimbursements, Reich simply took it upon himself to pick up the phone and jawbone with the heads of the state's three major drugstore chains over what rate they could live with. It was exactly what a savvy governor would do.

"Reich's judgment, his maturity, his fresh perspective are welcome on this year's political scene. The Herald is pleased to endorse his nomination for governor in the Democratic primary."