Mass. governor candidate Kerry Healey "a cautionary tale"

[Zenlitened]

Eileen McNamara writes in today's Boston Globe about Kerry Healey's loss in the race for Massachusetts governor. There are a variety of reasons, of course, but I'm pleased McNamara mentions the resume issue.

Believe me, as one of those "militant feminists" you hear about (i.e., a woman with an opinion and a willingness to speak it! :) ) I would have loved to cast a ballot for Massachusetts' first elected woman governor. But Healey's resume was practically nonexistent compared to Patrick's. The fact that she was a cohort to the smilin' liar Mitt Romney was no help either, obviously.

Then you look at the women in the Democratic party: strong, accomplished, tested (whether in the private sector or the public) and it makes me proud to know our women are the future of American politics in so many ways.

I really hope we're approaching that long-sought "critical mass" now, where there are enough women leading the way that no one is a "novelty act" any more. Where their credentials and abilities begin to get more attention than the cut, color and make of the clothes they wear. We're not there yet, that's for sure. But it feels like a lot of progress was made on Nov. 7.

:patriot:

Here are a few paragraphs from McNamara's column in the Globe:

...Lieutenant Governor Kerry Healey is a cautionary tale for female political candidates in an otherwise historic election cycle for women. California Representative Nancy Pelosi is poised to become the first female speaker of the US House. Sixteen women will take seats in the US Senate in January. New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton won an overwhelming re election bid, setting the stage for a presidential run in 2008. And the pride of Prides Crossing is going home to her mansion in Beverly where more of her neighbors voted for Deval L. Patrick than for her.

The lesson? A fat wallet is no compensation for a thin résumé. Women, whether running for elective office or anchoring the evening news, still have to prove a level of competence that is taken for granted in a man. (See Katie Couric and "gravitas.") It is not fair, but it is an impossible task to accomplish without a credible track record.

Healey did not have one, and the Romney record she was saddled with was often at odds with her stated aspirations as a candidate. That was especially clear on Friday when, in a press conference decrying a manufactured budget crisis, Romney used his emergency authority to shore up political support among fiscal conservatives in Iowa and South Carolina. At least he came back to Boston this time to insult our intelligence.

Full article:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/articles/2006/11/12/women_be_warned/

[Lexingtonian]

1. I consider it progress that she was defeated

The essence of her political campaign argument was classist and racist, which far outweighed her merits (such as they were) on gender.

I don't recall her ever doing a thing to help the cause of women during the past four years. Other than herself, of course.

The woman in the Commonwealth who made the most progress for women during the past four years is Margaret Marshall, who did far more to finish off the reign of chauvinism than Kerry Healey ever will. As for who improved the Republican Party most during that span of time, I have to hand that Brian Lees (the state Senate minority leader).

[Ian David]

2. My recipie for a Healey success in 2006 would have been this:

She should have used The Big Dig Disaster to distance herself from Romney the same way many Republicans used Iraq against Bush.

In fact, she should have outright attacked Der Mittenfuhrer, promised special investigations, and painted him as Public Enemy Number One.

That would have been one hell of a ballsy move. It would have taken a major pair of ovaries.

Yes, it would have infuriated the Republickers, but there really aren't that many Repukes left in Massachusetts anyway.