This was a governor who not only talked about, but represented, a meritocracy, not only talked about, but represented, the splendor of diversity - not merely the color of his skin, but the life experiences that shaped who he was and where he vowed to go.
And just five years into his tenure, what we have is nothing more and nothing less than the politics as usual that he so steadfastly decried. Credit where it’s due, he played the right role on ethics reform. He did the right thing on pension reform. He’s said most of the right things on probation reform.
But as questions of ethics touch his own administration recently, Patrick has coiled into a ball of sanctimony and denial. And the truth is, ethics issues in the form of Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray’s close relationship with ousted Chelsea Public Housing chief Michael McLaughlin aren’t just touching the administration, they’re giving it a Swedish massage.
For anyone in need of a reminder, McLaughlin made $360,000 to run a public housing agency in a tiny city. Worse, he didn’t report much of it to state officials. And after the Globe’s story of his pay, he grabbed another $200,000 for - wink-wink - unused sick and vacation time on his way out the door.
When McLaughlin wasn’t soaking taxpayers, he was helping to fill Murray’s campaign account with contributions from public housing workers and other assorted McLaughlin lackeys. Maybe this was the politics of hope that Patrick talked about - everyone hoping that they didn’t get caught.
Of course, a contribution to Murray was the same thing as a contribution to Patrick. They were running mates. Likewise, when Murray recommended McLaughlin’s son for a do-little job at the Registry of Motor Vehicles, he was acting on the administration’s behalf.
So when the Globe broke word McLaughlin and Murray spent half their days talking by cellphone to each other, did Patrick demand answers? Did he call Murray on the carpet?
