Much ado about drapes
QUESTION: When Drew Gilpin Faust moves into Elmwood, the historic, three-story home of Harvard presidents, will anyone howl if she replaces the drapes?
Why then has there been such a hullabaloo over Deval Patrick's redecoration of his office in another late 18th - century architectural treasure -- the Massachusetts State House?
Some of the answers are obvious: Harvard is private; the government of Massachusetts is public. Harvard has an endowment of $30 billion plus; Patrick is looking at a budget deficit next year of $1.3 billion.
Still, each governor should be entitled to dignified surroundings that reflect his personal tastes. The criticisms this past week of Patrick as a big spender on personal luxuries have ballooned beyond all rationality, drowning out coverage of other state issues. He deserves a better break.
Patrick could have given himself a better break, however, if he had thought more carefully about some of the expenditures, and if he had responded quicker and more effectively to the brewing storm.
Use of a state helicopter, for official business, should be perfectly acceptable for a governor who wants to appear all over the state and not be stuck in the capital. But the argument for a $1,166-per-month Cadillac over a Ford Crown Victoria costing just over half as much is hard to fathom. Similarly, it is perfectly understandable that staffers in the governor's office would help his wife with correspondence, scheduling, and other official obligations, but there is no need to establish a full-time chief of staff for the role.
Patrick's acknowledgement on Wednesday that "we screwed up" was appealing, as was his decision to pay some redecorating and auto costs. But he continued, chiding the media for being distracted. "I think it's very important to me," he said, "that you in the media help me get the message out about what it is we are concentrating on." This reflects a faulty view of the role. It is the press's job to report developments, including significant policy initiatives, whether from the governor or elsewhere. It is not the press's job to "help" any official.
Patrick will be fortunate if he does not suffer serious erosion in support from the vast grass-roots following that he built so effectively in his campaign. He has been openly nurturing this political army in part so that it can back him in key legislative battles later on. But it is clear from letters and e-mails that some recent supporters have quickly become disaffected.
Although tardy, Patrick has taken steps in the last 48 hours to stanch the bleeding the most effective way possible: by changing the subject. By asking for federal help for the state fishing industry, by pushing new local aid initiatives, and by concentrating on next week's budget submission, he is offering more substantive stories.
