Baker bristles at Romney comparisons

To wit: GOP gubernatorial candidate Charles D. Baker visibly grimaced and recoiled last week when Jaclyn Cashman of WWLP-TV in Springfield said during an on-air interview, “Some would say your career has mirrored Mitt Romney’s in some ways. Would you agree?’’

“Really?’’ Baker said, sounding surprised. “That’s interesting. No. I don’t think so. I mean, I’ve spent most of my life actually in the public and nonprofit sector . . . and I think in some ways, that’s important. I understand how Beacon Hill works. I understand how state government works. I’m not going to need to be educated on how to get stuff done on Beacon Hill, because I was there once.’’

Cashman asked Baker why he had bristled at the comparison. “I wish I could replay your response when I said that there were some similarities between yourself and Mitt Romney and a mirror in terms of your careers,’’ she told Baker. “Why the shock by that kind of question?’’

Baker said he just didn’t see that many similarities with Romney, a former venture capitalist.

“Mitt Romney’s a Republican; I’m a Republican,’’ Baker said. “We both worked in the private sector. But past that, he was involved a very different way in the private sector than I was, and I came into this with eight years of serious experience in state government . . . I just think in some respects my experience and his is pretty different.’’

Romney, of course, lost support in Massachusetts after he began hardening his positions to appeal to national conservative audiences during the 2008 presidential campaign. Baker, a socially liberal former top budget aide to governors William F. Weld and Paul Cellucci, more often points to those governors as inspirations. He did tell Cashman that he thought Romney was a better leader than Deval Patrick.

“Compared to the guy we have now, he was a very good governor,’’ Baker said. “He did a good job.’’ -- MICHAEL LEVENSON

The former governor is now on the road promoting his second book, “No Apology,’’ and he has a crossover marketing strategy to attract donations to his Free and Strong America Political Action Committee. For a limited time, donors of $50 or more will get the official No Apology 2010 Book Tour T-shirt.

It’s sort of like something you’d get at a U2 show: Spiffy logo, list of cities conquered, emblazoned with the words “Book Tour 2010.’’

“This much sought-after, limited-edition item is the same T- shirt worn by my staff and volunteers at our book events, and I’d be honored to have you wear it, too, as a key member of my team,’’ Romney wrote in an e-mail to supporters of his PAC, which helps elect conservatives.

As an added bonus, the first 100 people who contribute at least $100 were offered a T-shirt signed!

Meanwhile, look for Romney’s new tome to top The New York Times bestseller list this weekend. -- STEPHANIE EBBERT

Other shouts followed. Wenig barked: “If we wanted to hear from the City Council we would have gone to a City Council meeting.’’ Ross relented and stepped off the stage. The other half-dozen councilors sitting in the audience followed his lead and stayed mum.

The topic of closing libraries has elicited a lot of strong emotions, but Wenig’s outburst took it to another level. Two days later, the City Council took up the issue again at a budget hearing, but this time it was on their turf in City Hall.

Only a few people attended, but Wenig was there, sitting quietly in the front row. She did not shout or interrupt and waited patiently for her turn. She was the last member of the public to step to the microphone.

But when she finally did, Ross got up and left the council chamber. (Councilors often walk in and out during hearings, and Ross later said that he was late for a dentist appointment.)

“I’m sorry that my district councilor just left,’’ Wenig said. “I’m always happy to listen to the council in the proper forum, so I am happy to listen to you here.’’

But then it was Wenig who didn’t listen, talking well past her allotted time and raising her voice over the whacks of a gavel.

“I’m sorry,’’ she said. “This is really important.’’ -- ANDREW RYAN