LETTERS

Working for the citizens of Rhode Island

Posted 8/28/14

To the Editor:

Outraged by an Angel Taveras ad, I have a question to ask. And I’m asking because it’s important that we elect the best governor and it’s important that campaigns themselves …

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LETTERS

Working for the citizens of Rhode Island

Posted

To the Editor:

Outraged by an Angel Taveras ad, I have a question to ask. And I’m asking because it’s important that we elect the best governor and it’s important that campaigns themselves be intellectually honest. This registered independent voter will go into the Sept. 9 Democratic primary and vote for Gina Raimondo. Now, here’s my question: How panicked must Mayor Taveras be that he recently launched a TV spot that is a brutal frontal assault on Treasurer Raimondo as well as another salvo at Clay Pell? You don’t need polls to tell you. This commercial speaks volumes.

I have my own doubts about Pell’s lack of demonstrable experience. But it is the mayor’s attack on Raimondo, far uglier than anything previous, that compels me to speak up here.

The Raimondo campaign labels Taveras’ charges against her false and hypocritical, and those folks are far better equipped to make that case than I.

But I take particular exception to the commercial’s conclusion, “Raimondo works for Wall Street.” This is an inflammatory iteration of a constant Taveras whine. Myself, I thought Raimondo was working for the taxpayers of Rhode Island when she had the smarts, skills, and courage to orchestrate and put through the Democratic General Assembly an overhaul of the pension system in order to stabilize state finances, preserve social services, and afford long-term assurance that employees will actually have pensions.

I thought she was working for the citizens of Rhode Island when she cleared the backlog in the crime victims’ compensation fund.

I thought her efforts in private life to bolster the ability of Crossroads Rhode Island to shelter people who need it were a welcome step to address a problem that is a blight upon our society.

Was she working for Wall Street then?

M. Charles Bakst

Providence

M. Charles Bakst is a retired Providence Journal political columnist.

Comments

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  • JohnStark

    I am deeply disappointed in Raimondo's hard turn to the Left, but Taveras' accusation does little but placate the class-envy segment of RI's voters. You know, that very same segment that depends upon Wall Street's success for their pensions and 401(k)'s.

    Thursday, August 28, 2014 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    .

    Tuesday, February 24, 2015 Report this