GOP Mud-Slinging in Massachusetts May Alienate Women Voters

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It's clear that those who still support Perry have not read through the court documents, have not read Perry's contradictory statements which he continues to make to this very day.

Whether you like it or not, Perry has a twenty year history of not telling the truth and what I find shocking is that women, with children, have not taken the time to investigate Perry, but rather listen to his well crafted sound bites on talk radio. He's been 'caught' in lies so many times, its plain embarrassing.

I guess we see only what we want to see and I do understand that supporters just don't want to believe that their man is not who he says he is because it calls into question their very own judgment.

Joan of MA 10:11AM October 23, 2010

Lauren, clearly you no nothing about Bill Keating's background. In the State House, he actually cut taxes- estate taxes and sales taxes on services. Trotting out the same old tired lines doesn't work anymore. So get the "not credible" stamp out on your post.

If you think that Jeff Perry cares about anything other then himself, you've misjudged his career. If you think someone could lie and cover up two sexual assaults will look out for people, you are sadly mistaken. As I mentioned, Bill Keating has actually passed tax cuts. Jeff Perry has had a legislative career of all talk, no action. So what you have is a dishonest person with no accomplishments.

I'm perfectly happy to watch the Tea Party take the GOP down further.

Steve L of MA 9:49AM October 23, 2010

R.L.Schaefer is dead wrong - this isn't just the victim's statement - it was the conclusion of the state police investigion AND the court of law that found not just the cop but also the town police department and town to be guilty. Perry was named in the suit. And the victim won the suit. OK?

Jennifer of MA is living in a fantasy world. There has been no distortion - if anything the story is much worse for Perry than it is being reported in the media. Look up the facts of the case in Cape Cod and Boston newspapers and TV media. Then read this for all the gory details: http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2010/05/14/sergeant-jeffrey-davis-perry-wareham-p-d?blog=214

All Keating has done is tell the truth about the seedy crime that Perry participated in - but Perry, whose every other statement is a lie, pretends the truth about his seedy behavior is somehow mud-slinging. Apparently Jennifer thinks that not only should the victim be victimized (again), but one of the villains should be applauded (again). Nice going Jennifer - do you have a daughter? I do, and I wouldn't let that scum-bag pervert Perry within ten miles of mine.

Jeff of MA 5:31PM October 22, 2010

Perry lets a young girl be victimized while Bill Keating has a long track record of advocating for women's issues:

Passed "Close the Wage Gap" legislation for women in the construction trades.

Helped small businesses gain access to capital.

Cut taxes for low-income families with children.

Created centers for victims of domestic violence.

Developed programs for preventing bullying in schools.

Voted to make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation in the 1980s.

And Bill is pro-choice.

Pro-life women will clearly vote for Perry (we've all seen his Pro-Life mailers - he is firmly in this camp and farther right of Scott Brown), but if you are looking at what the candidates have done to help women in the past, your choice between candidates should be clear. Vote for Bill Keating.

I note that the commenter above makes a good point, we also have a female candidate in the race, Maryanne Lewis. So women do have more choices than Perry and even Keating. I hope they will exercise their right to choose the candidate they believe will best represent them.

krisd of MA 5:20PM October 22, 2010

There are two kinds of business. My own business and none of my business. Both of these candidates personal business is there own. I am voting for a conservative and not a extreme liberal carpetbagger Democrat. When Keating resorts to character assassination, its in an effort to create a delusion and fear from the real issues voters want to hear. Keating is for bigger govt, more regulations and higher taxes. We the taxpayers, should vote wisely. These politicians work for us. They seem to forget that.

so if you want higher taxes, bigger govt, more regulations, then vote for keating. If you want a conservative who will look out for the taxpayer, then vote for Jeff Perry.

Your vote, your choice, your voice!

Lauren of MA 5:16PM October 22, 2010

until you believe it; seems to be the overall Republican strategy these days. Ever adept at it, the heavy influence of the Palinista Teabaggers, who seem to exist largely in their own world, lashing out at intellect at anyone who dares question their fantasy, Rep's now seem unable to do anything else. Keating's website makes it is very clear where he stands on the issues http://billkeating.org/issues#link_targets1.

Of course, I probably shouldn't even bother responding to anyone who states: "Jeff Perry has run a positive campaign focused on the issues and his experience as a legislator..." But then, I guess I have a little Cervantes/Quixote in my soul! Sorry, that would be a "tilting at windmills" reference; forgive my "elitist," literary reference. Next time I'll try and find a suitable quotation from Daisy Duke.

Hayes of NY 5:13PM October 22, 2010

"GOP Mudslinging?" Who wrote this headline? The only mud being slung in this race is by Bill Keating, who has yet to run a single positive advertisement explaining either his position on the issues or his qualifications for the position. His entire campaign is based around a 20-year-old incident that has been distorted beyond belief.

This column betrays the liberal bias of the mainstream media. Bill Keating has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on sleazy and distorted TV/radio ads, mailings and phone calls all focused on one incident that happened 20 years ago in which another cop (not Perry) put his hand down a girl's pants.

Yet Ms. Milligan writes: "The National Republican Congressional Committee, however, was far more aggressive, resurrecting an old story about how Keating, as a district attorney, plea-bargained with accused rapists, resulting in reduced sentences. Plea-bargaining is a common practice among prosecutors, and is meant to secure a conviction."

"Resurrecting an old story?" Are you kidding? That study was done in 2005, Ms. Milligan. How can you possibly with with a straight face sanction Keating's building his entire campaign around one, 20-year-old incident involving SOME OTHER COP, yet criticize the NRCC for pointing to a five-year-old study documenting dozens of cases where District Attorney Keating let rapists off with a slap on the wrist, while next door in Plymouth County rapists were sentenced to hard time? Something tells me it's the same way you justified supporting Ted Kennedy all those years, despite the fact he actually killed a girl.

Here is a link to an interview with Jeff Perry in which he clearly addresses this incident:

http://www.95wxtk.com/pages/4118857.php

It brings out several facts that Keating's attacks -- and this posting -- conveniently leave out. Like the fact that another officer was present that evening who also apparently didn't see this incident. And the fact that the girl in question waited a year before ever reporting it.

Jeff Perry has run a positive campaign focused on the issues and his experience as a legislator. Bill Keating apparently HAS no issues or experience of his own on which to run.

Jennifer of MA 4:00PM October 22, 2010

On the surface it sounds damning. However, as I have mentioned numerous times on this site, I was a professional investigator for many years and make the observation that Lisa Allen's statement is an assumption - not an accusation, and has little weight standing alone.

I would presume that her statement has remained unchanged over the years and that it was dully investigated by departmental personnel at the time of the incident. To assume that the original investigation was a cover-up or conspiracy, without any corroborating facts or testimony is misguided and unfair to all parties involved.

R.L. Schaefer of CA 3:22PM October 22, 2010

Susan,

I think you're blog is dead on, but you've neglected to include one important fact. Women in the MA 10th District have a qualified independent FEMALE running for the seat, and she's starting to move up in the polls.

Maryanne Lewis is a four term state representative, was the first woman in Massachusetts history to hold a leadership position during her first term in office and served under US Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill. She has both private and public sector experience, is politically positioned with the majority of the district and received the first press endorsement of the election (today with the Barnstable Patriot).

Maryanne Lewis is becoming a factor in this race. With both Jeff Perry and Bill Keating proving to be seriously flawed candidates, hopefully now the Boston media and national media will start to pay attention.

Melissa of MA 3:02PM October 22, 2010

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Susan Milligan

Susan Milligan

Susan Milligan is a political and foreign affairs writer and contributed to a biography of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, "Last Lion: The Fall and Rise of Ted Kennedy." Follow her on Twitter @MilliganSusan.

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