Sep 24, 2009 1:47 pm US/Eastern
Keller: Kirk 'Smartest Move' For Patrick
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Interim Senator Paul Kirk speaks as Sen. John Kerry and Gov. Deval Patrick look on at a press conference on September 24, 2009 at the State House in Boston.
Darren McCollester/Getty Images
Why is
the Paul Kirk appointment the smartest move Gov. Patrick could have made?
Because it validates the best argument Patrick or anyone else made for changing state law to allow the naming of an interim senator – that the state would suffer from seeing the dispersal of Ted Kennedy's senate staff, due to occur at the end of October, if no interim senator were named.
By virtue of his familiarity with the staff from his time as Ted's chief of staff, and with key players on Capitol Hill from his years heading the Democratic National Committee, Kirk is better positioned than any other candidate mentioned to immediately begin attending to constituent services and, most importantly, protecting Massachusetts interests in the federal funding game.
Right now, there are millions of dollars in federal stimulus funds up for grabs as states default on their applications due to procedural problems – Kirk knows how to go grab our share of that dough.
If other senators thought they were going to snatch away federal contracts currently held by Massachusetts businesses now that Ted is gone, Kirk has the experience and contacts to stymie them.
Gov. Patrick could have pandered to loyalists of former Gov. Michael Dukakis by choosing him for this job; pleased women by picking former Lt. Governor Evelyn Murphy; or played to African-American voters by naming Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree.
All are fine people, and Lord knows Patrick needs votes from all three groups.
But while there may be some hurt feelings among them over this, I think Patrick did the right thing consistent with the case for having an interim senator.
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