Danielle Gregoire Tells Voters She Could Be a Republican

BOSTON -- Danielle Gregoire benefited greatly from an anti-Republican sentiment in her 2008 election. The State Representative had no problem taking full advantage of the anger towards the Republican Party to energize her base of voters. This year she seems more uncertain of her base and her own commitment to the party that carried her to power. Local Democrats likely consider her recent statement, "I could easily be a Republican" in a MetroWest Daily article a joke. However, Ms. Gregoire has been willing to do what is necessary to get voters to send her back to the State House for another term. This comment is an attempt to appeal to moderate independent voters who are not impressed with business as usual at the State Legislature.

Ms. Gregoire has continued to make this election about accomplishments of the collective legislature, not her individual efforts. At the same time, she has distanced herself from the collective failures of the party. In the same article, Ms. Gregoire discusses helping to stop toll increases, but never specifies what she did other than a undefined claim of helping. Anyone who reads Ms. Gregoire's literature continues to find this very frustrating pattern. She has very vague claims that she works hard, but little evidence of what that work entails other than showing up and voting when instructed.

In past years, showing up and voting the party will has been enough to get a State Legislator elected in this district. However, this is an unusual year. People are more aware than ever that votes have consequences, both their own and that of their legislators. Merely being present is no longer enough. Ms. Gregoire wants rewards for being present. In prior years, residents might have given her that pass. Voters want her to justify her continued right to hold the job. They expect more than vague statements about hard work and credit claimed for projects where there is no evidence she participated in completing. She also cannot distance herself from mistakes made by the Democratic Party without demonstrating actions that show significant efforts to oppose those mistakes. Saying no on occasion hardly demonstrates committed effort.

Voters in this district deserve mature, responsible representation. There are many challenges facing this state that require someone who has his own record of completing legislation without needing to claim the efforts of others. This job requires the commitment to make progress towards fiscal discipline in the two years allotted to the term, not vague promises to do better if given more time by the voters. It is not about attending bed races and high school graduations. This district requires someone who possesses the courage to stand firm and make the hard decisions regardless of political consequences. Ms. Gregoire has had an opportunity to do that in the last two years and has yet to be able to claim any personal credit for accomplishments. This district cannot afford to lose two more years waiting for her to find that inner courage, hoping for change.

Paul Crocetti, "Gregoire Says She Fights to Reduce Government" ,MetroWest Daily