Dear Martha:
Girlfriend to girlfriend: You blew it. Not that I wanted you to win the election against that other guy, the Republican. Not with the Democrats’ totally boneheaded joke of a Health Care SO NOT Reform legislation looming on the horizon.
But I like to see women succeed in any professional endeavor they undertake (as long as they’re honest and ethical doing it). Conversely, I hate to see women fail. And that’s what you did. Big time.
First off, let me say that I love Massachusetts. If I were forced out of California (could happen) and I had to pick another state to reside in, I might pick Arizona (strictly for the sunshine factor). But factoring in the people, the heritage, the history, the patriotism, the arts, the mindset, the amazing number of colleges in such a small place, the Red Sox, the cool places, and the ambiance—I would choose Massachusetts. Too bad it snows there or your Commonwealth would have beckoned me by now.
I lived in the Boston area one summer and it was the BEST summer of my life. I moved there—knowing no one—and left a better, smarter, happier person. Consequently, Massachusetts may be far from where I live—but very close in my heart.
Therefore, I have a bone to pick with you. You slopped up the joint with your crummy campaign, your crummy personality, and your crummy thinking.
Let me count the ways.
1. According to so many political pundits/television and radio journalists/internet bloggers and commentators that I cannot count them all, you ran an “aloof and arrogant” campaign. Ouch.
Have you ever heard of social media? We are in the heyday of it in America: the touchy-feely let’s share/tweet/facebook each other ad nauseam. To me that says people are starved for connection/connectiveness. You did not get this.
How much “socializing” did you do with the wonderful people of Massachusetts when you were on your Caribbean vacation? (For TWO weeks for cryin’ out loud! One week wasn’t enough R&R?)
2. You didn’t campaign enough. 20 appearances by you versus 60 by your opponent. Pathetic. It makes you look lazy, like a slacker, like you’re phoning it in.
How long have you been in the ‘real world” that you have NOT learned this lesson? In the professional arena, women need to work HARDER than men just to maintain parity. That’s the way it is. (Ask Hilary, Condi, Sandra Day O’Connor, Carly Fiorina, et al.)
3. You are not in touch with the zeitgeist of your state or the nation in general. Americans are disappointed in Obama. Did you check his stats lately? He is NOT the change agent he promised in his campaign. People are sick of his “hot air.” (Thanks, Dad.)
You should have distanced yourself from that guy—not kowtowed to the White House political machine. You should have been your own woman.
For your staff to blame your loss on the “lack of support from the leaders in Washington” is absolutely absurd.
4. You thought you were a shoe-in—as you’re the Democrat, taking over for the beloved Teddy Kennedy. You overestimated the loyalty factor to Ted’s seat. It does NOT belong to one particular party over another. It belongs to the person who DESERVES it, who EARNS it. That wasn’t you.
5. You didn’t come across as one of the “regular folks.” You came across as too entrenched in the political miasma that is strangling the livelihood and well-being of Main Street America.
I don’t know what you wore on the campaign trail. But you should have been out there in your K-Mart dungarees and Keds tennis shoes—that you eventually wore holes in because you pounded the pavement so much. Didn’t happen.
Lastly, and this is a BIG one.
6. You didn’t want it bad enough. If you REALLY wanted to be a U.S. Senator, you would have tried harder. That speaks to some kind of chink in your psyche (of which I am no shrink). But I bet a part of you is relieved this whole thing is over. Maybe all you REALLY want to do is stay home and do arts and crafts‑or whatever is your real passion.
Either that, or you are REALLY DUMB and you hired DUMB advisors and listened to DUMB politicians in Washington.
In which case, it’s a good thing you lost. There are too many stupid people in Washington, DC as it is.
