Gabrieli At South Station
Chris Gabrieli is outside of South Station right now. Volunteers are out front holding signs and he’s back and forth shaking hands.
It’s quite a visible entourage, and I would have taken the opportunity to speak to him and ask him questions like “Just how much of your millions do you think you’ll end up spending on your campaign?” or “Just how many politicians have you borrowed phrases and slogans from?” but like most of us coming out of South Station, I had to go to work.
It’s also worth mentioning, while I am standing in line at Starbucks, that Gabrieli is not very impressive in person. Most people I saw were walking by without a care. The only excited-looking people were the ones who had volunteered to hold signs.
UPDATE: Video. Can you feel the excitement?
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Matt Margolis is co-author (with Mark Noonan) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at The Buffalo Bean. Follow Matt on Twitter.
I’m a Gabrieli supporter who’s tired of all these comments about Chris’ “buying the election” with his millions. It’s an insult to those of us who have been standing on street corners every weekend, making countless phone calls, and generally pounding the pavement to help get Chris elected. We’re the ones who in fact think Chris is incredibly impressive in person and delight that we finally have a candidate who cuts through the liberal/conservative rhetoric to talk specifically about how he wants to improve things in the state.
What about the millions that Kerry Healy is pouring into her campaign or the millions Romney poured into his for Governor and will likely pour in for his presidential attempt? And how much does Healy’s offer to sign a no new tax pledge differ from “Read my lips…..”? There is very little that you guys post that is not tinged with at least some hypocrisy. Really cuts your credibility. I agree with little of what you have to say but I read because I thinks its important to hear a thoughtful presentation of opposing views. This ain’t it. You can do better.
My gosh Anthony, you’re being extraordinarily unfair for criticizing a somewhat tongue-in-cheek comment that you want to claim is an attempt at analyzing an issue.
I am surprised by Matt Margolis’ comments. I like Patricia Hudson have gladly volunteered many hours to the effort to get Chris Gabrieli elected as the Democratic nominee and ultimately Massachusetts governor. It has been my experience whether marching with Chris in 4th of July or labor day parades, canvassing, doing standouts or phone banking on Chris’ behalf that the overwhelming response to his candidacy has been very positive. I too support Chris Gabrieli because he is a very impressive individual but more importantly, he is a very good person. Chris left Columbia medical school when he was in his third year in order to help his family’s struggling business. Gabrieli turned around the family business and made it successful. He became a very successful business man who has given much personal time and money to such noteworthy causes as stem cell research and after school programs. Chris Gabrieli is someone who I am proud to support. I know that my fellow Gabrieli volunteers and supporters (and there are a lot of us out here) feel the same way about Chris. Chris Gabrieli can get the results that the people of Massachusetts want and need.
My mother worked for Gabrieli for four years.When my grand father died Chris flew her to South America and back on his dime little thing for him…huge for us. Could it be that the reason Matt wasn’t impressed by Gabrieli is that he doesn’t fit the description that was initialy painted of him. Maybe he isn’t a self serving CEO trying to buy his way to power and revenge on a former running mate. Maybe he’s actually a really nice (some what goofy) guy who knows how to make money and turn enterprises around and want’s to use his position in life to make a difference.
And now back to the topic, which is the video – NOT what a fine fellow chris is/is not!
I have been there as a candidate, and I have been there as a worker. It is funnny, it is accurate, and ultimately, it is complimentary to Chris. Last spring, while gathering signatures for Kerry Healey, I was standing with a rookie candidate. Some signed, others cursed, but most just heartlessly ignored my glib and endearing pleas to just sign the damn paper. He looked at me and said, ‘This is just like doing stand up!’ – and he was right. The mark of a good standup performer is never flagging in performance, if the audience is with you or not, and by that test, Chris is a good campaigner.
Bravo, buddy – feel your pain!