Speaker Finneran: Don’t Underestimate the People (or My Wife)
By Attorney J. Edward Pawlick

     Do you understand, Tom Finneran, that you are gambling the future of the Democratic Party here in Massachusetts when you treat the tens of thousands of people (and my wife), who are greatly upset, like little children?

     You are also sealing the fate of Sen. Kerry and the national Party when it comes to the Fleet Center next month.

     Many are wondering to whom do you report? Obviously, it is someone on the state level of the Party and on the national level. Who are these unseen bosses who tell you what to do? And where are the stacks of cash coming from that are so evident to all in the State House?

     More important to you, Tom, you are sealing your own fate.

     There were tens of thousands of people who were greatly upset two years ago in 2002 when they pushed Tom Birmingham and the Democratic Party out the door after he violated the state Constitution. But you escaped because Gerry D’Avolio at the Massachusetts Catholic Conference and Ron Crews at Mass. Family Institute, told all that you are a good man.

     But the evidence in 2004 is overwhelming that you are just another politician. We are very sorry to hear that, and Sally is very surprised because you had her fooled. What we are seeing this year is totally in the House --- where you are in complete charge.

     We are not little children. We are citizens of this Commonwealth --- your boss, not your lackey.

     The citizens are demanding that the Constitution be followed this year (for a change). We are just following them. There must be a vote this week.

     We happened to speak to a Rhode Island man yesterday, who has been a Democrat all his life. He said he is not sure whether he can trust John Kerry. But when we asked about homosexual marriage, he became totally animated. That has him angry.

     Your National Chairman said last year that he was not going to allow marriage to become an issue at the Convention, but your present course is going to make it the most important issue there.

     Neither the citizens nor Massachusetts Citizens for Marriage are going away until we have a vote in your House on Removing Margaret Marshall and her three cohorts.

     That is what a democracy is about, Mr. Speaker: Voting --- with advance notice to all.