The New York Times on Obama and Deval -- Assume Nothing, Question Everything

Every solid reporter and editor knows the key to journalistic success: assume nothing and question everything. For successful business executives, it's a survival mantra. Educators call it critical thinking, the ability to see an advertisement, hear a presentation, read a news story with a questioning eye on what's behind the claims being made, who are the sources, who benefits, who does not, what's the context, what are the implications of the story -- in other words -- the Colbert truthiness of it all.

The venerable NYT runs a front page, above the fold, story about Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's problems in his first two years in office. It's a legitimate evaluative survey for every governor of any state. And every governor has to go through it -- in their state's newspapers.

But this story is in a national paper from New York, not Massachusetts. If critical thinking is applied, there are some reasonable questions to ask. Why this governor? Why now? Why on the front page of this most powerful national newspaper?

The 'why this Governor' is answered in reporter Abby Goodnough's opening. It's because he is "....a surrogate for Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, his friend and fellow gifted orator.....He dazzled voters with a message of hope and change." Oh, by the way, he's black.

Hmmmm.

The story goes on to detail the battles this governor is having with the state's Speaker of the House, who has more power with the legislature than the newbie governor. The article gives the overall negative impression that Deval is losing the battle due to insufficient governing skills.

So, again, why this Governor? Why now? The implied logic and conclusion seems clear - guilt by similarity. Deval is Obama. Obama is all new, change and eloquence with questionable governing skills. Oh, and he's black Really?

Critical question: Why did the editors chose this governor to compare with Obama? Why not compare Obama with Vermont Governor Timothy Kaine? He's a newbie Governor in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat since 1964. He was all about change. He's also an Obama supporter. Why not him?

Has the NYT done a similar story comparing Hillary Clinton to a female governor like Arizona's Janet Napolitano or Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, both of whom are articulate, are change agents, and neither having an easy time with unfriendly legislatures? Oooops, they're both supporting Obama.

If you subtract the elements of fractious legislative relations, change agent, new voice, articulate, what's the only thing left to compare between Obama and Deval? Is it because they're both black? Perhaps the venerable New York Times is not above playing the race card. This is a critical question that needs to be asked.

Comments

[Bagger]

Just because they have run similar campaign sdoesn't mean they will be the same type of leader. Ridiculous to assume that. Duval seems kind of dumb to me. Obama seems brilliant. Their message may have been similar but their personalities and background are vastly different. I have friends who are similar to me but are leadership skills are vastly different. This is obvious a racial comparison. Two brothers with power and all of a sudden they're all the same.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

i guess the question would be how did Deval "seem" to you during his campaign? Not how he seems to you now after he has the job. That would be the valid comparison.

[oracle99]

Deval Patrick finished Harvard and has a law degree. He worked for the Justice Department. I agree that to equate Deval's compentency as Governor with Baracks as president is a narrow minded racist comparison. Of course they are different they are individual­s.....but to a racist mentality rational thought is lacking. Sad but true....an­d easier for some to paint everyone with the same brush.

[nomobull]

correct me if i am wrong but the problem for some with deval patrick is unlike past govenors he actually is doing his job. huh

[mengwise36]

Patrick graduated from Milton Academy in 1974 and from Harvard College (with a concentration in English and American literature) in 1978. He then spent a year working with the United Nations in Africa. In 1979, Patrick returned to the United States and enrolled at Harvard Law School. While in law school, Patrick was elected president of the Legal Aid Bureau, where he first worked defending poor families in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. You WISH you are that dumb.

[coolaid]

LOL. I don't waste much time reading the NYT anyway and neither do the majority of Americans or even democrats, other than something that which comes out in the mainstream press or the blogosphere. Furthermore, no two people are exactly alike and this article can't possibly provide any substantial reasoning to conclude that Obama would be just like Deval. The only thing it does prove is that there are no limits to the influence of stupidity. It exists on both liberal and conservative sides of the fence!

[Heidfeld]

Are you people really buying this line of reasoning?

How is is not fair to compare two guys who have used the EXACT SAME WORDS on the campaing trail... and when called out on the borrowing, Obama's response was basically that they are part of the same movement and very closely linked.

So how isn't this a fair,relevant comparison? We are very close to putting forth a Democratic nomine that is an unknown quantity.

So why not use the most fitting example, someone who ran a campaign nearly identical to Obama's, to give people a glimpse of what is possible.

All you ever hear in the media (especially in Huff Po) is about Obama's potential. His promise. Well what about the possible risks? How very american of everyone to only look at the up side! Just like the housing bubble.

The NYT article is legitimate and those of you complaining about it are not being objective at all.

And, instead of just attacking the article and the source as 'unfair', I'd love to hear one of you respond on the substance of the article. What is to make us believe that Obama would not fail exactly as Patrick is failing? A lot of you seem to think the comparison is only based on race, so please do tell how Patrick and Obama are fundamentally different? How are their political styles different? How are their policies different? (and don't forget, Obama is running for Pres not gov of a single state).

[riverhorse]

hey 90 percent of what you get here at Huffington are Obama surrogates. they jump at any chance to tear down the substance of reason to question Obama. they'll disregard any facts to accomplish their agenda.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Obama surrogates­... dont you mean Obama's "Children of the Corn"

[oracle99]

If only Obamas blind hynotized sheep are posting here.....w­hy are you?

[riconap]

You've got it exactly right Heidfeld. Does the name David Axelrod mean anything to anybody? He orchestrated the "sameness" in both candidates and both campaigns and that alone begs for a comparison. He seems to gravitate to this prototype candidate and I would guess it is not accidental.

[coolaid]

OK here it is in a nutshell. One of Deval's chief problems in getting things through the legislature is a staunch supporter of HRC. DiMasi apparently is not only is blocking progress but is also trying to use it to help promote "his candidate" for President.
"Mr. DiMasi, who supports Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York for president, has openly tried to link Mr. Obama to Mr. Patrick’s difficulties, suggesting, along with other critics, that the two are alike in their lack of executive experience. Before the Massachusetts primary in February, Mr. DiMasi said that he did not want a president “in there on a learning process” during his first year in office."
Instead of trying to cooperate, Dimassi is more worried about keeping the same old losers in control doing things the same old ways and never gettting anywhere.
Could such reasoning actually be used to support the claims of HRC re. Obama's "experience gap"? I don't think so. She can't even keep her own story straight these days!

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

whats dose things on Beacon Hill have to do with the race for the white house.

Me for MASS gov 2010

[oracle99]

You are right it's just the old guard not wanting to give up their antiquated hold that they perceive is their divine right. Boston is still a very racially divided city and this reflects the divisive thinking. ...... maybe DiMasi has forgotten JFK from Massachusetts, who was a relatively young senator...­that people also said had little experience? Mmmm oh yes...but he was white.

[oracle99]

As I said before before my comment was not posted
Demasi doesn't want .a president "in there on a learning process" during his first year in office." Maybe he has forgotten JFK who had little experience when he took office ? Caroline Kennedy and her uncle claimed Barack Obama reminded them of their brother and uncle with his new vision for America. To compare Barack to Deval because they just happen to be both black.... is what it is......ra­cism.

[Amminadab]

So it is Hillary's fault that Patrick is ineffective?

How irrational!

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

I think the Times should follow up with a story about how effective other candidates have been as chief executives who, like Hillary, have also been in the line of sniper fire.

[AreYouFibbing]

Is this GWB posting on this site? I ask because of your tactic of using distraction to try to get commenters off point. We are talking Obama...O-­B-A-M-A.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

do you suppose the comparison might have something to do with the fact that their campaigns have been run by the same person? Sending the same message, etc, etc, etc

Is it ever allowable to compare two people who are alike in all ways and both happen to be black? Or, not? Must a black politician always be compared to a white politician to avoid charges of race-baiting?

Does anyone comaplin when a white politician is compared to another white politician?

Wasn't it Obama himself in his eloquent speech who asked for these constant charges of race-baiting to STOP?

[Heidfeld]

Yes, exactly.

It is funny how the name McCarthy has been thrown around so much lately. Everyone is accused of being the new McCarthy.

Well if we want to be honest, those people (mostly members of the media and Obama's campaign) that contstantly accuse any doubters of being "racist" sound like the new McCarthy's.

This new outrage over "racism" is erily simillary to the charges of "communism" from that time. A simple, sweeping term to attempt to cut off all arguments before they are even started.

Nice, "new" and "fresh" campaign this guy is running. Laughable.

[Neoconstant]

McCarthy was brought up by an imprudent surrogate and it hasn't "been thrown around so much lately" - one retired military chief brought it up and it fell off the news cycle pretty quickly. What I keep hearing is bitter Hillary supporters constantly complaining about reverse-racism & being upset when someone is called out on their racist behavior. Yet again - more white people upset about a problem that they refuse to understand. Yawn...

[Neoconstant]

Its well researched that the content of a campaign has almost nothing to do with how the elected candidate actually governs. Remember Bush 2000, or Clinton 1992. Neither one governed as promised in the campaign. Also, Patrick & Obama are not "alike in all ways" - the context they find themselves in will play a large role in how they govern, and the contexts of Boston and D.C. couldn't be anymore different.

[mengwise36]

So what are you trying to say exactly? That Obama is NOT about change? That Obama will NOT amend NAFTA like he promised the voter? That Obama will NOT introduce universal health care? That Obama will NOT pull out troop from Iraq? Then please remind me why I am NOT voting for McCain?

[Mike O.]

Spoken like a true liberal. You weren't even able to see that, as you were typing, you were admitting that your candidate will not govern according to the content of the campaign. Basically admitting that he is spinning lies and distotions.

You Obama supporters are sooooo stoooopid.

[nomobull]

no

[daveny]

I've made that exact point to some of my friends in Massachusetts who are staunch Hillary supporters because "we already have Obama as governor, and it sucks!"

It's sad, but the fact that they're both black seems to be, when everything else is analysed, why THAT is the comparison that my friends care about.

And hoo, boy.... you should hear the vehement denials of racism when we get down to that!

[oracle99]

Why does it suck? Has Deval done something to you personally ?

[oracle99]

Did you vote for Deval?

[Norm]

The NYT article was shallow. While it listed the depression of Deval Patrick's wife as a minor factoid in the disaster of his early term, it failed to explain why: The Guv pared hours from work to be by her side. A lovely gesture to be sure, unless he was the reason for her mental state, but working folks do not get to take Spousal Depression Leave. Deval Patrick has been a disaster for Obama; so much so that I wince every time I see them together. Not only did Patrick contribute to Obama's primary loss in Massachusetts, but, because of shared state airwaves, did a good deal to help Hillary win New Hampshire.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Thats your Newspaper: The New York Times!

The New York Times: Giving Republicans Hell since 1972

[harriscrl3]

I've been so disappointed in the NYT they have lost their journalistic integrity in my eyes. I would prefer to read the WSJ quite frankly. But you would think that they would know that Obama is not like other Governors or senators or politicans. He is UNIQUE he is a LEADER. That means they command attention. Is Patrick a leader in that sense? Somehow I doubt that. Obama is also skilled as far as having an instinct about people. Take for example that speech about race. How many politicans would do that? How many would take a gamble like that at such a crucial point in this primary? Obama is running on change but once again the media simplifies it. Change means being honest with the American people telling them the hard truth, transparency in government, bottom up government and working in partnership with the American people. Once again does Patrick's concept of hope and change include these things.

Good point about Hilary and the other female governors.

Carol

[JWLANDSCAPES]

The easiest platform to run as a challenger, is change! This isn't an invented platform, in fact Bill Clinton used it in 92'. Bush ran with it in 2000. A platform of change with no substance to back it, well, is just cheap talk. Deval and Obama haven't the gravity and breadth of experience to effect change.

[IntrepidReader]

I suspect John Adams probably ran on a platform of hope and change even though his predecessor was George Washington. It's the oldest campaign tactic in the book. Carol must be very young or else very unexposed to history to believe that there is anything unique about Barack Obama--though I will say the strange collaboration of bedfellows who are pushing for his election is new to me.

Comparing Obama and Patrick seems altogether apt. Obama says they think alike and talk alike, so why shouldn't we expect them to govern alike? When Barry was skating around copying Deval's speeches, he did everything except sing the theme from the ancient Patty Duke Show (where she played identical cousins) to explain how he happened to be giving the same speech. Of course Obama and his children of the corn (damn, I like that) will argue the point but you can't have it both ways. Obie can't be just like Patrick when they give rousing speeches but not when Patrick flounders in the role of leader.

[AreYouFibbing]

harriscrl.­...Obama HAD to take that chance to stem the loss of voters. It was a self-serving speech....­that's all. He had no noble intentions. If he did and was the leader you have built him up to be in your minds, he would have made that speech long ago, to try to heal the racial divide. Honestly, I do not know who you think you are kidding.

[nomobull]

maybe he thought running as the candidate that happen to be half black rather than the black candidate w3as a good start until the kitchen sink politics and agenda laden media reared it. maybe he believed becoming president and offeringg people a chance to part of the solution w3ould help until it w3as pointed out over and over that he is black. and you don't know3 he w3ould not have made this speech later but he w3as not left w3ith that option. but he met the challenge whether he made the speech now or later.it succeded if it made some exam themselves whatever their race. and it succeded because it made some so mad that they exposed themselves as the racists they are ie pat buchanan.

[Norm]

As a Massachusetts voter, I, in my apology email to those gazillions of friends who accused me of single handedly losing the Massachusetts primary to Hillary Clinton, referenced wincing every time I saw the The Guv and Obama together. Deval's missteps did not just help Clinton in Massachusetts, but also New Hampshire, as we share airwaves. My advice to the Obama campaign? Stay the Hell away from him. That said, the NYT article was shallow, in at least one instance neglecting relevant information. The Times article stated that Patrick's wife suffered from depression early in his term. The only reason this is not a So Wot? is that Patrick cut work hours because of her illness, which the NYT failed to mention. As I pointed out in March, working people do not get time off because of spousal mental health; indeed, regarding depression, there is not much a spouse can do and, hey, just might be the cause of the condition.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

in 2010, I'll make sure Deval dose not get a 2nd term.

The GOP returns to Beacon Hill!

[oracle99]

Learn to spell..... or use spell check does it the correct spelling

[Norm]

Oops, didn't know the first one went. It were an accident and wouldn't you know it actually posted.

[thomas144]

I'm a Massachusetts Democrat, and although I voted for Deval Patrick in the general election (but not the primary), I never quite understood what his appeal was exactly. Thus, ironically, I'm not at all disappointed by his performance in office, and I question the motives of the legislatures who have opposed his proposal to build casinos in the state, which I have to think most people here think is a good idea.

On the other hand, I was a fairly early convert from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, who I think would make a great President.

[oracle99]

I think casinos would be a good idea too! I;m sure the fact that Native Americans would profit from them had everything to do with it's failure to pass. They represent another minority that has gotten the shaft. Since they unfortunately tried to do this in Massachusetts, which has it's racial problems..­..it won't happen

[Neoconstant]

That Gov. Deval Patrick wants to legalize gambling in your fair state has caused me to lose respect for him. Gambling benefits almost no one, except those who run the casinos. Its like saying we should give extra state money to tobacco farmers because the sales tax on cigarettes helps the government budget - technically yes, but the long term damage is unjustifia­ble...

[RButler]

Obama. Stay the hell away from Duval, Rezko, Wright and, heck, Michelle too. She says some fun things. The kind of things we DON'T want to hear from a First Lady. I don't care if she is wearing Jackie Kennedy's hairdo.

[AreYouFibbing]

I thot it was Marlo Thomas' "do".

[calluna]

Whether Deval Patrick is a black man or a white man is irrelevant. He ran as a young, charismatic political outsider, on an amorphous message of hope and change, and he won by a substantial margin. He came into office with a political mandate and a Democratic­-controlle­d legislature. None of that had anything to do with his race, but his ideology and his personality. This is where Barack Obama wants to be in January 2009, and this is why Patrick's campaign model has been adopted, at least in part, by the Obama campaign. I do not see how you can argue that it is somehow "racist" to question how that model has functioned when it switched from campaigning to governing.

[elbowguts]

So then all Bill Clinton fans should be ecstatic about the possibility of an Obama Presidency, since back in 92 old Bill "ran as a young, charismatic political outsider, on an amorphous message of hope and change".

Not to mention that just because two people campaign the same way, it doesn't mean they have the same individual capacities to govern and lead.

[calluna]

No, us Bill Clinton fans from the early 90s are old and cynical now. ;-)

[RButler]

Clinton did produce some good results, though. Peace and prosperity and all that nonsense.

[Neoconstant]

Because campaigning and governing are two entirely different enterprises that have very little to do with one another (despite what the MSM and our inadequate education system try to push down everyone's collective throat...)

[Mike O.]

You never cease to amaze with your ability to blindly defend a weak candidate using even weaker arguments.

"Because campaigning and governing are two entirely different enterprises that have very little to do with one another "

Campaigning is selling the public on your ideas. If I were to sell a product to you and then the product was nothing like what was promised, you'd be screaming for my head. But the same logic somehow doesn't apply for someone running for the highest office in the world.

Obama supporters are beginning to scare me. Not because your candidate has a snowball's chance at the White House, but because the ignorance is astounding and you are supposed to be the "educated" people.

Truly amazing. And scary. No wonder the country is in the shape it is.

[PhyloSeFiser]

Man, thank God someone else is speaking out against this outrageous bit of innuendo by the NYTimes.

They must be assuming we're stupid?

[Neoconstant]

Remember Judy Miller? And now Bill Kristol? They DO think their readers are idiots...

[Bulbul]

Assume nothing , question everything­...
Thoughtful blog.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

its just a article, in a newspaper, reporting the news, something they have a hard time doing these days

[beright]

The Nytimes endorsed Hillary, remember? They've got a vested interest in keeping the game going. Hillary's main strategy is to keep the aura of doubt around Obama. Nytimes has just shown that they're in on it, too.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Do you live in the Northeast?

[ceciboloca]

The minute I saw this article, I was overcome with a sense of anger and frustration.
The intent of the New York Times and Goodnough is transparent. When the NYT engages in this kind of journalism it is not different from Fox News. This maliciously executed Deval piece featured where it could not be missed, front and above the fold, with the screaming headline :"Early dazzle,then tough path to a Governor" is a hatchet job with the sole clear objective to cast doubt about Sen. Obama's candidacy. I can hear the editor & writer deliberately cooking up this story. But then, the NYT, a supporter of Hillary Clinton has been doing it all along, and not so subtly either. The photo editors are in cahoots as well. They will print anything to derail Sen. Barack Obama's candidacy. You can tell how poorly Hillary is doing by the desperate stories the NYT resorts to. Shame on them.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Do you live in the Northeast? Do you live in Boston or New York City?

[Amadeo]

As sad as it may be, I find this pattern indeed surfacing everywhere.
As a caucasian who is too young to have lived through the segregation era and the bitterness that has gone on on both sides, I find it very saddening for people in positions of informing to be "disinforming".
CNN who prides itself on their high quality, found itself repeating "rumours" (Litterally RUMORS) about what Rev. Wright may have said about italians and other ethnic groups. THAT IS SHEER DESCTRUCTION OF PEOPLE with no basis....b­ut fear!

AMERICA GROW UP!

[Neoconstant]

your apparent youth prevents you from recognizing that people will never grow up

[goodsnservices]

I'm glad you wrote this, Tom. I had the same sense when I read this article in the NYT, too, that with superficial similarities they were trying to do another hatchet job on Barack Obama, akin to "Hey, they all look alike to me."

Not only did the reporter do a disservice to the democratic candidate, he did a disservice to Deval by treating his particular political situation in such a shallow manner. The NYT told only enough of the story to plant the message, "See what happens when you put an articulate black man in office? He has difficulty governing.­"

If I were the editor of the NYT, I would hang my head in shame for allowing this to be published.

[libran38]

give me a break.

The only time "black" is mentioned in this article is in the following sentence,

"But there is no such glow at home for Mr. Patrick, the first Democrat to lead his state in 16 years and the nation’s second elected black governor."