What makes a good Democrat?
Yesterday, I was one of thousands of delegates who spent the day in Worcester at the State Democratic Convention to vote for candidates for the primary this September: nominated for the ballot were Grossman and Murphy for treasurer; Glodis, Bump and Lake for auditor. This morning, I couldn’t help but feel the irony as I read “The Column,” where The Sun’s latest conflict is a version of “Who is a better Democrat?” pitting state senate candidates Chris Doherty (no relation) against Eileen Donoghue. According to the Column, Doherty was “puzzled and disappointed” by Donoghue’s past donations to two Republican candidates, actions, which she explained in the paper, that were based on personal friendships. I thought Donoghue’s defense was credible, and she is quoted as saying, “I’m an independent person… a good Democrat. Always have been, always will be. But I’m also a good friend.”
Being a good friend is something we all can value. What didn’t ring quite so true, however, was Doherty’s assertion that he was somehow a better Democrat than Donoghue, especially considering his absence at roll call when it was time to vote. As every good Democrat knows, delegates are elected representatives of their neighborhoods whose primary function is to vote at the convention.