Romney looks like conventional hero
21 July 2004
Mitt Romney, the Republican governor of
The governor has come to the rescue of embattled Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, forcing the city's police union to submit to expedited arbitration. If things go as planned, a new union contract could be in place by tomorrow afternoon, effectively thwarting the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association's plans to humiliate Menino by bringing most convention events to a standstill.
But why would Romney do it? After all, four months ago the governor infuriated Menino with his widely-reported doubts about holding the convention at the FleetCenter, a move many read as an effort to undermine the Democratic event. In addition, Romney has made little secret of his support for George W. Bush and disdain for John Kerry. If he had done nothing, the big stories reported by the national press next week would have been a series of permutations about Democrats helplessly kowtowing to their most favored special interest.
Instead, Romney took action. Last Thursday morning a state board, the Joint Labor-Management Committee, refused to order expedited arbitration of the labor dispute. Hours later, in a stunning move, Romney fired the committee's acting chairman and appointed former Judge Samuel E. Zoll in his place. While doing so, he made it clear that he wanted to see the process fast-tracked. Two days ago, much to the fury of the police union's leadership, Zoll delivered.
Watching the twists and turns of these events, one has to marvel at Romney's political adeptness. Where a few months ago he was floundering, mired in a foolish battle against gay marriage, he has in recent weeks re-emerged sharper than ever. Still the question remains: Why help the Democrats?
At the end of June, Kerry cut a deal with the police union, refusing to cross its picket line and thereby missing a planned speech before the U.S. Conference of Mayors. In exchange, he thought, he bought some peace at the upcoming Democratic National Convention.
It turned out Kerry was played for a fool. The union's deal was that it wouldn't picket Kerry personally, but it still would picket and shut down anything else it wanted. Even as this became clear, Kerry could do nothing. Back channel pleas and phone calls from party elders were of little help.
Then Romney stepped in. And by doing so, he provided a clear and concrete contrast to Kerry, an object lesson to the nation: This is how Republicans solve a problem. Here's how the GOP might frame it: Romney directly addressed a crisis; Kerry let it fester and grow. Romney defended the mayor; Kerry abandoned him. Romney stuck up for the residents of a city; Kerry sold them out in exchange for his self interest. Romney refused to toady to the tactics of a bully; Kerry let himself be pushed around.
Karl Rove, Bush's political guru, should have a field day with this one.
Moreover, Romney also cemented a new relationship with Menino. The convention ends in nine days. Menino and Romney will both be around for years.
It seems an unlikely bond. The two men differ from each other in temperament, background and ideology. Menino supported Democrat Shannon O'Brien in the last gubernatorial race. For his part, the newly elected Romney failed to reach out to Menino (unlike, say, former GOP Gov. William Weld, who called after the mayor won election in 1993 and flattered him by coming down to City Hall to visit). And during his first year in office, Romney's cuts in state aid imposed huge burdens on the city.
The rapprochement began last fall. Menino was deeply worried about a quirk in the city's property tax rules that would cause residential taxes to rise by 50 percent or more even as commercial rates were dropping. He feared such dramatic increases could drive the middle class out of the city, and he and his staff appealed to Romney. Much to their surprise, Romney understood the issue, emerging from the meeting backing a state law that would revise the formula.
When Kerry bowed out of his speech to the nation's mayors, Romney jumped into the breach, addressing the crowd in what was a clearly a favor to Menino. Last week's efforts with the Joint Labor- Management Committee were even more appreciated. Menino's people now say nothing but kind words about Romney. They even take pains to discount his ill-timed suggestion that the convention move from the FleetCenter.
Menino is fundamentally a pragmatist. He disdains higher office, he isn't seeking to become a Kerry appointee and he'll work with anyone who will help him. Romney came through when it mattered; Kerry did not. Menino, famous for remembering the slights of others, also remembers their kindnesses.