A tale of two parties

Energized GOP; subdued democrats

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick addresses a joint session of the Massachusetts House and Senate during his State of the State address in the House Chamber at the Statehouse, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, in Boston. Patrick proposed fully funding state education aid to Massachusetts cities and towns during the address. (Tony Irving photo)

Caitlin Yoshiko Buysse

On election night, amid a spotty crowd of Martha Coakley supporters at the Boston Sheraton Hotel, a deflated state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz cut right to the chase.

“I’m not going to sugar-coat it,” she said, “but this is really bad news for Boston.”

If Democrats were a little depressed, the mood at state Sen. Scott Brown’s election night at the nearby Park Plaza Hotel was entirely different — almost raucous in comparison. Rob Cote drove five hours from New Jersey to witness the election that he described as “bigger” than Massachusetts.

“No disrespect to Massachusetts,” Cote said. “But listen, this election has not only national, but worldwide ramifications. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

The difference that night was startling, and random interviews with those in attendance at both parties signal the very thing that President Barack Obama vowed to try to end — partisan politics.

Based on last Tuesday night, Obama has a very long way to go on that front — as he does on restoring his ambitious plan to provide healthcare to all Americans. The disconnect was clearly evident on Tuesday night.

Pat Mortorano lives in Burlington and was tickled about Brown’s victory as she mixed and mingled at the Park Plaza with other Brown supporters.

“I have never been this excited in 30 years of campaigning,” Mortorano said. “Scott represents the average person, what we need. We want lower taxes, we want government to listen to the people, not do what they want, we really want healthcare that’s affordable and fair to everyone, and not healthcare plans that have special rules . . . If it’s for everybody, we want it. If it’s not for everybody, we don’t want it.”

As Mortorano tells it, she supports the healthcare system in Massachusetts. “Yes, because there’s still the opportunity to have choice,” she said. “…[Obama’s healthcare] is a government give-away plan. It’s not what the average person, who’s made their own way wants.”

Chris Winn lives in Lovett County, Texas and might have set a record for those attending Brown’s party.

“I drove 2,042 miles,” Winn boasted, “because he’s a man of the people.”

Winn was very clear on what he saw as the battle line. “It starts right here,” Winn said about Massachusetts. We make a stand against big government, out-of-control spending, punitive taxes, strong national defense. This man has all four of those, and he will go down to Washington and stop the insanity.”

 Winn was also clear on the future focus for like-minded Republicans and Independents.

“The job now,” Winn said, “is [to ensure] the American people will hear this cry from Massachusetts and answer the cry with more voices across this nation saying, ‘We agree with Massachusetts.’ The shot that was fired tonight by this man will carry on across this country through November. And we will take back the Senate and take back the House for the people. The people of this country don’t want socialism, they want individual freedom, and they want freedom, and they want to be safe.”

Winn was on a roll, his voice growing louder and louder. “In Massachusetts,” Winn said, “98 percent of the people are covered by the state plan. They took the responsibility here of trying that program. What this election said is that we don’t need federal government running healthcare. Massachusetts took responsibility; the rest of the states in the country need to take their own responsibility. State rights rule over federal rights.”

Opposition to Obama’s healthcare was clearly the reason that Rob Nashawahey, an Independent from Quincy, voted for Brown.

“My healthcare is fine,” Nashawahey said, “but from what I hear on the news, the Massachusetts healthcare system is a mess . . . [And] I know that they’re using that as a model for the federal one. If it’s a mess here, it’ll be a bigger mess for the country.”

Nashawahey might as well been speaking about the bruised state Democratic party. For their part, they praised Coakley’s effort and vowed to regroup in time for upcoming elections.

During her concession speech, Coakley was visibly shaken. “I wish we were here with other and better news tonight,” she said. “You don’t always win all the time, but you put in your best effort. I am heartbroken at the result. But I know we will get up tomorrow morning and continue to fight.”

Chang-Diaz echoed that sentiment. “People knew this was going to be really bad news for the neighborhood,” she said. “But we pick ourselves up, dust off, and continue the work whether we won or lost today.”

Others were less gracious. “I’m highly disappointed,” Emmanuel Gaisey said. “Brown didn’t reach out to the black community. He’s trying to kill healthcare, and, we need healthcare. I think its’ a bad idea for Brown to go to the Senate to kill the healthcare bill.”

Frances Paulsel was also disappointed. He too voted for Coakley, largely because he wanted to prevent Brown from voting against Obama’s healthcare bill. “I’m for healthcare reform,” he said. “I don’t think Brown’s victory will affect people in Massachusetts. But I think it was so crucial at the national level.”

Another Coakley supporter, Tim Spencer, said he believes Brown’s win will not damage the African American community over the long haul.

“We’re fighters,” he said. “I’m disappointed she didn’t win. We put up a fight. But the black community, we’re gonna go get what we want either way. And it’s not just about us, it’s about the whole country.”

On that point, Rosemary Hurley, another Coakley supporter, was a little more critical.

“I do not know what happened in the black community,” she said, pointing out the low-turnout numbers in predominantly black voting precincts. “I don’t know how blacks didn’t come out in force. I don’t understand why because the Kennedys were there for us.”