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If you had any lingering doubts about the Statehouse being a palace of delusion, listen to some of your elected representatives defend their vote for Sal DiMasi as House Speaker, just three weeks before he resigned under an ethical cloud that grows blacker by the day. Read about it here.
Rep. John Keenan, D-Salem: “I don’t think it’s a black eye.” Keenan said he supported DiMasi because of his work on health care reform, support of gay marriage and blocking casino gambling. Gee, that sounds as good as making the trains run on time.
“I don’t feel like it’s a climate of corruption,” said Mary Grant, D-Beverly. Let’s see - DiMasi is the third speaker in a row to resign because of ethics problems. But Grant sees no need for political climate change.
Joyce Spiliotis, D-Peabody, said she voted for DiMasi because nobody else was in serious contention. Same for Ted Speliotis, D-Danvers. So, there were at least two other reps drooling for the job - one of which has now gotten the job. No other options?
Nobody mentioned the obvious - that as long as DiMasi was speaker, he had the power to reward his supporters and punish any wayward rebels. Nobody mentioned the gladhanding love-in that preceded the vote, with everybody tripping over themselves to drone on about what a towering servant of the public DiMasi was. Hey, what’s wrong with allowing some influence peddling on the side?
Nobody should be surprised, I guess. Nor should we be upset, unless it is at ourselves. We’re the ones who voted for these people.