Dueling October surprises

Which is worse? Deval Patrick supporting a rapist or Kerry Healey taking money from the people who gave us the Big Dig?<--break-->

Globe: Patrick tried twice to aid parole bid
Herald: Healey Cashes in on Big Dig: Big Dig Firms Put Money into Healey's Ads.

Adam Reilly at the Phoenix thinks the Globe story is bad news for Patrick:

... The problem isn't that Patrick lobbied for parole for LaGuer: as Patrick communications director Richard Chacon has noted a few times, plenty of high-profile personages, included then-BU prez John Silber, weighed in on LaGuer's behalf. It's that A) the Globe piece makes Patrick's previous characterizations of his involvement with LaGuer look dishonest and B) judging from the letter that's reproduced on the top of B1, Patrick's support of parole for LaGuer (at least in 1998, before a DNA test strongly supported LaGuer's guilt) was apparently based on the fact that LaGuer writes a mean letter. ...

Matt Margolis on Hub Politics: It's clear that not only is Deval Patrick soft on crime, he's really soft on criminals.

Bruce on mAss Backwards: Why downplay your involvement, Deval?

... Stand up and take pride in your "progressive" deeds! If it was the right thing to do, then why run away from it now? Shout it from the rooftops..."SCREW THE VICTIMS, RAPISTS HAVE RIGHTS TOO!" ...

Jon Keller tries to tie Patrick to Willie Horton (what's next, Jon - did Patrick have something to do with Cain killing Abel, too?)

Lance on No Drumlins compares Patrick/LaGuer with Reed Hillman's efforts to help a friend charged with OUI and finds Patrick wanting.

On Blue Mass. Group, David brings up the Hillman case, too:

... Hillman's got some 'splainin' to do on that one. ...

He also argues that Patrick wrotes his letters before the DNA tests that tied LaGuer to the rape.

Ah, but what of the Herald story? Not getting quite the same play in the blogosphere:

On Blue Mass. Group, Lori Like we need MORE of that!

Andy on Mass. Revolution Now also notes the connection; says it proves Healey is a hypocrite.