Dec. 3, 2009 : Senate candidates at home: Michael Capuano

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>> Rooney: TONIGHT ON
GREATER BOSTON.
WHAT'S MICHAEL CAPUANO LIKE
AWAY FROM THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL?
JARED BOWEN'S AT-HOME SERIES
HEADS TO SOMERVILLE WITH THE
CAPUANO FAMILY.
PLUS WHAT'S UP WITH TIGER
WOODS.
AS THE SHOES KEEP DROPPING,
THE ROLE HIS WIFE WILL PLAY
IN RESHAPING THE GOLFER'S
IMAGE.
>> GOOD EVENING, TONIGHT WE
FINISH UP OUR SERIES OF
AT-HOME INTERVIEWS WITH THE
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR
UNITED STATES SENATE.
ONLY ATTORNEY GENERAL MARTHA
COAKLEY OPTED NOT TO
COOPERATE CITING SCHEDULING
CONFLICTS.
SO TONIGHT JARED BOWEN WINDS
UP AT HOME WITH MICHAEL
CAPUANO.
WITH CONGRESSMAN MICHAEL
CAPO COMPELLED TO SPEND SO
MUCH TIME IN WASHINGTON, HIS
FAMILY HAS BEEN DRAFTED AS
SURROGATE CAMPAIGNERS.
>> THE LAST NIGHT I COULDN'T
EVEN TELL YOU GUYS THIS, A
WORLD WAR II EVENT LITERALLY
ACTING IN FRONT OF A GROUP
OF 30 PEOPLE, WHAT KIND OF
FATHER HE WAS.
THAT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD.
I MEAN I CAN ALWAYS ANSWER
THE QUESTION BUT --
>> WHAT WAS THE ANSWER?
>> THAT YOU WERE A DECENT
GUY.
>> BIG HIGH PRAISE, HE WAS A
DECENT GUY.
>> SONS MICHAEL AND JOE HAVE
HIT THE CIRCUIT, MAKING
SPEECHES, ANSWERING
QUESTIONS, AND IN
MICHAEL, JR.'S CASE, EVEN
GETTING MISTAKEN FOR HIS
DAD.
>> DIFFERENT
RESPONSIBILITIES AND
DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT
WE'RE DOING INSTEAD OF JUST
TAGGING ALONG WITH HIM, WE
ACTUALLY GET TO GO OUT AND
MEET PEOPLE.
>> STRIKING A MORE IND MAT
CORD IS BARBARA, CAPUANO'S
HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART AND
WIFE OF 3 YEARS.
>> I TRY TO SHOW THE
PERSONAL SIDE OF MIKE
BECAUSE YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE
THAT.
AND SO I TALK ABOUT HIM AS A
FAMILY MAN AND FATHER AND
HOW HE WAS WHEN HE WAS
MAYOR.
HOW HE KIM HOME EVERY DAY.
>> ARE YOU SAYING HE IS A
DECENT GUY TOO.
>> THIS IS THE CONDITION
DATA IN A NUTSHELL.
QUICK, DIRECT AND SARCASTIC.
>> THIS IS OUR LIFE, HANGING
AROUND THE HOUSE AT QUARTER
PAST 10:00, GETTING FILMED.
>> A LOT OF POLITICIANS THAT
IS THEIR STRATEGY WHY DID
THAT NEVER OCCUR TO YOU THAT
THERE SHOULD BE SOME FILTER
THERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
ITS -- IT GETS ME IN A LOT
OF TROUBLE IT GETS ME IN A
LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE
MEDIA BECAUSE THEY JUST
DON'T UNDERSTAND IT I MADE A
DEEM WITH MYSELF.
AND THE DEAL WITH MYSELF WAS
IF I'M GOING TO DO THIS, I'M
GOING TO LIMIT THE INCOME
THAT MY FAMILY EARNS AND
MAKE MY LIFE AN OPEN BOOK.
IF I'M GOING TO DO THAT, I'M
GOING TO BE HONEST ABOUT IT.
AND I'M GOING TO BE WHO I
AM.
I'M NOT GOING TO COUCH, I'M
TO THE GOING HOLD BACK.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE AREN'T
GOING TO LIKE IT BUT I
REALLY DON'T LIKE THE
PLASTIC CONTROLLED
POLITICIANS OF THE WORLD.
I THINK IT'S PHONY.
EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT IT'S
PHONY.
>> BUT AS CAPUANO HIMSELF
ACKNOWLEDGES, BEING FRANK
ALSO LANDS HIM THE STIGMA OF
BEING ANGRY.
A LABEL THAT DOGGED HIM
DURING THIS CAMPAIGN.
>> IS IT ANGER, YEAH, I
GUESS THERE IS SOME ANGER
THERE.
WHAT IS.
>> WHAT IS THE WANG ANGER B
ABOUT INEQUITIES OF LIFE AND
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG TO
GET THINGS DONE.
BUT I THINK I TAKE THAT
EMOTION, THAT PASSION, AND
CHANTEL INTO SOMETHING
POSITIVE.
BUT IF OTHERS WANT TO
JUST -- IF SOMEBODY WANTS A
FLACCID PLAIN GRAY
POLITICIAN WHO THINKS THAT
LIFE IS JUST FINE,.
>> THE PASSION HE SAYS IS
DERIVED FROM A LIFE IN
SOMERVILLE WHACK HE
DESCRIBED AS A POOR WORKING
CLASS COMMUNITY.
>> NOBODY EVER SAID LET'S
GROW UP TO BE LIBERALS.
IT JUST THEY SAW A LOT OF
POOR PEOPLE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE DEALT FROM
THE BOTTOM OF THE DECK WHO
GOT LEFT BEHIND AND GOT
TREATED BADLY BY SOCIETY FOR
THINGS THEY HAD NO CONTROL
OVER.
>> SOMERVILLE IS WHERE
CAPUANO IS BORN AND RAISED.
WHERE HE BECAME MAYOR AND
WHERE HE WAS ELECTED TO
CONGRESS.
EDUCATION THOUGH WAS IVY
LEAGUE, AT DARTMOUTH, AND IT
WAS A REVELATION.
>> THE SIMPLE LITTLE THINGS.
BASEBALL, YOU KNOW, I DON'T
THINK I EVER PLAYED BASEBALL
ON GRASS.
AND IT NEVER DONNED ON ME --
DAWNED ON ME THAT OTHERS DID.
YOU SLOWLY COME TO REALIZE,
MY GOD, BASEBALL WAS MEANT
TO BE PLAYED ON GRASS AS
OPPOSED TO ASPHALT.
LITTLE THINGS LIKE THAT.
ONE AT A TIME IT COMES TO
YOU THAT YOU CAN DO TWO
THINGS.
YOU CAN EITHER RUN AWAY FROM
IT OR LEAVE OTHERS HAND OR
YOU CAN TRY TO MAKE IT
BETTER FOR THE WORLD.
>> BUT AS FORCEFUL AS HE IS
PUBLICLY, IN PRIVATE THE
CANDIDATE IS USUALLY CONTENT
TO JUST RETREAT.
>> WE TALKED TO A COUPLE OF
PEOPLE WHO DESCRIBED YOU AS
REALLY SHY.
WHEN YOU WERE A STUDENT,
EARLY ON.
>> I AM SHY.
>> ARE YOU STILL SHY.
>> VERY MUCH SO.
>> IT'S TOUGH TO SEE THAT
WHEN YOU ARE A PUBLIC
FIGURE.
>> BECAUSE SHY SENSE A
PERSONAL TRAIT.
I MEAN IF YOU ALLOW ME TO GO
INTO A ROOM, ANY ROOM THAT I
DON'T HAVE TO WORK, I WILL
PROBABLY JUST STAND AT+++ATH0
SCHOOL SWEETHEART.
GIRLS ALWAYS SCARED ME.
>> SPEAKING OF BARBARA, WE
WERE TOLD THE ONE THING TO
ASK YOU THAT WOULD PROBABLY
GET A LAUGH OUT OF YOU IS TO
ASK WHAT YOU GAVE EACH OTHER
FOR YOUR FIRST CHRISTMAS
PRESENT.
>> I STILL DO IT.
IS THAT FROM YOU, NO?
WE STILL DO IT, IT'S NOW A
TRADITION.
THE FIRST YEAR WE
Mr. MARRIED WE WERE IN
GRADUATE SCHOOL TOGETHER.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
AND WE DECIDED IT'S SILLY TO
GO OUT AND BUY PRESENTS FOR
THE SAKE OF HAVING PRESENTS.
THAT'S NO WHAT CHRISTMAS IS
SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT.
AND SO WE TOOK INVENTORY OF
WHAT WE NEEDED AND WE NEEDED
SOCKS.
THAT'S ALL WE NEEDED.
AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE HAD.
WE DIDN'T NEED SO, WE BOUGHT
EACH OTHER SOCKS.
>> AT HOME CAPUANO LIVERS
MODESTLY.
AND EVEN AT 57 HE SAYS
THERE'S STILL A VERY
YOUTHFUL PART OF HIM THAT
CAN'T BELIEVE HE GETS TO
WORK AT THE UNITED STATES
CAPITAL.
>> HERE I AM LIVING IN A
TWO-FAMILY HOUSE IN THE CITY
I GREW UP IN, RUNING FOR THE
UNITED STATES SENATE WAY
CHANCE OF WINNING.
THAT'S SURREAL.
I WASN'T RAISED TO EVER
THINK THAT ANYBODY WITH MY
BACKGROUND COULD EVER
CONSIDER SOMETHING LIKE
THIS.
IT WAS SURREAL TO RUN FOR
CONGRESS AND TO WIN IT IS
SURREAL TO SERVE IN
CONGRESS.
IT WAS SURREAL TO RUN AND
WIN AND SERVE AS MAYOR IT
WAS SURREAL TO GET INTO
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE TO GET
INTOS ABOUT TON COLLEGE LAW
SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, ALL OF
THESE THINGS.
THEY WEREN'T IN ANYBODY'S
PLAY BOOK.
>> NO, IT'S BEEN MORE STORY
BOOK, GOING FROM ASPHALT
COURTS TO THE MARBLE HALLS
OF CONGRESS AND AND NOW
MAYBE THE SENATE.
>> AND JARED BOWEN IS HERE.
JARED, THERE IS JUST NO
QUESTION THAT HE IS REALLY
GENUINE, BUT YOU KNOW THIS
CAMPAIGN RAISES ISSUES ABOUT
HIS IMAGE, HIS TEMPERMENT.
HE ALLOWED STEVEN PAGLIUCA
THE LAST TWO NIGHTS ANYWAY,
TO GET UNDER HIS SKIN IS
THAT JUST PART OF IT TOO?
>> I DON'T THINK HE GETS --
I THINK HE GETS WORKED UP
BECAUSE HE REALLY DOES HAVE
A PASSION.
I THINK LIKE WHAT WE SAW IN
THE DEBATE LAST NIGHT.
HE FEELS HE KNOWS THE ISSUES
BETTER THAN STEPHEN PALA
BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN WORKING
ON THEM IN WASHINGTON.
TO BE VERY FRANK, WHEN WE
WERE HEADED OVER THERE, I
WAS A LITTLE BIT SORT OF ON
EDGE MYSELF BECAUSE LAST
TIME I TALKED TO HIM IN THE
GREEN ROOM HE WAS A LITTLE
ABRUPT.
THEN WHEN I GOT THERE I
REALIZED THAT IS JUST WHO HE
IS.
THERE IS NO FILTER AND HE IS
JUST VERY DIRECT.
AND HE MAYBE DOESN'T HAVE A
WHOLE LOT OF PATIENCE FOR
SMALL TALK.
AND FOR -- AND THEN I REALLY
SORT OF BEGAN TO PLERBT
THAT.
BECAUSE HE'S A VERY HONEST
MAN.
AND HE'S NOT TRYING TO STIR
YOU UP.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO BE
MALEVOLENT T IS JUST WHO HE
IS.
>> IT INTERESTING, HIS
BACKGROUND, HIS SOMERVILLE
ROOTS THAT STORY ABOUT
PLAYING BASEBALL ON ASPHALT.
AND YET HE WENT TO IVY
LEAGUE EDUCATED BUT HE IS
STILL, AND THE CHILDREN ARE
LIKE, THE CLONES.
THE ACCENTS, YOU KNOW, IT'S
CUTE BUT IT'S AMAZING THAT
NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
>> HE REALLY HAS A
REMARKABLE STORY FOR THE
FACT THAT HE HAS KEPT TIED
TO WHO HE WAS.
HE HAD A VERY MODEST
UPBRINGING AND IT'S FUNNY
BECAUSE WE DID TALK TO A FEW
OF HIS FRIENDS AND WHAT NOT
BEFORE GOING OVER THERE.
THEY SAID HE IS PROBABLY IN
THE END MORE IVY LEG THAN
SOMERVILLE.
HE STILL GOES BACK THERE.
HE WAS VERY BRILLIANT.
DID VERY WELL ON HIS SATs.
GOT EARLY ACCEPTANCE TO
DARTMOUTH.
WENT THERE, HAD THIS
BRILLIANT EDUCATION BUT THEN
TOOK IT ALL BACK AND HAS
REMAINED IN SOMERVILLE.
NOW HIS SONS AS I THINK HE
TOLD YOU ON THIS SHOW, THEY
LIVED VERY NEAR HIM AND IN
THEIR OWN HOUSE THAT THEY
RENT OUT TO THE SON.
>> IT IS ANOTHER TESTAMENT
TO WHO THEY ARE.
>> I HAVE A FEELING HE WILL
DO WELL.
>> I THINK IT WILL BE A
CLOSE RACE.
>> JARED BOWEN, GREAT SERIES,
THANKS SO MUCH.
>> COMING UP ON MONDAY, IT'S
A RARE SWROINT APPEARANCE ON
THE EVE OF THE PRIMARY,
SCOTT BROWN AND
JACK E. ROBINSON, THE TWO
REPUBLICANS IN THE RACE JOIN
ME FOR A SENATE FOR EM.
-- FORUM THAT IS MONDAY AT
7:00 ON GREATER BOSTON.
ALL RIGHT, WHEN WE CONTINUE,
TIGER WOODS, AN ENDANGERED
SPECIES?
BUT FIRST, THIS MESSAGE FROM
WGBH.