Oct. 8, 2009 : How Boston's email controversy could affect the Senate race

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>> Rooney: TOP ON GREATER
BOSTON, THE SIMMERING E-MAIL
CONTROVERSY OF CITY HALL.
WHY IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO
IMPACT THE RACE FOR MAYOR
AND THE UNITED STATES
SENATE.
PLUS PULITZER PRIZE WINNING
AUTHOR TAYLOR BRANCH JOINS
US WITH THE CLINTON CASE.
WRESTLING HISTORY WITH THE
PRESIDENT.
AND SHAKESPEARE AND THE
MUSIC OF THE '70s.
JARED BOWEN TAKES US TER
STAGE WITH THE DONKEY SHOW.

>> Rooney: GOOD EVENING.
THE CONTROVERSY OVER DELETED
E-MAILS AT BASTION CITY HALL
CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR
ISSUE IN THE MAYOR'S RACE.
AND NOW THAT ATTORNEY
GENERAL MARTHA COAKLEY HAS
JOINED IN THE INVESTIGATION,
THE STORM OVER THE E-MAILS
COULD HAVE AN IMPACT OVER
THE RACE OF THE UNITED
STATES SENATE SPEECH.

>> IF MAYOR TOM MENINO WAS
HOPING THE E-MAIL
CONTROVERSY WOULD DISAPPEAR
AFTER HIS OFFICE TURNED OVER
HARD COPIES OF THOUSANDS OF
E-MAILS, DELETED BY TRUSTED
AIDE MICHAEL KINIV THEN NO
SUCH LUCK.

>> THIS ISN'T ABOUT A MENINO
AIDE.
THIS IS ABOUT THE MAYOR.
THIS IS ABOUT THE CULTURE
THAT EXISTS HERE AT CITY
HALL.

>> Rooney: BOSTON MAYORAL
CONTENDER HAS KEPT THE STORY
ALIVE.
BUT SO HAS THE SECRETARY OF
THE COMMONWEALTH.
AND NOW STATE ATTORNEY
GENERAL MARTHA COAKLEY.

>> A RISKY MOVE SAYS BOSTON
PHOENIX POLITICAL REPORTER
DAVID BERNSTEIN.

>> SHE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF
AN IMPORTANT SENATE RACE.
HE IS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN
IMPORTANT MAYORAL RACE.

>> Rooney: BERNSTEIN SAYS BY
INVESTIGATING THE MISSING
E-MAILS, COAKLEY COULD RISK
LOSING THE SUPPORT AND VOTER
BASE OF ONE TOM MENINO.

>> IT'S GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE
QUESTION ALMOST EVERYTHING
ABOUT BOTH RACES.
WHO IS -- WHO IS DOING WHAT
FOR WHOM.
IN BOTH RACES.

>> AS TO WHY HE GOT INTO THE
BROUHAHA AFTER FIRST SAYING
IT WASN'T HER JURISDICTION,
BERNSTEIN SAYS THE MEDIA MAY
HAVE FORCED HER HAND.

>> IT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE
I EITHER LACKED THE COURAGE
TO TAKE ON THE POWERFUL
FIGURES OR THAT I'M
DELIBERATELY HOLDING BACK ON
A PUBLIC FIGURE WHO I
SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, AND WHO
IS A SUPPORTER OF MINE.

>> LEAVING NO SEPARATION
BETWEEN CITY AND STATE.

>> ALL RIGHT W ME NOW IS
DEMOCRATIC ANALYST DAN PAYNE,
REPUBLICAN ANALYST RON
KAUFMAN AND CAROL
HARDY-FANTA OF UMASS
BOSTON'S CENTER FOR WOMEN IN
POLITICS.
WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER
THAN THIS.

>> TWO RACES CONVERGING.

>> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES AND
THEY'RE BOTH HOT RACES.
THE MAYOR'S RACE IS HOT FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN FIVE
TERMS.
AND OF COURSE THE U.S.
SENATE RACE IS EXCITING
BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER HAD
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
DID SHE HAVE TO, DO YOU
THINK FIRST OF ALL, GET
INVOLVED IN THE E-MAIL
BROUHAHA.

>> YEAH, I MEAN BILL GALVIN
KIND OF TOSSED A HOT POTATO
TO HER AND SAID I CAN ONLY
DO SO MUCH.
YOU NEED TO DO A REVIEW OF
THESE E-MAILS.
AND SO SHE REALLY CAN'T
CONTINUE TO SAY IT'S NOT MY
PER OG FIV -- PREROGATIVE OR
MY RESPONSIBILITY SO SHE HAD
TO GET INVOLVED.
NOW GETTING INVOLVED AND
THEN WHEN SHE MIGHT RELEASE
A FINDING OF SOME KIND ARE
TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.
THE MAYOR NEEDS THIS TO GO
A -- YOU KNOW TO LAST PAST
NOVEMBER 3rd.
AND YOU CAN SIMPLY SAY WELL,
ITS'S BEING INVESTIGATED.
IF IT HAPPENS BEFORE
NOVEMBER 3rd IT MIGHT AFFECT
THE MAYOR'S RACE IN SOME
SMALL WAY.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL TOPPLE
TOM MENINO BUT SHE HAS TO
FACTOR IN DO I WANT TOM
MENINO'S SUPPORT IN THE CITY
OF BOSTON.
WOULD I BE HURT IF HE IS MAD
AT ME.
AND MENINO IS KNOWN TO CARRY
A GRUDGE.

>> Rooney: FORGET BEING MAD.
DOES THIS TIE TOM MENINO'S
HANDS TO THE POINT WHERE HE
CAN'T REALLY ENDORSE
SOMEBODY FOR THE UNITED
STATES SENATE SEAT EVEN
THOUGH THAT ENDORSEMENT
MIGHT MEAN A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT?

>> THE THIS ELECTION FOR
SENATE IS DECEMBER 8th WHICH
MEANS THERE WILL BE A VERY
SMALL TURNOUT.
BOSTON COMES OFF AN ELECTION
ON NOVEMBER 4TH SO BOSTON
PROBABLY WILL HAVE A BIGGER
SAY IN WHO THE NEXT SENATOR
IS GOING TO BE.
WHICH ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS
AT LEAST.
AND MY GUESS IS THE MAYOR
WILL HAVE A SAY IN THAT,
WHETHER IT IS A PUBLIC
ENDORSEMENT OR NOT.
YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF TROOPS
ALL READY TO WORK, MY GUESS
BOSTON WILL DECIDE WHO THE
NEXT SENATOR WILL BE.

>> Rooney: SO HE WILL WAIT
UNTIL AFTER NOVEMBER 4TH,
AFTER HE PRESUMED TO BE
RE-ELECTED.
THEN HE CAN PULL THE TRIGGER
SO TO SPEAK.

>> WELL, THEN I THINK BOSTON
WILL DECIDE WHO THE NEXT
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR
SENATE WILL BE.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

>> I DON'T BELIEVE THAT
EITHER.

>> Rooney: ALL RIGHT.
WELL, IT WILL BE INTERESTING
TO SEE.
JUST IN TERMS OF THE WAY --
BUT GOING BACK TO MARTHA
COAKLEY'S, TODAY WAS BEING
POSITIONED AS THIS A
FLIP-FLOP ON HER PART.
WAS IT A FLIP-FLOP IN THE
CLASSIC SENSE.
I MEAN SHE SIMPLY SAID IT'S
UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF
THE SECRETARY OF THE
COMMONWEALTH, BILL GALVIN'S
OFFICE.
HE KIND OF HANDED IT TO HER
AND SUGGESTED SHE GOT
INVOLVED.
DOES THAT MAKE IT A
FLIP-FLOP.

>> FIRST OF ALL, OUR
CENTER'S NONPARTISAN.
WE DON'T ENDORSE CANDIDATES
MALE OR FEMALE.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT.
SHE'S NOT FLIP-FLOPPING, BECAUSE SHE DID NOT GO BACK FROM SOMETHING SHE HAD SAID BEFORE.
SHE IS BEING... SHE NEEDED TO TAKE A STAND.
IF SHE PORTRAYS HERSELF AS TAKING A HARD POLITICAL DECISION-- MAKING A DECISION THAT'S DIFFICULT IN A POLITICAL RACE-- SHE'S GOING TO COME OUT AHEAD OF THEM ON THIS.
BECAUSE SHE'S GOING TO SAY, "I AM PUTTING POLITICS ASIDE AND DOING MY JOB AS ATTORNEY GENERAL."
WHETHER IT'S A DIFFICULT POSITION TO BE IN... SURE, IN TERMS OF THE MENINO VOTERS.
BUT I DON'T AGREE IT'S GOING TO BE A BOSTON ELECTION.

>> Rooney: THIS LEADS US TO THE NEXT STEP, BECAUSE IF THESE EMAIL THINGS DON'T GET RESOLVED UNTIL NOVEMBER 4, AND THEN IT COMES OUT THAT THERE'S A FLOODGATE OF STUFF-- AND I'M VERY SKEPTICAL THAT THERE'S ANYTHING-- BUT IF THERE IS, THEN THAT COULD ALSO BE A DEATH NELL.

>> YEAH, WELL, MIKE CAPUANO, CONGRESSMAN WHO IS RUNNING AGAINST COAKLEY WILL PROBABLY TRY TO MAKE SOMETHING OF THAT.
IF THEY TURN OUT TO BE EMBARRASSING, OR IF THEY PORTRAY SOME BAD BEHAVIOR... SOMETHING ILLEGAL THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING ALL ALONG, HE'LL MAKE SOMETHING OF THAT.
AND RIGHT NOW, CAPUANO AND FLAHERTY ARE KIND OF IN CAHOOTS.
THEY WANT MARTHA COAKLEY TO BE HANDLING THIS HOT POTATO AND TRYING TO DEAL WITH IT IN SOME WAY THAT MAY INJURE TOM MENINO.
AND CAP EUNA WANTS MARTHA
COAKLEY TO LOOK LIKE SHE'S
MAKING A POLITICAL MOVE IN
THE WAY SHE IS HANDLING THE
INVESTIGATION.

>> IN A STRANGE KIND OF WAY
DOESN'T IT PULL HER INTO THE
LIMELIGHT, THE SPOTLIGHT,
THE LIMELIGHT, WHATEVER.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE
COVERING HER EVERY DAY.
DID THEY SHE HAVE THAT
STUFF.
GOING TO HER AS THE GO-TO
PERSON, SIDELINING CAP ONEO.

>> -- CAME UNO.

>> ANY NAME RECOGNITION IS
ONE OF HER ASSET, SHE DOES
HAVE NAME RECOGNITION ACROSS
THE TATE IN THE WAY THAT
CAPUANO DOES NOT HAVE.
AND SHE IS OUT THERE
SPEAKING TOUGHLY WHICH AS A
WOMAN IN PARTICULAR IT'S TOO
HER ADVANTAGE TO BE OUT
THERE SAYING I'M TAKING CARE
OF IT.
AND I DO THINK THAT THE
BOSTON VOTERS ARE IMPORTANT
BLOCS FOR HER.
BUT AS WE SAW IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT'S
NOT EVERYTHING.

>> IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN OBAMA
WON THE CITY OF BOSTON EVEN
THOUGH MENINO ENDORSED
HILLARY CLINTON.

>> ALL RIGHT, IT IS A
DIFFERENT RACE.
THE ONLY THING THE BALLOT,
THIS DECEMBER --

>> IT IS ABOUT NOT ABOUT BIG
STRATEGY FROM TACTICS.
YOU HAVE A BIG ORGANIZATION
THAT THE MAYOR DOES HAVE.

>> RIGHT.

>> DE WIN OVER HALF THE VOTE
AGAINST THE FIELD.
TOM MENINO PROBABLY --

>> YOU WOULDN'T FIGURE IT.

>> I WOULD BET YOU THAT
NEWTON, BROOKLINE AND
CAMBRIDGE WILL HAVE A LONGER
PERCENTAGE OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY VOTE, EVEN IN THE
SPECIAL THAN THE CITIES OF
BOSTON.

>> THERE WAS A POLE THAT
CAME OUT BY THE COAKLEY
CAMPAIGN THAT WAS TAKEN
SEPTEMBER 21 TO 24, AN
E-MAIL BROUHAHA WAS ALREADY
WELL UNDER WAY.
ALTHOUGH SOME OF THESE FINAL
SHOES HADN'T DROPPED THE
ISSUE OVER THE MICHAEL
KINIVI WITH THE DISAPPEARED
COMPUTER.
OH, I FORGOT, I GOT A NEW
COMPUTER.
I DON'T KNOW WHO IS
FOLLOWING WHAT AND THE
DETAILS OF THAT.
BUT THIS POLL IS PRETTY
REMARKABLE SAYING THAT SHE
IS AT 47% STATEWIDE, NAME
RECOGNITION, FAVOR ABLE TO
MICHAEL CAPUANO 1% AND
DROPPING DOWN TO 4 FOR
PALIUKA.

>> THAT DOESN'T SURPRISE
ANYBODY.
CONGRESSMAN AREN'T
WELL-KNOWN IN THE DISTRICT.
I AM NOT SURPRISED.

>> BUT CAPUANO WAS ON
TELEVISION.
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1st.
HE STARTED RIGHT IN THE
MIDDLE OF THAT POLL.
AND HE CLEARLY DIDN'T GET
MUCH OF A BOUNCE OUT OF IT.

>> Rooney: I DON'T KNOW IF
HE IS ON IN TELEVISION.

>> HE IS NOT ON NOW.

>> Rooney: YOU HAVE TO BUY
TELEVISION FROM ALBANY, NEW
YORK.

>> AND PROVIDENCE.

>> YOU HE BOUGHT CABLE.
NOT A THOUSAND POINTS OF
BROADCAST.
IN ORDER TO MAKE AN IMPACT
IF YOU ARE AN UNKNOWN WHICH
IS WHY STEVE IS SPENDING SO
MUCH MONEY RIGHT NOW, I SEE
STEVE UP THERE EVERY DAY IT
A LONG WAY BUT SHORT WAY.

>> THERE ALSO THE GENDER
ISSUE IS IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE WHEN PAUL KIRK
BECAME THE INTERIM SENATOR
ONE OF GLOBE ARTICLES SAYS
DOESN'T HE LOOK LIKE A
SENATOR.
SO YOU HAVE TO SAY OKAY
CAPUANO IS UNKNOWN, BUT HE
IS A GUY.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO LOOK
AT THAT AND SEE THEMSELVES
AS I CAN SEE HIM MORE AS --.

>> Rooney: CAN WE TALK ABOUT
THE STORY ITSELF.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVE THIS
DOUBT ABOUT IT BUT IT'S BEEN
BANNER HEADLINE, KINIVISH
TAKES LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
ALL THE STUFF ABOUT THE
E-MAILS.
I MEAN IT'S DRIVING AT THIS
POINT BOTH OF THE RACES,
LARGELY BY THE "BOSTON
GLOBE".
DOES ANYBODY HERE THINK THAT
THEY KNOW SOMETHING THAT IS
CORRECT THEY SUSPECT
SOMETHING THIS THEY LIKELY
HAVE AN INKLING OF
SOMETHING.

>> IF YOU WANT THE PRESS TO
FOLLOW A STORY TELL THEM A
SECRET.
AND THAT'S WHAT IS AT WORK
HERE.

>> THESE MEMOS, THESE
E-MAILS ARE SEEING -- BEING
KEPT AWAY FROM THE MEDIA, IT
IS A SECRET.

>> NOW THERE COULD BE
NOTHING T COULD BE SIMPLE
CORRESPONDENT.
BUT THE FACT THAT THEY WON'T
TELL THE MEDIA --

>> WE HAVE SEEN QUITE A FEW
OF THEM.

>> AND THEY ARE RELATIVELY
HARMLESS.

>> THEY JUST POSTED 5,000
NOW TODAY, THEY MADE THEM
AVAILABLE.
THE OTHER 5,000.

>> 5,000.
THEY SAID -- I WILL GET
RIGHT TO THAT, RIGHT AFTER
THE SHOW.

>> WE REALLY BELIEVE THAT
THIS ISSUE WILL DRIVE EITHER
RACE IN THE END.
IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING,
FOR 10, 15 MINUTES, NO ONE
HAS MENTIONED KENNEDY AND
THE KENNEDY INFLUENCE IN
THIS RACE.
HOW THE KENNEDY MACHINE
INFLUENCES THIS RACE ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER.

>> THERE IS NO KENNEDY
MACHINE.

>> YOU DON'T THINK SO.

>> NO.
THERE ARE KENNEDY
CELEBRITIES AND WE'VE SEEN
TWO MINOR KENNEDYS GET
INVOLVED.

>> CAME OUT AND ENDORSED.

>> STEVEN SMITH JUNIOR AND
DORIS CAPUANO AND MAYBE JOE
KENNEDY WILL ENDORSE CAPAUNO
LATER.

>> YOU THINK IS THE MENINO
MACHINE.

>> I THINK IT IS
INTERESTING.
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THE
KENNEDY MACHINE.
I STILL THINK, IT'S THE
MENINO MACHINE ONLY BECAUSE
IT IS DECEMBER 8th.
AND HAVING THAT ORGANIZATION
IN PLACE.
THAT BIG ORGANIZATION GUY.

>> WHAT -- IT NOT ALL JUST
BOSTON.
I MEAN I THINK THAT THERE IS
THAT WHOLE OTHER CLUSTER OF
GREATER BOSTON.
AND THE REST OF THE STATE
WHICH I THINK --

>> WE SHALL SEE.
THANKS SO MUCH.

>> YOU ARE WELCOME.