WGBH Radio; The Callie Crossley Show

Support for WGBH comes from you and from Boston Private Bank and Trust Company Boston private bank provides private and commercial banking and investment management and trust services to individuals and businesses. You can learn more by visiting Boston private bank dot com and from Huntington Theatre Company speakeasy Stage Company and Company 1. The Shirley Vermont plays a festival of three plays by hit off-Broadway writer Annie Baker now through November 14th. Shirley Vittie plays Dot com. Kelly Crossley. Can you turn around an underperforming school on the Cali Crossley Show. There's nothing more important than who's in front of our children. Coming up at 1 o'clock on eighty nine point seven. WGBH public radio from Boston for New England. I'm Marco Werman. I'm Lisa Mullins and this is eighty nine point seven WGBH Boston. Online at WGBH dot org. Constans NPR station for news and culture. I'm Kelly Crossley. This is the Cali Crossley Show.

It's the last hurrah the count down the final stretch for politicians to press the flesh with the governor's race in a dead heat. The 10th Congressional District race too close to call and the big guns from President Obama to Mitt Romney imploring people to turn out at the polls. There is no doubt a lot is at stake this year from the Bay State to the Beltway. Will the youth vote and the African-American vote sit this one out. Will the throw the bums out sentiment be enough to get folks fed up with the Fed to turn up at the polls and land big wins for the Tea Party and the GOP. What would a Democratic shake up on Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill look like. Today our political analyst Kelly Bates in March of the day are giving these races one last go around. Up next the midterm marathon crossing the finish line. First the news. From NPR News in Washington I'm Lakshmi saying Americans are increasing their spending but only slightly and they are earning as much.

NPR's Yuki Noguchi has the figures for September. Economists had anticipated incomes would rise. Instead they fell by a tenth of a percent last month. The Commerce Department said it was because the previous month had been inflated by emergency unemployment benefits. Consumers spent modestly in September up two tenths of a percent from the previous month but spending had been increasing at a faster rate. This all raises questions about whether consumers will buy goods and services during the upcoming holiday season. That's considered important because consumer spending drives more than two thirds of the economy and has been sluggish in the face of protracted unemployment. Yuki Noguchi NPR News Washington. Former California Congressman Gary Condit is testifying in the trial surrounding Chandra Levy's murder nearly 10 years ago. Salvadoran Ingmar Guandique is accused of killing Levy who was interning in Washington D.C. A decade ago. Condit was the main suspect in the disappearance of Levy with whom he was romantically linked. Former House Majority Leader

Tom DeLay's corruption trial is underway in Austin Texas. Opening arguments began today. He's accused of money laundering and attempted money laundering charges. Delay flatly denies. If convicted DeLay could get up to life in prison. A suspected U.S. unmanned aircraft fired missiles into the Pakistani tribal area of north Waziristan reportedly killing five suspected militants. That's according to intelligence officials there it is the latest barrage against al Qaeda associated fighters. Who have sought sanctuary in the border region with Afghanistan. More details from NPR's Julie McCarthy in Islamabad. The missile or missiles reportedly struck a house in the town of Mir Ali in Pakistan's North Waziristan. The area has been the target of the overwhelming majority of drone missile attacks that have accelerated in recent months. In October alone there were at least 21 suspected U.S. missile strikes September saw an equal number but that represented nearly a doubling of attacks from the previous month owing to the secret

nature of the CIA drone missile program and the hostile territory in which the strikes occur. It is not possible to independently verify details of the attacks. The Pakistani Taliban leader Bittu Masood was killed in a drone strike last year according to local reports his brother has been murdered in North Waziristan. But the political authorities there deny any knowledge of his death. Julie McCarthy NPR News Islamabad. Official election results are out in Kyrgyzstan a strategically vital U.S. ally in the Afghan war effort. They confirm victory for dessert a nationalist party loyal to a former president toppled earlier this year on Wall Street Dow Jones industrial average up 54 points at last check. This is NPR. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.S. is willing to discuss forgiving Cambodia's Vietnam War era debt. NPR's Anthony Kuhn reports from Kuala Lumpur that the US government has previously insisted on repayment.

Secretary Clinton met with Cambodian leaders and opposition politicians in Phnom Penh. She toured the genocide museum at the Khmer Rouge era Tuol Sleng prison at a town meeting Cambodian students asked her about the debt issue. If the government of Cambodia is willing I will send a team of experts and we will explore different ways to try to approach this. The U.S. learned about a quarter of a billion dollars to the law government as it crumbled before the Camero Rouge during the 1970s. The loan with interest now amounts to more than four hundred forty million dollars. Secretary Clinton suggested that the money to pay off that debt could now be diverted to pay for education or environmental protection in Cambodia. Anthony Kuhn NPR News Kuala Lumpur. The world's biggest census is underway in China over the next 10 days millions of census workers will fan out across the country knocking door to door. To get a head count and perhaps a much better idea of how China's

demographics have changed a decade ago officials reported nearly 1.3 billion people lived in China but many migrant workers living temporarily in cities were missed. So more tightly conducted census this time around could reveal significantly higher numbers in the world's most populous country. Results are expected to be released at the end of April. I'm Lakshmi Singh NPR News in Washington. Support for NPR comes from the doors do charitable foundation supporting the performing arts environmentalists conservation better core research and the prevention of child abuse. Good afternoon I'm Kelly Crossley and this is the Cali Crossley Show. It's the final push to Election Day. Joining me to talk through everything from Beacon Hill to the Beltway are our political contributors Kelly Bates and Marvin Benet. Kelly Bates is the executive director of the access strategies fun. Marvin Benet is executive director of the

Massachusetts black and Latino Democratic Legislative Caucus. Kelly Bates Marvin and I welcome this we're going to hear before we dive in listeners we want to hear from you. We're talking politics all hour long and we want to know Are you glad it's almost over. Are you going to sit this race out. Did the Democrats or the Republicans disappoint you this year or will the economy the chance to throw the bums out drive you to the polls tomorrow. We're at 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. That's 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. Politics all hour. Give us a call. So you do let's start with this new Gallup poll which the bottom line is that the poll comes away saying Republicans are poised to retake the House. How do you all see that that line up with what you are hearing and saying. Most political and analysts agree that that's probably going to be the case. And. It's going to be a question of what the numbers are you know they're

going to take X amount of seats or are not but either way I think they'll retain control. They will get control of that body. Yeah. Now Marvin at one point they were saying 65 seats and now some posters are saying maybe 40 somewhere in there what do you. Does that seem to line up with what you're hearing. Absolutely I think what we're we're noticing is that originally there was this leaping excitement for Republicans that they were going to really take this race by storm. And what they've discovered is that if you look at the polls those empathetic and prophetic voters are actually more more leaning towards the Democrats and they are the Republicans. And so that switch and seat number is an indication that Democrats have began to kind of get their groove back a little bit to resonate with the voter a little better than they have in recent months. Yeah in fact they're saying that the momentum seems to be a lot of the Democrats have picked up momentum in the last weeks though. This poll seemed to suggest that they still

want to allow them to overcome some of these numbers but they have picked up some of the momentum now what's also interesting in this is that this seems consistent with a kind of the polling that's been going on for the last year or so people are met at there. Representatives in Congress. Period. Right. And even though they are if these polls turn out to be true planning to vote Republican they're not happy with the Republicans so this is very interesting so fascinating they still overwhelmingly support you know the Congress the Democratic Congress and they still think that Obama is a decent president but they are. I think it's this whole question of they're angry that they haven't seen the changes that they want done around jobs and that in itself gives them enough leverage to say well I'm just going to vote for anyone different. Whoever is the other party I'm willing to give people a try. There are also voters this season are willing to give less seasoned you know political politicians and policymakers a chance. So I just think this is again a reaction to the fact that there

has not been quick enough change around employment in the country. I would have to agree. If you look at it from the perspective we go back to 94. This is a similar instance where they were deeply unhappy with Republicans. And so there was a switch going on at that point did that allow for Democrats to kind of get in into a position where they could counter and become the majority and so forth. But I think right now what we're seeing is just history repeating itself history repeating itself. There's always going to be a period of time where there's going to be a little gamble to see whether or not we can shake it up a bit and make maybe we can infuse a new a new sense of power. I completely agree with Kelly as it relates to that. You know those nuke candidates out there who are less experience less aware of what Beacon Hill looks like or less aware of what Congress looks like are willing to step out. And so somebody is going to support them and make sure that they get in because they believe if they get in there they're more inclined to listen to the average voter then a more seasoned and polished

and. Career oriented politician if you will. OK so they're just like us so that you just those kind of those kind of those people running are just like me so they can hear me correct so that they're more disinclined to touch base with you a little bit more than the average politician now. Yeah it's been an economy of layoffs you know. And I think it's so funny I think the voters are doing the same thing in return you know if you can't you know live up to what I need I'm just going to get ready you to I mean there's sort of this notion of something's it's got to change. Well yeah now now what they're doing is that you are finding someone in your neighborhood or your district or your in your area that you know has the intellectual capital to go in there make some some good decisions is a good speaker and so forth. And so you begin to promote them and then you get the community galvanized around them and then they go forward. And then when it comes down to voting you're casting your vote with your heart and conscious versus just trying to you know cast a vote for who's on the ballot.

What I predict though I think you know with the Tea Party surge and the Republican surge that we're seeing along with this sort of still general support of Democrats in Congress when this is all said and done this election is going to be very hard for voters to sort of point the blame now easily at either party because there's going to be more of both parties in control. So I think actually there's going to be a settling out and it's going to be an interesting time around policy because you they will have to kind of work together in some way even even though there's more of each party in there and voters will not be as quick to pointing the finger as we're going to actually have to see how does this all show no matter I mean just real quick that they say the Republicans are less likely to work collectively than a democratic So the Democrats are. So if we look at it from that angle if Republicans retain majority in the house we could potentially have we could potentially go backwards because we're not going to see a surge of continuity in the surges of collectiveness that will get us moving forward on any agenda this put forward.

I'm going to take this call but I just want to say that some of the Republicans who are running for office say they're not going to work. But if people who are putting them in are reading the polls are paying attention. Almost every voter I don't care where they are on the spectrum are saying you've got to get in there work with somebody your website but there won't be any sort of browns. OK. Well but people are going to have it. Now I'm telling you. OK. From RA Chester Massachusetts go ahead please. I'm a scout. How are you. Car in Georgia show thank you. What inspectors are so-called angry voter anger at the wrong people. How so. Well if the Democrats were Democrats were in charge when all this stuff was taking place it was the people were that were going on following it and they you know we had a Republican president. Republicans control both houses of Congress so naturally. So let's just take to Wall Street you know they ran amuck simply because they all

they were given a phony or serious if you will to write a book. OK OK let's I'm going to I'm going to let Keli in Marvin's way and I will say this though two years later you know some people would agree with you but two years now into President Obama's administration a lot of people say all of that is now on him I mean he has to own it. Well I look at this way. I do in every respect the other guys are doing you're fucked but you only have harassed a Congress if you will during the war. I thought it was best for the country. If you're over 50 you know what Aubrey. All right well that's what Nichols is telling us Kelly what do you say. I think both parties can take some blame here. Let's be real about the fact that when Obama came in he continued a lot of the bailouts on Wall Street to corporations and he extended it to the automotive industry although I'm very sympathetic to how much people are hurting in

Detroit. He kept the same people in place that were a part of Bush's administration that kept those bailouts going and he never changed that very much so this is I think the whole fear of the system was going to collapse made people jump to a lot of judgments both parties it is true though that you know the Democrats are trying to make up for a long history of challenges in our economy. But I think both parties have some blame there. I would have to agree I think that both parties. Have made me made some inroads and there have been some some errors that have been made as well both fans. What I will say is that the interesting thing is that President Obama inherited you know a war he inherited you know an economy that was collapsing. And I think that what we as voters fail to realize is that their it takes time to rebuild from the bottom. Bush walked out of office with a rating that was below 50 percent.

I believe it was below 40 percent because the vote average voter was not pleased with his performance and he frankly did not care because he was walking away and he was moving on with his life. When you inherit it when you inherit something goes so deep in the ground you have to allow someone an opportunity to lift themselves and start to turn things around and I like to say that President Obama has made some great strides. He's tried to work with a nonpartisan piece of it. But it's a hard thing to do and I think either Either way it goes whether it's a Democratic run Congress or a Republican run Congress we can still run into these same issues. All right. We have a caller Sara from Hyde Park. Go ahead please. Hi Kelly Hi panelists. Hi I just want to make a quick comment because I'm actually outside moving her and I'm dying. I don't even want to call him but I couldn't help it. We appreciate it. What I want. When I hear anybody getting upset about you know their politicians and everything and local and national I think well when if they ever called

anybody up that they have a problem. You know I think whenever anything bothers me or a problem with a pothole or I'm not getting representative or representative or anything else I always get up get on the phone call like my attorney general whatever and I always even something local of the cable company not fulfilling their promise or something I always call it but I always get a response and people are really nice and I think one last time son was really upset with government actually took an action to try to correct something. It doesn't have to be a big huge thing like calling your president just something local and it really works just try it. Well you may have a point but there I would say that probably all those people that are not doing that are not voting either. And you've got to begin there I think most of the troublemakers are on the sidelines. I think you already answered my question. But it's a point well taken because it really does make a difference if anyone's called their city councillor lately to get something repaired in their street. A lot of them will deliver if you call your

state legislator and you have a problem. A lot of them will help you at least the good politicians. And tomorrow is that opportunity to say I'm going to participate and to vote and I think people really need to do that and see what their politicians will do for them. I just want to add that I don't think it's much about being nice as much is about that's the responsibility of an elected official so calling them up and asking them a question you're not asking them something abnormal you're asking them what their job is and they're asking them just to fulfill their job so there's got to sense. All right well we'll be continuing this conversation I want our callers to hang in there we have some lined up for the other side of this break. I'm reminded of whomever said this. Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who do not vote. So I'm Cali cross-looking. We're taking a final look at the midterm elections with contributors Kelly Bates and Marvin Benet will be back after this break. Listeners Where is there an ad or an endorsement that influence your vote this year. Are you someone who switched party affiliations.

Since 2008 we want you to weigh in at 8 7 7 3 0 1 8 9 7 8. That's 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. Back after this break. Stay with us. Support for WGBH comes from you and from Boston private banking Trust Company Boston private bank provides private and commercial banking and investment management and trust services to individuals and businesses. You can learn more by visiting Boston private bank dot com and from Babson College fast track MBA program ranked number 1 in entrepreneurship by U.S. News and World Report. You can earn an MBA in two years while still at your job. Info session November 13th Babson dot edu slash MBA. On the next FRESH AIR I've been over this a hundred times at my father for

walking. My mother when I was 17 my need to save Gabriel Byrne is back for a third season of HBO treatment with new patients and a new therapist. We talk with writers Dan Futterman and Anya Epstein joining us. This afternoon. Eighty nine point seven. Hi I'm Brian O'Donovan host of the as Dick's ocean and every year around this time I start sending out invitations from anywhere presentation of A Christmas Carol this year. The show's coming to Boston Worcester Providence Rhode Island and Portsmouth New Hampshire. And for a limited time WGBH members can reserve their tickets at a discount at WGBH dot org slash Celtic. It would be possible in the world he has done wrong and he definitely gave my love.

Coming up on eighty nine point seven. WGBH. I'm Cally Crossley and this is the Kelly Crossley Show in the final push to midterm elections we're talking politics national and local with Kelly Bates and Marvin Benet. Kelly Bates is executive director of the access strategies fun and Marvin Benet is executive director of the Massachusetts black and Latino Democratic Legislative Caucus. Let's nurse What's your take on this election season. Do you connect with the Tea Party. Are they getting too much attention from the media. We're at 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70 that's 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. Now the point before the break we were urging people to get out and vote and it looks like at least because of so much interest in these campaigns and by some that there is going to be a record turnout tomorrow that's what Secretary. William Galvin has said as you know that the primary vote count was very very low. But

now he's saying that that could be tripled by on tomorrow so that's that's exciting. Yeah I mean that makes makes perfect sense a primary or usually the less focused vote for most constituents. They're more or less inclined to vote in the primary unless there's a runoff for a particular seat of interest. And then they will go out to the polls to drive the numbers to make sure their candidate choice gets in. But once we get past that primary we're really into full blast election season and this is where you're really going to see whether the candidate can weather the storm or has weather the storm beyond the primary to get themselves to a general election and be successful. And so I'm not surprised to know that. We're going to get large numbers plus the midterms and as the economy has been changing and we've been talking about just a few moments ago about whether or not the Congress is going to change hands from Republican from Democrats Republican it's a huge opportunity for the voter to really cast their vote and make an impact as we know in this state most of our registered voters

are Independent voters. So you know they have a real opportunity to make a segue they actually will have the ability to sway the vote. I mean most beyond them 36 percent are Democrats and 17 percent per se are Republicans. So independents really have a have an opportunity on their hands to change the dynamics of how the Commonwealth is measure. I wonder if it's really going to be record turnout though. I think certainly think that there's a lot more competitive elections this time. There are many more candidates running for office. There are also I want to just remind our listeners there are many important things on this ballot tomorrow. Not only is there the race for governor the race for lieutenant governor the Treasurer the auditor the secretary of state all our big statewide offices. But you have in certain areas around Massachusetts big races for Congress where you have very strong challengers in there and incumbents fighting for their lives. There's also three ballot questions. These are actually public policy issues that voters can vote on tomorrow to that revolve around tax changes and one that revolves around a housing issue very important to

voters right now the extent to which housing is affordable and the extent to which they're going to be revenues for services or they're going to be having taxes. So there is a lot of reason for there to be an increase I'm not sure it's going to be record I mean I remember the last record I like was the record as Yeah well the record as a comparison then as of 2008 and that's a record. Yeah well we're still at you know that's a historic record. We're looking at is a record in Massachusetts right now. This is the potential running a record for our local politics but the nation why we will not meet the measuring numbers that we had in 2008. Well and I'd just like to add that I think Kelly has hit the nail in the coffin as relates to simply. The ballot questions are quite vital we also have share of races going on across the state as well that are going to make some major impact on our public safety and how that is going to be worked out in some of several of these counties and we also have the sheriff of Suffolk County is running under a brawl. So there are there are a number of races that are going on this ballot is going to be full you're going to have to pay attention when you go and cast your vote you just can't simply just check off one name you have a

few names you should be checking out. Well let's talk about what's happening really on the congressional races here in Massachusetts because it doesn't look like it looked you know even a year ago. Right. There's some really strong competition for the Republicans for the first time you know almost giddy about seeing what's what could happen here in Massachusetts particularly after Scott Brown. So there's a real possibility though I did note that Michael Goldman who's a Democratic consultant believes that no matter what even if it's close races and they're definitely going to close he believes that the Democrats will prevail. Kelly what do you think. I think these are extremely close races. I hope the listeners understand that in some cases we're talking one to four percentage points difference your vote is going to be critical. I'm not so sure like if you think about the race down in the is it the 10 seat. Yes we have Perry and Julian Perry who's a Republican and William Keating is a Democrat that is a very very tight race and it is and I don't know which which way that's going to go I think Barney Frank holds on to his seat I think Niki Tsongas hold on to his seat. I think

this open seat with Perry and Keating is up for grabs. And I actually might differ with you on I think the Keating has a great opportunity before him. If we look at it I'm going to take a step back here and say that there have been a number of outside donors who have contributed to these races that are impacting the races with their financial influence. That will segue that will actually transition a voter who was willing to and you asked this question earlier has there been a commercial that has swayed you. If we look at it currently the American futures fund has impacted the local races here in Massachusetts. The last run Martha Coakley running for Senate for the U.S. Senate she lost because they flooded the gates with ads to say that she was not the right candidate. It did not coincide with the agenda of Scott Brown but it made sure that she was not painted as the right candidate what do you think is funding Jeff Perry. You know him you know his efforts against this particularly conservative. A large national then let's look at the from the other side who is also putting up the commercials that

are indicating to us that Jeff Perry is not the right candidate. Jeff Perry's made some mistakes I mean we know this commercial. He goes on about someone being harmed and so for that's painting a picture does not sit well with the average voter. So I think that the outside financial influences will really push that push that race in particular and I think this is what will allow Jeff Perry not to win that seat. Well be interesting. I want to get back to this outside money in just a moment. We have a caller from Acton Go ahead please. OK I thank you for taking my call so I wanted to point out one thing that I believe is sort of treated as the elephant in the room in terms of discussing this political season which is the attitude of Americans regarding whether or not. Barack Obama was born in the United States. For one thing here's a poll that says 68 percent of independents and 57 percent of Republicans say Obama was probably not born in the United States. Fifty seven percent of Republicans. Sixty eight percent of so-called independents most of which are probably

Republicans anyway and just try to pretend that they're independent. The list we have some basic agreement from one where reality is in any other discussion is is really pointless. And we have a situation today where the populace has been so brainwashed by 30 years of Republican propaganda that they are unable to accept the most basic fact of reality. Yeah and this is a bit different. It's ridiculous. It's a sad situation to say the least. Well done thank you very much for your call. I think though that you did make a point by some people but now I'm not going to say that all Republicans think that President Obama was not born in the United States I don't think that. I think I think it's a mute point. I mean at this point if he has not been vetted enough to indicate that he's a U.S. born citizen to have already won the seat be sitting in the seat for the last almost two years and this is still being this is still an issue. What is showing is that Republicans are actually I have found that they have some Republicans some of right. OK some

Republicans are vulnerable to the extent that they will stretch their hands towards anything that will give them an opportunity to indicate that he is not the right man for the job. So I think this is a mute point I mean at what point are we going to let go. Well if you notice Republicans are actually staying away from Obamacare putting up Palosi as the person to hate. They're staying away from him because people still you know still like the president they're really focused on rating his rating for favor ability is extremely high it is yeah it is. So really Pelosi has been the target I think they've kind of left that point behind. To the callers. I know he believes that that's still an issue I don't see that playing out very much right now. I mean I think it's still associated with some people who identify as your party is but I don't know that you know how many of those people and whatever but I think you're right there is more emphasis on Nancy Pelosi and what Congress has or has not been doing than not. But. Talk about these ads shaping public opinion and the influx. This is really huge it is huge. I I want people to understand what has happened when you look at this congressional

election compared to the last one. There is five times as much money in these elections than in years past. Went from 16 million to currently 80 million. And there's a reason for this and I want people to really understand this. The United States Supreme Court had a case called Citizens United which I believe should be called corporations United because what it did is it gave corporations unlimited ability to give endless amounts of money to organizations to run ads. And I bet our listeners know this haven't you seen more ads than you've ever seen and a campaign season. You have and it's because all this money is flowing from corporations into these organizations and they are doing these ads. It is very scary to me that we have this much money and politics. It's really for me it should be up to voters to impact the actions not money according to that law all the donors do not have to release who they are. So the fun can actually collect all of these donations and utilize it freely without having to demonstrate a display who their donors are so that we.

So I'm going to let our listeners here to add this first one is paid for by the American Future Fund which was established to provide Americans with a conservative and free market viewpoint and this is an ad against Barney Frank. Autumn 2008 the housing bubble burst an economic collapse. Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bailed out by taxpayers. Barney Frank had oversight of the mortgage industry and the opportunity to help prevent the crisis. But Frank failed us prior to the collapse Frank insisted. They May and Freddie Mac are not in a crisis and he assured us. I think we see entities that are fundamentally sound financially fundamentally sound. New reports show the cost of the Fannie and Freddie bailout is much higher than expected and could cost us up to one trillion dollars. Barney Franks taken millions from the real estate and banking industries and protected them not us. Frank failed us and Barney's bailouts have cost us enough. On November 2nd. Remind Barney Frank that no one is too big to fail. Vote against Barney Frank

American Future Fund paid for and is responsible for the content of this advertising not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. American Putra fund. So that's the American Future Fund and they can set it up and they do not have to reveal who the donors are there's been some. Research done by reporters trying to figure out some of the names behind some of some of the folks and for the American Future Fund they've been traced to some businessmen out west let's see Sandy Greiner is the president she is a former state legislator and an Iowa farmer This is the president the board of directors for American Future Fund correct. Barbara smelter is the treasurer She's a lifelong conservative grassroots activists. And Katherine Polk and is the director she's a former congressional aide and she's worked for both the U.S. Senate and House. But obviously you know there are many many mothers other people putting money into it and because of that ruling is also going to have to Romney's former staff was on there as well. OK but that's that's worked out because they don't have to reveal themselves the law says they don't right now. Let us listen to

another ad this one's in favor of Deval Patrick and it was paid for by Bay State future another one of these organizations a newly formed 6:55 that's what they're call that's launched attack ads against Charlie Baker. He worried about jobs. Well Charlie Baker favors tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship our jobs overseas. He even signed a pledge. To protect those loopholes. So if Charlie Baker gets his way. And by jobs. Now phasing. Momoa. I'm Barbara J weniger the chair based a future based on future approved and paid for this message. OK so base a future another one of those organizations now Barbara J weniger was a big donor and has been a big donor for Governor Deval Patrick so she put her name on the end of the ad and some of the American future's ads there's another person's name at the end. But primarily we don't know beyond those one person to identify themselves

who's funding put in the money and for the I want to hear something that I find really concerning one of the most primary organizations nationally that's putting a lot of money into these ads is an organization that is run by Justice Clarence Thomas his wife. This is this is fact and he never he never stood aside during that United States Supreme Court decision that I just stated to people. That's something the American people should be very very concerned about. There is actually movement across the country to have a campaign to have an amendment to the Constitution that would say corporations are not people because that's what this court decision said and they should not be able to put this amount of money into politics. It is just unprecedented. The amount of resources and as voters we should be very disturbed about this and we should make sure that this trend does not continue and we should really put this spotlight on our justices and our Supreme Court which I'm an attorney and I got to tell you this really concerns me that we don't have a system that I believe at

this moment protects against you know these kinds of changes in our system. So excellent point. And I think that we felt we failed to realize because we haven't researched the information to discover it. I want to go back to say that you know these as if you notice there are two distinctions in the ads and there's a softer touch and then there's a more direct impact. Is it related to from the American Future Fund when I talked about Bernie they said that you know first Barney is this and then Frank is that and then they merged the names together and all you have to pay attention to this in this all goes back to 1988 when the Willie Horton commercial was put together. For as a related to Michael Dukakis's run from then we began to see a resurgence of this sort of of I want to say the brain of battle and they work they writes why people do it but it's starting to get more intense recently. Now we're you know like you said in the last year or so we're seeing an influx

of these acid or just simply direct. And we're going to really looking to destroy the character. They're not just looking to win a race they're looking to destroy the character of the individual. So even beyond the race you look at this individual difference that concerns me because now politics is not become about winning but it's become about destroying. Well I mean this hasn't happened in Massachusetts but in. One of the Carolinas where Rand Paul is is running the Democrat candidate in that race ran an ad that was extremely negative toward Rand Paul. But you know some facts in it and it's actually backfired on him because people that's the first place where they've seen people saying OK that's just over the line for me I'm tired of the negativity but negative ads work. But this is I think that initially and I think what's hard here is for people to separate out those ads that these kind that we just played independent folks from the ads that come from the candidates themselves what we were hearing you know once ago we talk about the the ads from the Republican Governors Association when they were talking about Deval Patrick and how

intense the those ads were getting in Charlie Baker said I have nothing to do with it I'm not from well because he didn't. He had already had the Republican Governors Association where were putting those and that if he benefits from it but that was you know more yeah I think that loses who loses is our country and our voters because I feel actually even though we keep talking about record turnouts I think there's a whole number of voters who are going to stay home because they're so disgusted by the negativity and the cynical nature of those kinds of ads. Some people it will definitely excite them and they'll they'll go to the polls but I also think it just permeates the sense that politics is bad and not all politics is bad sometimes government does the right thing. And it's our job as voters to make sure they do the right thing and so I just think it's this has been one of those elections where I think just really took a bad turn. I think this is where Governor Patrick has actually done a good job I have to say out of most of the ones in the in the gubernatorial race of just sort of like I'm going to sit back and let everyone else argue it out and he has not done too much of the negative ads but they

all have done a little bit of it yeah it's you know people respond. I'm Kelly Crossley We're taking a final look at the midterm elections to weigh in on the conversation. Call us at 8 7 7 3 0 1 8 9 seventy 8 7 7 3 0 1 8 9 7. We're talking elections with contributors Kelly Bates and Marvin Benet. Give us a call and let us know if you're sitting this one out. When we come back. President Obama's fraidy coalition talked about. We'll be back after this break. With the. Support for WGBH comes from you. And from Boston Private Bank and Trust Company. Committed to helping successful individuals and businesses accumulate preserve and grow their wealth. You can learn more at Boston. Private Bank dot com. And from the 14th annual Boston International fine art show hosting an evening with WGBH is Lara Carlo to benefit ninety nine point five all classical November

19th from 6 to 9 p.m. at the cyclorama WGBH dot org. Next time on the world giving new citizens a reason to vote. Getting people to see themselves as stakeholders in American society. It's not easy in New York's Korean American community. The Korean political system is vastly different. There's no voter registration. We don't have primaries and things like that one door to door campaign hits. That's next time on the world. Coming up at 3 o'clock here at eighty nine point seven. Whether you prefer Bordeaux Cabernet or a vintage port. The WGBH wind chill is bringing the best of the world's vineyards to the Skinner auction house in Boston on Tuesday November 2nd. We don't the perfect bowl to add to your collection to give us a gift

this holiday season or just to share for the sake of sharing the proceeds benefit WGBH stations and programs. Details of WGBH dot org slash y a partnership of Skinner news and appraisers and WGBH. I'm Michele Norris from NPR News and you're listening to eighty nine point seven. WGBH radio. Stay with us for the bigger picture behind the day's news and all things considered. Coming up at NPR station for news and culture. I'm Kelly Crossley and this is the Calla Crossley Show in the final push to midterm elections we're talking politics national and local with Kelly Bates and Marvin Benet. Kelly Bates is the executive director of the access strategies fund. Marvin Benet is executive director of the Massachusetts black and Latino Democratic Legislative Caucus. And listeners we want to hear from you. Are the candidates addressing your concerns and do the billions of dollars they spend on each election make a difference. As Marvin thinks seems to think it does. Where would you like to see

the cash go. We're at 8 7 7 3 0 170. That's 8 7 7 3 0 1 89 70. Well President Obama's been stumping hard for candidates all across the country and at the same time he's been trying to pull together that magical coalition that worked so well in 2008. Two parts of that coalition are very important and that's certainly African-American voters and Latino voters. Lots of polls and stories saying many of those people are going to sit it out and that could have a devastating effect when some of these races as we've noted are quite close and a lot of not only here in Massachusetts but across the country. You know do you believe that they're going to sit it out. That's the first question I guess to you too. Well the rising American electorate in the 2008 election which were as you said black voters Latino voters also youth voters and single women I think will not participate perhaps as much as 2008 but not because there's

something that terrible about the candidates or they're apathetic but because frankly most people in general turn out more during presidential elections. Also it was kind of a historic moment there was an African-American president running and likely could win for the first time so people were going to vote for that one particular election. I think it largely depends on what's happening with those voters in their respective state and our candidates. Do they have a strategy to bring out those voters. Do the nonprofits that get out the vote. Are they bringing out those voters. I can only speak in Massachusetts but I know there are many many organizations that are working very hard to bring those voters out to vote. What I will say though is there is some concern among this coalition of people that. There their issues are not really being heard they're concerned about jobs I mean if you look at the black population they are twice as likely to be unemployed as whites. Young people are struggling and they're getting out of college and out of higher education without finding jobs. So there's a lot of concern that they have like all voters so I think they will come out. I don't know if they'll come out as much as they

did in 0 8 I don't think anything can ever compare to 0 8 that was a very unusual time. And I think it's really up to seeing you know did these candidates reach out to their constituencies. Did they reach out to their base and for some candidates who if this coalition was their base if they did their job and turn them out they will be more successful for it. President Obama's one man one man cannot change the world. And I think that there are two mature is too much responsibility to do in place upon his shoulders that would lead us to believe that every voter is going to come out when he speaks. I think a voter also has an op has the responsibility to go out and seek information as it relates to the candidates that are running in their prospective districts. And I think that I care that a voter has a responsibility to go out and cast a vote. So I am firm believing that you will see a decrease in numbers but it will not be based upon a lack of energy or a lack of enthusiasm from our president of the United States. And I will also go to say that he has continued his campaign of keeping us

informed. Whether you receive it by email whether you seen him at a rally whether you have witnessed him on Facebook make comments he has tried to utilize as many tools as possible. That is now transferred into our governor who is running currently for this seat and he started to use these tools as well to engage the average voter. But the reality is is that at some point you have to stop pointing fingers at the leader and look at yourself and ask yourself Are you really stepping out because you choose chosen not to or because someone has just not asked for your vote. I think its hard for those first time voters who are expecting change to happen in a minute. And so a lot of parents saying they are. I know a lot of people are saying the margin is really those first time voters they made the margin in 2008. And those are the ones that may not come out again. The people who as you say Marvin take their responsibilities seriously certainly will. But in fact Kelly as you point out you know the job rate unemployment rate African among African-Americans is 16 percent.

So thats off the charts people are complaining about 9 and 10 16 percent. People want to see something happening I'm going to take a call or hear Peter from Stoneham Go ahead please. Hi I'd like to I had a comment coming out the ugly ones and I'm saying to myself that it's creating divisiveness in the country. Compromise is really not possible because people are taking extreme positions. I also want to say that I think the level of candidates that we have running nationally and locally is really hurting because I don't see the Frank side strengths and some of the other great names that we used to have in Massachusetts running for office anymore. And and you know to ask where the money is affecting this race is ludicrous because unless we take money out of politics we're really not going to have a democracy. You're going to have one that's going to be won by the corporations and that's what we had in Coolidge. I thank you very much Jack for that call.

I think you raise a good point. Part of us were looking for a rock star candidate you know a rock star candidate is not always going to be available in this race. This this set of elections is an indication of that because I don't think that there's one or two or I could name about three or four who stand out as strong enough candidates that will allow the average voter to ride away with them to get them into office. One of the other things that I wanted to touch on when we're talking about this coalition that President Obama put together in 2008 let's go to the Latino voters earlier. Governor Patrick did an ad in Spanish to appeal to Latino voters locally. But there is another ad running nationally which has a lot of people concerned urging Latinos not to vote. Here it is it's been rolled out a fire by an organization called Latinos for Reform which is headed by a prominent conservative operative and political analyst for Univision. Last time President Obama and the Democratic leadership made a commitment that

immigration reform would be passed within a year but two years have gone by and nothing not even a vote in Congress this November we need to send a message to all politicians. If they didn't keep their promise on immigration reform then they can't count on our vote. Democratic leaders must pay for their broken promises and betrayals. If we just go on supporting them again this November they will keep playing games with our future and taking our vote for granted. Don't vote this November. This is the only way to send them a clear message. You can no longer take us for granted. Don't vote. This is the same organization that asked Latinos to boycott the 2010 census and their message didn't get through that time either. People participate in democracy to get results by not voting. Nobody cares about you. You actually have to vote in order to get people to take your concerns seriously. The issue around immigration reform.

The reason immigration reform didn't happen was not only did some of the Democrats not deliver on that but the Republicans made it very difficult for the Democrats to deliver on that. That was one of those bipartisan issues where they did not move it forward. But I don't think that's going to depress the Latino vote. I think Latino voters have been increasing over these past elections. The polls show that they're still going to be turning out and probably at higher levels than they have in other midterm elections and the Democrats and Republicans are very smart to pay attention to Latino voters because of their demographic growth and because of their. Interest in politics especially Puerto Rican voters and other voters who come from places where you know politics is like sports and people people vote. But I do think there is a lesson in this which is that whoever get in gets into power there is a problem. Our immigration system is broken everyone concedes that. Whether you're on the left or on the right. I just hope people do it and fix it in a responsible way and without

scapegoating immigrants who by the way is how our country was founded and really work out a practical solution. But this this organization I know of them and I don't think they're going to gain a lot of traction and I would I would ask people to participate and not listen to these kinds of messages. It's a little shocking Marvin asking people not to. Yeah. But I think it's the reverse tactic that obviously we think is going to generate a buzz and it's going to hit a media blitz that's going to you know get us all revved up and ready to to make a change in that way the direction they're asking. But I will say that this population has been if you look at the investments of candidates in the Commonwealth alone Governor Patrick has been the top investor as it relates to ethnic media. Particularly Hispanic media. And so I think that he's already discovered that this vote counts and his vote is valuable and I'm going to make sure that they understand that I care about them.

Also I raise this point yesterday and I think it's important if you sit in a room with Governor Patrick and you're at a rally and he speaks to you you feel as if you're talking to him one on one. Even in the midst of a crowd if you sit in the room with Charlie Baker and you're in he's talking to you. You think as if you're in a sea of people and if you sit in a room with Tim Cahill you're not sure which direction you're going. So I say that to say that the average voter is looking to relate to the candidate and not just have a candidate talk to them. And I think that the Hispanics have indicated that they need a candidate that understands them values them and is willing to demonstrate to them how important they are. OK we're taking a caller Catherine from Cape Cod. Go ahead please. Oh yeah how do you know that. It didn't pass the subject about the First Amendment thing. They find it very disturbing because I think you know I just I just feel like if there's going to a right to privacy and there's a right to free speech how can these people these sort of secret corporations or the secret funds have it both ways you know I

just sort of feel like the American people are being bombarded by and sort of kicked around all over the place. Well you're right that the Supreme Court made it possible so that I totally disagree with it. Yeah I'm so glad you asked that about an author and I think it's incumbent upon us after this election I think voters need to make their voices heard. Whoever's in Congress that this decision needs to be changed they need to make an amendment to the Constitution. Let's take our government back it's not run by corporations it should be run by people. OK Linda from Portsmouth Rhode Island Go ahead please. I think I look like I mean you know I feel as a. You know I think it is it is my duty and my right to vote even though I feel it is a point in time about the future of this country will be very weak. And even the people that are running for different offices at least in the state of Rhode Island they don't want they don't offer any kind of concrete. And when they are when they

catch up. Political debate and you shake your head when you deceive people it's just the rule of the day. They they add to this the specific questions they do not answer the questions. She and I and I along with my husband and I say to myself I can understand why you don't want to get out and vote. And one person made the comment that yes the average person doesn't have the most and no new person in the person in the world running for office but if they don't have that big political machine behind them they can't do anything. Yes and not and that is very evident that one person you know dialing these names and a lot OK. I think we got it. Linda thank you so much. Think Linda is expressing a sentiment that a lot of voters feel like you know answer the question. You know talk to me. Don't jerk me around and I want to vote. I want to feel good about that and she's going to vote. I mean she's just saying that she's feeling bad about you know she's like

she's like the average voter in most of our communities who are saying to themselves should I get up and cast a vote tomorrow or should I actually ignore it like I did for the primary because it are the results going to change an impact whereas for us I say vote if you want your voice to be heard go out there in droves and count the bow and say listen we come with 50 people we're voting this direction and at the end of it say listen this is what our demands are. But if you don't if you don't put yourself in a position to do that you can expect results that are going to be different from what you have right now. You have to be willing to step up. You know one thing that we don't talk a lot about is you know in terms of candidates waffling or not knowing where they stand America is very split. I mean if you look at health care 50 50 percent it's not like 50/50 who approves it who opposes it. We're split on the war. We're split on so many different issues. So I think what ends up happening is candidates to win. And I think it's just as basic as

that. Try to hold on to their values and some of their positions but try to say in ways that they'll still get the other half of America. And the problem with that is at least now in these days people really I think find it much more interesting and refreshing to have direct talk and know exactly where people stand as opposed to you know this invasive touch and go it is a split. We are a very split country. I think that's why the Tea Party candidates are making some headway. That's right of some headwind because people say that they're saying exactly what they think you know it might not be popular might not like it. You can call me an extremist but this is what I think and this is a lesson for liberals on the left. You know the left was saying in the last 10 years we're not going to do what the Tea Party is doing right now we don't want to look like we're crazy. We don't want to be out in the streets you know how we don't want to get new leadership to run. Well this is a good lesson. That's actually look at how people responded to them. Maybe you should have been doing that and it's not too late. Well they certainly got energy going. I mean I think that's the thing that that a lot of Tea

Party candidates have for them is that energy and that enthusiasm which some believe well you know there's a gap. I mean let's be honest the Democrats had energy two years ago as well. Yeah that because it was a hard left. Yeah yeah. So. What is the reason why the Tea Party has so much energy. Because they haven't had any energy and they realize that in order to get somewhere we have to do something that's unprecedented that has never been done before and really make an impact. And they did it. Yeah. And are doing it. Like I just said yes because I know our time will be ending soon as you know I really do hope people will vote. I mean regardless of sort of the negative feelings out there and you know I think there are some very important races. I think our economy is at stake the future of our public education. The polls are open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. so you can do a before and after work. It's very important than people that people go to the polls. If you don't know where you are supposed to vote you can go to where do I vote. Am a dot com. Where do I vote. I'm a dot com. It's so easy it will tell you

where your polling location is. And I just think it's very important. And let me tell you this a lot of people don't know this little secret. Right now I can look up and I can look up. Kelli Crossley is voter data. I can see not who she is voted for but how many times she's voted and in what elections. I think it's very important people know you're a super voter. I am a super voter I am a super voter and I have voted I had to vote absentee because I'm going to be away. But anyway Kelly Bates Marvin Benet thank you for joining us. You know we've been talking politics from Capitol Hill of Beacon Hill with Kelly Beatty executive director of the access strategies fund and Marvin Benet the executive director of the Massachusetts black and Latino Democratic Legislative Caucus. This is the Calla Crossley Show. Today's program was engineered by Jane pick and produced by Chelsea murders and a white knuckle B and Abby Ruzicka. You can keep on top of the Calla Crossley Show at WGBH dot org slash count like last week. Follow us on Twitter. Become a fan on Facebook. This is the Calla Crossley Show and it's a production of WGBH radio Boston's NPR station

for news and culture.