The Republican governor in Massachusetts has targetted a bunch of progressive women legislators in this election. For the first time in recent memory, our local Democratic representative, Ellen Story, has a Republican challenger, Jeanne Traster. Strangely enough, her signs and literature don't say she's a Republican... A friend of mine was walking downtown on Saturday when the Jeanne Traster sign-holders were out in Amherst. He approached one and accepted a piece of her literature. After examining it carefully, he asked, "Is Jeanne Traster a Republican?"
"Yes, she is," a fellow replied.
"Huh! It's strange, then, that the signs and the flyer don't mention that anywhere. Is she trying to hide that?"
"Well, no, but you should make your decision based on the issues," the fellow continued.
"OK. How does Jeanne Traster feel about collective bargaining rights?"
"Collective...bargaining?" The guy didn't seem to know what that was.
"Well, how about public higher education?" my friend asked.
"Oh, she supports education," the guy said.
"No, wait. Public Higher Education," my friend said. "Did you go to UMass? Or...?"
"No," the guy said. "I never went to college."
"Oh! Huh! Well, look. Our Republican governer, Governer Romney, has been cutting the higher education budget in the state -- something like 25% over the past two years and has been refusing the fund the contracts for higher ed workers -- even though the Governor's office had signed off on those agreements. When those have been voted on, the votes have been along party lines, which is why it matters to me whether Jeanne Traster is a Republican or not."