Don Roach: Blind Faith in Cicilline is Reckless
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Yet another Democrat is shilling for Congressman David Cicilline. This time it’s Cicilline predecessor, Patrick Kennedy. You can meet the “Honorable Patrick Kennedy” on September 9th at a Providence fundraiser for the former mayor. Last week Kennedy published a statement supporting Cicilline in which he said: “In Congress, David (Cicilline) works hard for his constituents […] With some of the wild and reckless allegations we have seen this week serving only to distract from the serious issues facing Rhode Island, Democrats need to stay focused on winning in November.” Reckless? Kennedy believes Gemma’s accusations are reckless. Go ahead and laugh at that for a second so you don’t spill your coffee, hot chocolate, Vitamin Water, or whatever your drink of choice is after reading Kennedy’s comments.
You know what’s reckless, the state’s leading Democrats swarming to back Cicilline like flies on shhhhugar cubes. Gordon Fox, Angel Taveras, and Gina Raimondo have each backed Cicilline in his bid for reelection despite his admitted mistakes in Providence. Heck, even the no-horse-in-this-race Governor Chafee is supporting the former mayor.

Are you kidding me? Do these Democrats forget what Cicilline did to the city of Providence? Do they realize that his approval numbers are bad as a result? Would they be supporting Cicilline if he was the same man, having done the same deeds, but with and R next to his name?
Not…a…chance.
If you listen to mayor Taveras, he who liken the fiscal financial situation in Providence to a weather phenomena, he has forgiven Cicilline. Oh, that’s so cute that he can forgive him for nearly driving the state’s capitol city into financial ruin. It’s cute that he can let bygones be bygones while promoting a man who has no right to represent Rhode Island’s first district much less be trusted with the neighborhood paper route. And yet still, Taveras believes Cicilline is the right man for the job because he has done some good things for the city.
Rhode islanders consider your own places of employment. What if you raided the companies budget while telling your superiors that everything was ok so that you could parlay the work in your current role into a larger one. Let’s say you get that larger role and immediately thereafter your comments about the budget are exposed as a sham and a vein (yet, successful) attempt to get that larger role. One would think that because you pilfered the budget you’d get fired, right? Well…let’s say a bunch of your colleagues who aren’t stupid decide to come to your aide because you did a lot of good in your old role and why should your budget raiding misdeeds cast a pall over your entire time in your old position despite the fact that the what you did nearly cost the company its largest division?
You can see where I’m going with this. It makes no sense to me how these Democratic ‘leaders’ can blindly follow wherever Cicilline plans to lead them. It’s completely reckless and reeks of the worst kinds of political cronyism. Democratic leaders had an opportunity to step up and stand for something – stand against politics as usual and cast out a man who nearly drove Providence to financial ruin. Instead, they’ve rallied around him and continue to ignore his actions in Providence.
Many have called Gemma’s voter fraud allegations against Cicilline reckless. The truth of the matter is, we can’t trust politicians who blindly follow other politicians simply because they wear the same letter next to their name. Yet, that’s what our Democratic leaders are doing with Cicilline. As voters, we need to send a message to him and his supporters that this is not acceptable. If we don’t, then we get exactly what we deserve and have no one to blame but ourselves when we’re swindled again.
We teach our kids not to learn from our mistakes. When you vote in the Democratic primary, please take your own advice.
Don Roach is a member of the RI Young Republicans. He can be reached at don@donroach.org.
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Comments:
Donn Roach
3:13am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Typo in the last sentence "not" should not be there.
Judith Reilly
5:53am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Taveras has done more than just forgive and endorse. He has covered up, by refusing to release Cicilline's 2010 emails to the public, via reporter Tim White's request. The Access to Public Records Act allows, but does NOT require, Taveras to keep those emails secret. I applaud Gemma for doing what he thought was right in launching his investigation, but I think launching a relentless and successful public campaign to get those emails would have been a really good thing. Now, I'm sure some Taveras supporter will try to defend him, saying he is only doing what the law allows, protecting the majesty of the privacy of the mayor's office or some rot, but the public has an overwhelming right to know in this "Category 5" situation.
David Allen
8:23am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Blind Faith? I dont think so. It's more "Democratic Party politics, business as usual" - left over from the days when Billy "Pawtucket Mob Boss" Lynch ran the party. You see, if you didnt go along with party in those days, the Mob Boss would put a gun to your head and sling the nastiest mud around. Today, the failed leaders and spineless wimps Taveras, Raimondo, and Chaffe all fear the gun coming out again. They fail to realize that Willy Lynch is no longer around and frankly, is about as relevant as an umbrella in a hurricane. But they continue to fear the party. Sad that we have so few leaders that actually have the stones to really lead.
THOMAS Murray
9:01am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Amen,Good Article!
anthony sionni
11:01am on Wednesday, September 05, 2012
I agree! I am a democrat and I am disgusted by the fact that these democratic leaders would support cicilline!!
Cicilline got in office with just 37 percent of the vote in 2010 and with all his other shenanigans, how could they support this guy.
Charles Drago
12:51pm on Friday, September 07, 2012
For David Cicilline, it's suddenly all academic:
QUESTION: Why should Matt Jerzyk and Chris Bizzaco join Cirque du Soleil?
ANSWER: Because they're flipping. Like acrobats on crystal meth.
To a raptly attentive audience of U.S. government employees.
Lee McDaniel
1:15pm on Saturday, September 08, 2012
Interesting article. Of course, no one believes that anyone - politicians or others - should blindly follow someone. I continue to support Cicilline - for many good reasons. Not just because he's a Democrat. Not just because he's the incumbent. I support David because his views, votes, and actions as a Congressman are in line with my political and personal beliefs. I think most 1st District voters (and residents!)share a similar philosophy. He favors the right to choose, he suports local & American businesses and pursues policies that keep American jobs in America. David supports equal marriage rights. David does a terrific job with constituent services, especially for RI's seniors. He works well with RI's other members of Congress and with RI's state leaders. Gemma does not do this. Doherty will do not this. I fully support Cicilline for re-election and urge all 1st District voters to do the same. Lee McD
Charles Drago
1:32pm on Saturday, September 08, 2012
David Cicilline is a paragon of professional incompetence and personal dishonor.
David Cicilline stands for self-interest over public interest.
As mayor, David Cicilline brought Providence to the brink of bankruptcy -- and lied about it.
David Cicilline turned Providence's public schools into the worst performing in the nation -- and lied about it.
As a member of Congress, David Cicilline has failed to bring a single job or a single infrastructure project to Rhode Island -- and he lies about it.
David Cicilline has failed to impede the Republicans' assaults on our Constitution, on women, on reality -- and he lies about it.
If David Cicilline had never come like a plague to Rhode Island politics 18 years ago, what is it that you have in your life today that you wouldn't have and couldn't live without?
Incompetence? Lies? High taxes? A "representative" who holds you in utter contempt?
David Cicilline's public life ends on Tuesday.
It never should have begun.
Lee McDaniel
1:51pm on Saturday, September 08, 2012
I'nm excited about the election Tuesday. I think David will win. I'm honored to support him and to call him a friend.
Charles Drago
3:01pm on Saturday, September 08, 2012
David Cicilline, by definition, dishonors everyone within the sound of his lying voice.
But you'll have plenty of time to discuss that with your friend David Cicilline when you visit him over the years in federal prison.
The Jerzyk and Bizzaco Choirs are singing my kinda tunes ...
Joe Public
7:59am on Sunday, September 09, 2012
Charles Drago - What does "The Jerzyk and Bizzaco Choirs are singing my kinda tunes" mean?
Don Roach - What I would like to know is what happens if Cicilline gets elected and is then indicted and steps down at a tearful resignation press conference? Does the governor appoint someone or do we have a special election or just go without a representative for CD1? With all the reckless voters in CD1, I think it best to plan ahead.