Deval Patrick Gets a Labor Day Boost

Deval Patrick got a big boost in his insurgent campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor today. In a Labor Day op-ed in The Boston Globe, Patrick received the endorsement of the last two Democratic secretaries of labor: Robert Reich and Alexis Herman. The article, titled "Patrick works for workers" is heartfelt, compelling and enthusiastic.

Here are a few excerpts:

"On Labor Day, Americans honor the contributions of labor to American life. Today the two of us, former secretaries of labor in the Clinton administration, honor and endorse the candidacy of someone we believe has demonstrated a commitment to improving the conditions of working people -- Deval Patrick.

We know Patrick from his work in the Clinton administration as the Justice Department's chief civil rights prosecutor. He took on crimes such as attacks on churches and synagogues, gave life to the Americans with Disabilities Act, and inspired a groundbreaking fair lending program that helped focus lenders on risk rather than race and gave thousands of people a chance to own their first homes....

Having worked as a janitor, lathe operator, and snow-cone vendor, Patrick also knows how important a living wage is. And he appreciates how much we have all benefited from the hard-fought gains of the American labor movement....

This is a man whose life spans the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, and who is ideally suited for the position of governor. On this Labor Day, knowing how important jobs and labor issues are, we enthusiastically support his candidacy and honor his service to workers and their families. Patrick is no ordinary leader.

Read the whole article.