The triangulation of political salesmanship often seems like the fine execution of polling science but it is really a fragile art.
And in the weeks since Gov. Dannel Malloy outlined the framework of his “shared sacrifice” budget plan, he’s been close to pitch perfect in the art of the deal.
He’s found a center course that distances his approach from Wisconsin’s assault on collective bargaining and New Jersey’s assault on social programs. He’s able to stand before a labor rally, firm in his resolve to press for $2 billion in reductions, yet bearing an invitation to sit down and talk as a credentialed friend of labor. And he’s able to stand before successive town meetings and listen to individual stories of pain inflicted by what would be the largest tax increase in state history, while coming across as both sympathetic and unbowed.
His calm businesslike demeanor conveys the message “I don’t like it either but I’ve been hired to clean up this mess.” Implicit in every performance is his invitation to offer a better comprehensive plan. So far there have been no serious takers.
The chorus of those expressing their frustration with being gouged yet again by government is loud. That’s fair and that’s expected. Malloy earns respect for facing his constituents and the naysayers. So far, the backlash has been minimal. Connecticut taxpayers seem to buy Malloy’s argument that the mess is real and not of his making. It’s an argument similar to the one President Obama used as he blamed the nation’s economic collapse on President Bush. Obama has proven honeymoons end. Only time will tell how long Malloy’s will last.
The Hartford Business Journal’s unscientific poll — results are on Page 3 — shows no great swing in Malloy’s support. The nine special elections produced neither a repudiation of Democrats nor a particularly engaged electorate. Turnout percentages below 20 suggest no rush to kill the messenger.
A Pollyanna might suggest that all this indicates Connecticut residents have seen the error of their ways and are ready to swallow the bitter medicine. Even in the unlikely case that were true, special interests and their lobbyists are not going to go down without a fight. Some may actually have worthy concerns and suggestions, like the NFIB’s call for a tax sunset provision, advanced in a letter appearing on our op-ed page today.
Like classic theater, we have so far seen but the first act. Legislators working for local political advantage have yet to weigh in and they have shown no interest in taking their medicine when it was prescribed earlier.
We congratulate Gov. Malloy and his message architect, Roy Occhiogrosso. So far they’ve been on top of their game. The problem is that the going will keep getting tougher.
Consider the quote attributed to one state employee after Malloy spoke to that labor rally: “We don’t mind paying our fair share, but why isn’t business paying theirs?”
Much of the potential ugliness ahead is rolled up in that one line. There’s the undercurrent of class warfare between the workers and those who create the jobs. There’s the arrogance of the governing class that doesn’t yet comprehend what’s happened to workers in the ”real world.” There’s the faulty reading of the prevailing wind.
Yet somehow Malloy is going to have to educate and cajole, negotiate and use his bully pulpit, all the while steering clear of the explosive rhetoric that could undo all his best efforts.
This is no easy task Malloy has before him.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie recently did some broadcast pandering, saying his state would be waiting at the border to scoop up Connecticut jobs chased away by huge tax increases. He even suggested Malloy hadn’t read the owner’s manual on his new job.
Perhaps Christie has a point. But so far, Malloy and Connecticut are better served without the manual that got us into this fix.
