In politics, all the world’s a campaign stage - particularly for incumbents. Officeholders enjoy the advantage of hitching their names to good works in newspaper and television ads, in government printings, at public events - all in the name of informing the public. With the indictment of former state Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill for allegedly misusing State Lottery advertising to benefit his gubernatorial campaign, the question of what constitutes illegal campaigning and what constitutes legitimate promotion for the larger good is in the crosshairs.
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I'm no fan of Cahill's, but it was certainly a shame that Brown, an ethics expert, didn't have the courage to clearly state that Martha Cahill violated the new law she wants to prosecute Cahill for violating when she called a press conference to boast about trying to bewitch the ex state treasurer for promoting his own cause by not mentioning his name or showing his picture while defending a state-run program. Coakley should have kept her face away from the tv cameras. And they say Bill Clinton used to parlay the meaning of 'yes'.
Cahill was the guy who said "I'm no reformer!"
Judge Stephanosky speaking. Hurrumph, clearing throat. Maybe he knew that promoting his success with the lottery would have an indirect effect on his campaign. Still, he only promoted the success of the lottery. Case dismissed. Not guilty.