Gov. Patrick did show some gumption, however, by calling out the corporate honchos at Hyatt hotels for it cruel treatment of the fired housekeepers at the chain’s three Boston properties. It’s on the front page of the Globe today.

http://www.projectcensored.org…..l-debates/

“Since 1987, a private corporation created by and for the Republican and Democratic parties called the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has sponsored the US Presidential debates and implemented debate contracts. In order to shield the major party candidates from criticism, CPD has refused to release debate contract information to the public.

…

Frank Fahrenkopf and Paul Kirk, who co-chair and control the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), are registered lobbyists for multinational corporations. Kirk has collected $120,000 for lobbying on behalf of Hoechst Marion Roussel, a German pharmaceutical company. Fahrenkopf earns approximately $900,000 a year as the chief lobbyist for the nation’s $54 billion gambling industry. As president of the American Gaming Association, Fahrenkopf directs enormous financial contributions to major party candidates and saturates the media with “expert” testimony extolling gambling’s “many benefits.” “We’re not going to apologize for trying to influence political elections,” said Fahrenkopf.

“These are the guys,” author George Farah points out, “deciding who gets to participate in the most important political forums in the United States of America.”

He adds, “Kirk and Fahrenkopf’s lobbying practices demonstrate a willingness to protect corporate interests at the expense of voters’ interests. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that the co-chairs of the CPD are willing to protect major party interests at the expense of voters’ interests.”

Wheee!!!! Of course Kirk’s promising not to run for the seat. Why would he, when he can simply cuddle up to whomever *does*?