Kerry and Kennedy honor Deval Patrick

[Mass]

Mr. KERRY (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

S. Res. 88

Whereas February is widely recognized as Black History Month;

Whereas Deval Patrick was born in Chicago, Illinois but, after receiving what he has described as a life-changing education at Milton Academy, has made Milton, Massachusetts his home;

Whereas Deval Patrick is the second African American elected Governor in the history of the United States;

Whereas Deval Patrick has been a pioneer his entire life and was the first member of his family to attend college;

Whereas Deval Patrick graduated with honors from Harvard College in 1978;

Whereas Deval Patrick was elected president of the Legal Aid Bureau while attending Harvard Law School and worked to defend poor families in Middlesex County, Massachusetts during law school;

Whereas Deval Patrick spent many successful years at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense Fund, devoting his efforts to antidiscrimination and voting rights cases;

Whereas Deval Patrick served as a partner at the Boston law firm of Hill and Barlow and took on many pro bono cases, including a landmark lending scam case filed on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

Whereas Deval Patrick was appointed Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, the Nation's top civil rights enforcement post, by President Bill Clinton;

Whereas Deval Patrick served with distinction as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, investigating church burnings, prosecuting hate crimes and abortion clinic violence, holding public employers accountable for job discrimination, ensuring access to housing free of discrimination, protecting the right to vote, and enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and other important civil rights laws;

Whereas Deval Patrick returned to private practice with the Boston law firm Day, Berry, and Howard in 1997;

Whereas Deval Patrick was appointed by a Federal district court in 1997 to serve as the first chairperson of Texaco's Equality and Fairness Task Force, and was charged with rebuilding the company's system of employment practices following the settlement of a significant race discrimination case against the company;

Whereas, beginning in 1999, Deval Patrick served as president and general counsel of Texaco and subsequently executive vice president and general counsel of Coca-Cola before returning to Massachusetts to run for Governor;

Whereas Deval Patrick shows great promise as the Commonwealth's new Governor; and

Whereas Deval Patrick is aided in his service to Massachusetts by his loving wife Diane and his daughters Sarah and Katherine: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) honors the extraordinary achievements of Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick;

(2) offers its appreciation for Deval Patrick's continuing devotion to the people of Massachusetts; and

(3) congratulates Deval Patrick on his historic election as Governor of Massachusetts and becoming the second African-American Governor in the history of the United States.

Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to honor an extraordinary man, a dedicated public servant, and, now, the Governor of my home State, Massachusetts: Deval Patrick. It is particularly fitting that we honor Deval today--during Black History Month--because not only is Deval an outstanding choice to lead our State, but he is only the second African American to be elected governor in American History.

Think about that: the second African American to be elected governor in any of the 50 States of our great Nation. That is pretty amazing. But what is more amazing is that the people of Massachusetts did not elect him because they wanted to make history, they elected him because they knew he was the best man for the job. They recognized that ``Together We Can'' was more than just a catchy campaign slogan--it's a philosophy about how to treat people and how to lead them. And it embodies the kind of leadership our State and our Nation are crying out for at this time.

Throughout his entire life, Deval Patrick has been pushing the envelope, striving to achieve what many thought was impossible, overcoming obstacles that might have made others of lesser conviction or determination turn back. After all, this is a man who went from the South Side of Chicago to the Harvard Law Review.

This is a man who was elected President of the Legal Aid Bureau while attending Harvard Law School and who defended poor families in Middlesex County, MA prior to graduation. Let me tell you something, I attended law school, and I worked in the DA's office prior to my graduation. It is no easy task to balance these competing demands, to work with families day in and day out on issues that their lives depend on. It is a truly remarkable achievement.

Yet, Deval's commitment to public service did not end there. In fact, it was just beginning. Deval went on to spend many successful years at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, devoting his efforts to discrimination and voting rights cases. Then, after serving as a Partner at the Boston law firm of Hill & Barlow, he was appointed Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights by President Bill Clinton.

At the Justice Department, Deval served with distinction in this--the Nation's top civil rights post--investigating church burnings, prosecuting hate crimes and abortion clinic violence; holding public employers accountable for job discrimination; ensuring access to housing free of discrimination; protecting the right to vote; and enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other important civil rights laws.

During his time at Justice, Deval proved that he would fight for justice, that he would fight for individual rights, and that he was not afraid to hold people accountable, even if others found it politically difficult or distasteful.

These are just a few of Deval Patrick's tremendous career accomplishments that lead him to this point in time as my state's newest Governor.

For generations, too many young Americans have grown up with a gnawing sense of doubt: that maybe the best that America has to offer doesn't really apply to them. That's why I am so happy that a generation of children will see men like Deval Patrick in great positions of leadership. And it is my great hope that positive examples like his will lead a new generation of people of color to push this country to ever greater heights.

(Happy to see that - Democrats standing up for Democrats - particularly after the stupid attacks the media have carried against Patrick about nothing).

:applause::applause::applause::applause:

[MBS]

1. very nice

Aas to thos stupid attacks on Deval, Elias has a good retort
See http://www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com/2007_02_18_archive.html ( "The Escalade Affair", Feb 20)

The Escalade Affair...
The Boston Herald, the local punditariat and the usual talk radio assholes are shocked-shocked-SHOCKED to discover there are a few fringe benefits to being Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In this case a semi-armored SUV and the use of a state police helicopters. To the preposterously overpaid and undertalented jerks who are hyping this farce, such items constitute Neronian decadence.
I mean, Brian McGrory is just outraged by the sheer malevolent symbolism of that Cadillac SUV....

Frankly, this is all bullshit in extremis, a couple of sore losers from campaign '06 are looking to bitch-slap the admin early to see what they can stir up that is all.

I mean if you honestly think that SUV & Helicopter are wasteful luxuries then consider the White House sized mansion that Louisiana provides for it's Governor fully staffed and comes with it's own Ballroom as well.