Anyone who read this blog during the special election to the State House a year and a half ago knows that I was an enthusiastic supporter of the ultimate victor in that race, our representative, Paul McMurtry. There was always an element of Jefferson Smith in him, everything from being a hero to 50,000 boys and 100,000 parents to being in awe of the people, the place, and the chamber to which he was being sent.
When you watch them it's tough to know who said "It's the underlying principles of democracy. It's not just about the liquor license," and who said "Get up there with that lady that's up upon this Capital dome, that lady that stands for liberty. Take a look at this country through her eyes if you really want to see something." In both men there was also a certain naivete about the way things really happen in those august bodies, but one that was quickly overcome in both cases.
The Globe has picked up the story of how Representative Paul McMurtry has brought "Business in the Massachusetts House... to a standstill for two weeks." This bold move of Paul's is because a a Boston pol is blocking a bill that would grant a liquor license to a Westwood Station tenant. The bill was sent to Paul by the Town of Westwood through their Town Meeting, and as their Representative he is fighting for it just as hard as I believe he would do for us. As the reporter in the movie says, "What he lacked in experience, he made up in fight."
The Claude Rains to our Jimmy Stewart in this standoff is Angelo Scacia. He claims that he isn't being influenced by Roche Bros' hired gun and our former representative, Maryanne Lewis (no comparison to Jim Talyor, but shades of Clarissa Saunders), but it strains credulity to believe that he really cares so deeply about the welfare of a family owned grocery store miles from his own district. Sal DaMasi, the Speaker of the House, a man used to running the show in his own house, has interjected in this internecine battle but so far hasn't been able to solve the impasse.
Paul's mastery and manipulation of the House rules recalls on of the great cinematic moments of our nation's history, the fillibuster Senator Smith gives just before he is about to be expelled from the upper chamber. This certainly isn't one of "the most unusual and spectacular thing in the Senate annals," but it is something far from the norm up on Beacon Hill.
Real life isn't nearly as Capraesque as the movies, and I hope Paul's battle doesn't end up like this, but the the penultimate moment of the film is worth sharing here.
There is a little overlap in the next clip, so fast forward to 2:20.
The happenings at the Statehouse are not quite so dramatic, but hopefully will be resolved as positively.
(As a random piece of movie trivia, in order to get Jimmy Stewart's voice to sound like that they rubbed Mercury on his throat.)
