Boston Globe Campaigns Against Christie Mihos, Candidate for Govenor – Article on Mihos Tax Issue Refuted by Other Journalist - Analysis

The BostonGlobe ran an article entitled “Mihos Runs Short on Tax Lien Explanation”, yesterday. In reading the article, written by Globe Staffer, Michele Richinick, one gets the distinct impression that this is more of an editorialized report than an actual “news article”. The gist of the article is that Globe Reporters investigating Mihos financials discovered a tax lien on his home on the Cape, and that Mihos had owed additional monies in fees for late payment. In the same article, however, paragraph three reads:

“Mihos refused to quantify the gain or the amount of the tax. He produced a letter of apology from the IRS, stating that the lien was placed in error shortly after the delinquent taxes had been paid.”

Yet the Globe is not “satisfied” with the “explanation” given by Mihos regarding the reason the lien was filed in the first place.
The first note under the headline reads: "Cape Cod Home Latest IRS Target", referring to a transaction Mihos made in another State, not subject to Massachusetts Taxes, but which the State’s D.O.R. aggressively pursed in order to collect the tax and fines. Incidentally this incident occurred during the 2006 campaign.

A follow-up article by 40 year veteran Journalist Walter Brook, appeared on a local Cape Cod News Website :

“Although Christy Mihos owes no taxes whatsoever, the state's largest circulation daily newspaper implied otherwise today in a story which confounded this writer and many others, including the candidate who lives in Yarmouth.
In fact, Mihos is probably the state's only taxpayer who has received a letter of apology from the IRS, a fact known to the writers of the Globe article.
As a journalist for half a century in this state, I have never before seen such a concerted effort by the "old media" to write-off a candidate this early in the campaign, a candidate who their own polls show ahead of his competitor.
As a journalist for half a century in this state, I have never before seen such a concerted effort by the "old media" to write-off a candidate this early in the campaign, a candidate who their own polls show ahead of his competitor.”

Mr. Brooks is referring to Mr. Mihos Republican challenger, Charles Baker, as the which the Globe defends, however, when one looks at the polls, it is clear that the Candidate who has the most to fear from Mihos’ gubernatorial race, is the incumbent Governor, Duval Patrick. In the last four polls, two by Suffolk University and two by Rasmussen, Mihos handily bests Patrick – while Baker does not fare as well. Therefore, one can deduce that, given the Globe “discovered” Mihos’ tax problems in two consecutive election cycles, the real target is the leading Republican candidate.

It is precisely this type of shoddy, “insinuating”, journalism from the Globe and like publications that reminds one of headlines coming from less “elite” sources, such as the National Enquirer. One has to take the alleged “infighting” from the G.O.P., indicated by Mr. Brook in his article, with a grain of salt. Mr. Brook is concerned that the Globe is pushing Baker as a candidate for the Mass. GOP. Given the history of the paper’s editorial bent, this is most unlikely. The facts are simple, the Mass. G.O.P., has two candidates running for Governor, and most likely would prefer one over the other, (given the same occurs with the State’s Democratic Committee) and therefore, as with any healthy primary challenge, one expects there to be supporters from the top of an organization on down, for one candidate or another . That said, simple math (polls and financials) and the make-up of the electorate, dictate that at the end of the day, Mihos will be the gubernatorial candidate, despite the Globes writers best efforts.

Mihos, a populist candidate will face off in a primary that includes the 12% republican electorate as well as any independent (unenrolled) that chose to vote in that primary against Deval Patrick. (Unenrolled's may vote in Massachusetts Primaries, they merely choose either a Republican or Democrat Ballot)The Commonwealth boasts an unusually high percentage of “unenrolleds” – over 50% of the electorate – giving that “non-party” the ability to elect the next Governor, Senator, U.S. Congressional Rep., and so on. Therefore, the hoopla over Party politics in the commonwealth is moot – the voter that each candidate needs to reach is the unenrolled. Given that this year polling indicates that Mihos, as a populist does best with both Republicans and Unenrolleds, any Patrick supporters will do their best to paint the leading candidate as less than perfect. The third party candidate, Tim Cahill, Democrat turned independent, fares well in polling, garnering a 27% (approximate) approval rating – a rating that is similar to the one enjoyed by Christie in his 2006 Independent bid for Governor. The end result, however, is the independent candidate received less than 10% of the overall vote. Therefore, Cahill’s entry into the race is moot, given the historical voting and polling patterns of the Commonwealth. Patrick’ overall approval rating is in the high 20’s and unless there is divine intervention, there will be little hope of a second term. Therefore, one can anticipate that the Globe’s articles will become more aggressive and desperate as the race continues.