Transcript of the September 7 Massachusetts gubernatorial debate among Chris Gabrieli, Tom Reilly and Deval Patrick (condensed)
Question (to Gabrieli): Should state income taxes be cut or stay the same?
Gabrieli: Both. Cut them or keep them. Either way, I’m your guy.
Reilly: Chris Gabrieli is mean and nasty.
Patrick: Hey, hey everybody! I like taxes.
Question: How about Marie St. Fleur?
Reilly: Chris Gabrieli is mean and nasty.
Question (to Reilly): Isn’t this just inside politics stuff?
Reilly: Chris Gabrieli is mean and nasty.
Patrick: No, you’re mean and nasty. But let’s move on.
Gabrieli: I agree. Tom Reilly is mean and nasty. But let’s move on.
Question (to Patrick): Are you raising taxes?
Patrick: I like taxes.
Question (to Patrick): Do you ever say “No” to anyone?
Patrick: No. See, I said it.
Gabrieli: Democrats never say no. But I will.
Reilly: Deval Patrick, you’re mean and nasty.
Question (to Gabrieli): Aren’t you just buying this race?
Gabrieli: Yes. And I’m willing to pay full retail.
Question (to Gabrieli): But why won’t anyone contribute to you?
Gabrieli: Why should they? I’ve got the money.
Reilly: Chris Gabrieli is just trying to buy the office. Plus, he’s mean and nasty. So’s Deval.
Patrick: People are contributing to me! Chris is mean and nasty. So’s Tom.
Question (to Reilly): Are you incompetent?
Reilly: It’s the Republicans who are incompetent. Plus, they’re mean and nasty.
Question: How about the Big Dig?
Reilly: I’m working on it. I'm working on it.
Patrick: Yeah right. Tom, you’re incompetent. Plus, you’re mean and nasty.
Gabrieli: Everyone is incompetent. Except for me.
Question (to Patrick): Are you a commie?
Patrick: I don’t like labels. But I do like taxes. And high-flying rhetoric about truth, justice and the American Way.
Question (to Patrick): Suppose the Republicans call you a commie?
Patrick: That just makes them mean and nasty.
Gabrieli: I agree. They really are mean and nasty.
Reilly: Almost as mean and nasty as Chris and Deval.
Question (to Reilly): How about new businesses?
Reilly: Grrr.
Patrick: I like business. Business pays well. Just ask Chris, just ask me.
Reilly: You sound like Mitt Romeny. And you’re mean and nasty.
Patrick: No I’m not.
Gabrieli: Hey, hey! I’ve got a bunch of neato ideas!
Question: Should the state fund basic research?
Patrick: Yes, and Chris and Tom are completely wrong on this.
Gabrieli: Yes, and Tom and Deval are completely wrong on this.
Reilly: Yes, and Deval and Chris are completely wrong on this.
Question: Should we make college cheaper?
Patrick: Yes, and Chris and Tom are completely wrong on this.
Gabrieli: Yes, and Tom and Deval are completely wrong on this.
Reilly: Yes, and Deval and Chris are completely wrong on this.
Question: Do you like the new health care plan?
Gabrieli: Yes and no.
Reilly: I completely disagree. No and yes.
Patrick: You’re both wrong. Maybe.
Question: Do you have experience in handling catastrophe like 9-11 or Hurricane Katrina?
Patrick: Yes, I worked for the Clinton administration.
Gabrieli: Yes, I once had to drop out of med school.
Reilly: Yes, I’ve seen dead people.
Closing statements.
Patrick: We need a governor who believes in truth, justice and the American Way. And taxes.
Reilly: We need a governor who's short and fights hard and isn't afraid to be
tell people they're mean and nasty.
Gabrieli: We need a governor who’s tall and genial and who’s made a lot of money.