slides: Prominent Political Gaffes In Massachusetts’ History

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Nicholas Handy, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Martha Coakley is certainly not the first politician to make an error in the state of Massachusetts; as a matter of fact this isn’t Coakley’s first gaffe since her career in politics began.

Errors in the political landscape are made all of the time; it becomes what the politician in question makes of the situation rather than what the mistake itself is. Although some gaffes can become dangerous to a campaign, others are believed to be less damaging.

“A factual error in a setting like that isn’t a big deal,” said Erin O’Brien, an Associate Professor of Political Science at UMass Boston. “Having something like this caught on tape is definitely problematic however, because the tape can be played back over and over again. This will not sink her campaign but could certainly affect it.”

Only time will tell how much of an effect the gas tax gaffe will have on Coakley’s campaign, but if it involves a similar outcome to the gaffes below, then Coakley could be in for trouble.

Check out the slideshow below to see some of the most prominent blunders made by Massachusetts politicians.

Related Slideshow: Prominent Political Gaffes In Massachusetts’ History

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Martha Coakley Gas Tax Flub

2014

Coakley incorrectly stated that the gas tax was 10-cents rather than the actual tax of 24-cents during a pop quiz on a TV show.

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Tim Murray Car Crash Controversy

2011

Tim Murray, who was Lt. Governor of Massachusetts at the time, crashed a government vehicle on a stretch of I-190. Although originally saying that he simple lost control of the vehicle, it was later revealed that he was both speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.

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Coakley Disses Fenway Park

2010

During her Senate campaign run against Scott Brown, Coakley angered som Red Sox fans when she made the comment “As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands?” when asked about Brown's campaign efforts.

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John Kerry Windsurfing Ad Helps to Sink Campaign

2004

When the George Bush campaign retrieved footage of John Kerry windsurfing, it was used in an advertisement saying that Kerry was prone to change, something that stuck with voters.

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Willie Horton Ad Destroys Dukakis Campaign

1988

Michael Dukakis lost a double digit lead in the presidential election to George H. W. Bush when an ad depicting Willie Horton was released. The ad highlighted Dukakis' policy of criminal furloughs for some criminals when he was the governor of Massachusetts.

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Ted Kennedy's Interview with Roger Mudd

1979

During an interview with Roger Mudd, Ted Kennedy was asked why he wanted to be president. His response was less than satisfactory and was later described as repetitive and unprepared.