When one considers political corruption on a statewide level, two states usually come to mind. The first is Louisiana and the second is the smallest state in the Union, the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Just when you thought sleazy politics could not get any worse, Rhode Island doesn’t let the cynics down. Meet Guy Dufault, former chairman of the Rhode Island Democrat Party, and an influential lobbyist in Rhode Island’s Statehouse. Currently, he is lobbying on behalf of the Narragansett Indian Tribe which is seeking to open a casino. He hosts a show on the local UPN affiliate known as “The Real Deal.” Now before you blame the affiliate, remember that Mr. Dufault purchases this ½ hour time slot for his show. So, what exactly did Mr. Dufault get caught saying? Here goes:
I can bring (RI Governor Don) Carcieri down. I got stuff. If nothing else, I got the names of the past goumadas, and I'm just going to start throwing them out there."So, what exactly is Dufault saying? Well, he’s telling a fellow panelist, Michael Levesque, about what he has planned in the upcoming campaign against the incumbent Republican governor. Dufault planned to release the names of the governor’s goumadas, an Italo-American slang for girlfriend out of wedlock. Levesque, being the consummate Rhode Island insider, replies that this was a worry for Republicans when Carcieri first ran for gubernatorial office. Oh, by the way, Mr. Levesque is a former chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party as well as the former mayor of West Warwick, RI. Levesque has had his own share of scandals in his political career and currently works for Harrah's Entertainment, as, you guessed it, a lobbyist.
Here lies another example of how far Rhode Island politicians will go to smear a candidate to achieve the ultimate political power. This is something not new to Rhode Islanders. They’ve had their share of scandals including the prosecution and conviction of a former Governor and the former mayor of Providence, Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci. Unfortunately, for the people of Providence, the prosecution and conviction of Buddy Cianci was clearly politically motivated because the Mayor refused to play ball with the political machine. Cianci operated his own machine which brought Rhode Island’s capitol city out of economic ruin. The prosperity that Providence enjoys today is the fruit of Buddy’s politics. The contribution Providence has made to the remainder of the state is the Cianci legacy. Current Governor Don Carcieri is an astute businessman who has tried to clean up state government. It’s not fair to say that he’s tried to restore the state government because it has been corrupt since the early days under the rule of Roger Williams in the 1600’s.
Article comments
1 - marvin
you had mentioned the former mayor levesque had his own scandals. please elaborate. thanks, marvin