Mayor Walsh: Boston 2024 Opposition Is ‘10 People on Twitter’
Mayor Marty Walsh called an impromptu press conference Monday morning to announce his refusal to sign the taxpayer guarantee mandated by the International Olympic Committee, effectively placing the Boston 2024 effort on life support. But despite his stern stance with the bid, it’s what Walsh said about its opponents that has Twitter all abuzz.
“I think the opposition are about 10 people on Twitter and a couple people out there beating the drum beat,” Walsh said.
By any objective measure, this is not true. Even the most cursory glance at the most recent polls shows that opposition, not support, is the position more commonly held by Bostonians, and it has been this way for quite some time.
Unsurprisingly, Twitter exploded, making #10PeopleOnTwitter the top hashtag in Boston.
https://twitter.com/aaron_leib/status/625673906565816320
It is amazing what 10 people on Twitter can do.
— Lisa Rinkus (@ljpr) July 27, 2015
.@marty_walsh I'm confused- if opposition is just #10peopleontwitter, does that mean @WBUR poll showing 50% opposed only asked 10 people?
— Meg (@beetsbearsbeer) July 27, 2015
#10PeopleOnTwitter is all it takes to beat Marty Walsh
— Joel Fleming (@jfleming2870) July 27, 2015
Wait, if I'm not one of the #10PeopleOnTwitter then who am I? Am I a supporter? Do I even exist? HELP! #Boston2024 https://t.co/5hngJeui4L
— Kevin Flight (@The_Fliz) July 27, 2015
Ten people on twitter is going to be a popular group Halloween costume #Boston2024
— Drew Starr (@TheDrewStarr) July 27, 2015
Hell, even #10CatsOnTwitter is a thing now.
https://twitter.com/mkrench/status/625687790718722048
https://twitter.com/GoogieBaba/status/625687708082569216
https://twitter.com/__fc/status/625657865336946688
https://twitter.com/Occupocalypse/status/625686989254230016
When pressed by reporters, Walsh walked back his statement and conceded that the opposition is indeed more than 10 people. All eyes are now on Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston 2024 organizers who had a conference call with USOC officials at 9:30 this morning.
