Abstract
The demonization of patronage during the Progressive Era is still having significant impacts on American public administration as demonstrated in the case of the controversies surrounding the operations of Logan Airport in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Applying the theory of "moral panics," this article examines the use of patronage as a "folk devil" by the Boston-region media. The analysis discusses of the implications of unchallenged demonized concepts and the need for a more analytic approach to the study of patronage.