The Bay State's Attorney General unburdened himself this week of some unsolicited opinions about the current and future role of UMass President William Bulger.

The Middlesex County pol chose to weigh in on the subject just this week- some six months after Bain & Company's Mitt Romney initiated his political attack on Bulger.

What's puzzling is just what motivated this man Reilly to open his mouth now? Is he using his office for some sort of political gain? Are his campaign people telling him that Romney's out ahead of him on this issue? And does he somehow think his status as "chief law enforcement official" in the state gives him standing to comment on a situation that his office has taken no active role in?

And how about that national TV audience Reilly tried to capture on Tuesday morning on NBC's "Today" program? Pretty good exposure for a politician, isn't it?

It is truly a puzzle what is motivating Reilly. The Massachusetts Democratic party is holding its annual Issues Convention this Saturday in Lowell, and it is of course possible that Reilly is taking this occasion to insert himself into the convention picture.

The Dorchester Reporter learned this week that as of Monday, Reilly had no official role in the convention. But Monday afternoon, just after Reilly's utterances became public, two local delegates learned that they were being displaced from the agenda, and that Reilly would take their place. The two working people were looking forward to their moment in the spotlight, as they were asked to present an award to another party activist. But Reilly's handlers needed a role for him, so the change was ordered.

Tom Reilly is not a well-known politician in these parts. A longtime prosecutor whose constituency is largely based in Cambridge, Reilly is best remembered as the assistant DA who handled (some would say botched) the notorious Fells Acres child care case back in the 1980s. Now the Attorney General, Reilly was in need of some local ties in last year's state elections, and he recruited State Rep. Marty Walsh of Dorchester to help reach working class voters in the neighborhoods.

This week, Marty Walsh said he was dismayed by the sudden turn of events:

"I'm a supporter of Tom Reilly," Walsh told the Reporter, "But I am surprised by his comments against the UMass President. Bill Bulger should not be judged by the type of person his brother is. As President of UMass, Bill Bulger has done nothing inappropriate to be asked to resign. He has raised the endowment, he has raised the standards of the school, and elevated the university on a national level. His brother's past should have no effect on Bill Bulger's life in public service."

Walsh added, "I think Tom Reilly took an unfair shot at Bill Bulger and I don't think it was called for."

The Bulger-haters are having a field day this week. In fact, president Bulger is being scheduled to testify before a Congressional committee in the coming weeks.

It is important to remember that the charges of wrongdoing involved here are about Whitey Bulger, and his brother asserted his rights under the Fifth Amendment to not answer questions to that circus media event organized by Congressman Burton last December.

How ironic it is that Tom Reilly believes that Bulger should have no rights under the U.S. Constitution in this matter. What kind of an Attorney General is he? Indeed, what kind of a person?

-Ed Forry