Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
When asked by USA Today if he identifies with the tea party, the hunky Senator with the complicated past said, "No, I'm a Republican from Massachusetts. I'm not a Tea Party member."
According to The Daily Caller:
He also referred to himself as a “Scott Brown Republican” concerned primarily with fiscal issues.
“I’m somebody who keeps an open mind on all the other issues,” Brown said before adding: “I’m not a social crusader.”
The paper notes that, in his new book, Brown refers to the Tea Party just once. “I think a lot of different entities played big roles,” he said when asked about the Tea Party’s contribution to his victory. “There’s no one particular group that did more than the others.”
Brown's 2010 surprise win in Massachusetts was, by many accounts, tea-party fueled. So shouldn't he be giving the tea party at least some credit? Or at least not distancing himself from the tea party quite yet? The Daily Caller is reporting that conservatives in Massachusetts would support a more conservative candidate who challenges Brown in the primary. Brown is up for reelection in 2012.
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May '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
I fear "Scott Brown Republican" is a party of one limited to one (half) term.
May '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
This is just smart politics in Massachusetts. Winning a primary over a "tea party" candidate will help him in the general. Do we want to keep the seat or not? In the tsunami of 2010 not one Dem congressional seat in Mass. flipped. The special election was special in many ways...he knows his re-election will be a tough sell...and this time Obama will bring his minions to the polls because he will be on the ballot.
May '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
actually, 1/3rd...?
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 7:13amOct '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
I'm not sure disclaiming (?) (declaiming?) membership in a group is the same as dissing it. I'm not a member of the NRA or the ACLU, but those facts alone don't amount to dissing them.
Having said that, what I WOULD have liked him to have been asked is, "Ok, then, would you identify the 'different entities (that) played big roles' in your election?"
If the TP really did play no bigger role than any other group, then he should be able to answer that question easily. And if he can't answer it easily, THEN, yes, he's dissing the TP.
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 7:30amMay '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
If he wants to get reelected, he's better off focusing on the people who got him elected the first time. Why risk proven supporters for the unproven?
Oct '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
Aaron, I think that amounts to identity politics. We on the Right don't focus on specific groups, we focus on issues and principles. And as SB found out last year, it's a winning formula when your issues and principles dovetail with the electorate's.
Brown should focus on the issues that got him elected the first time (and to the extent those issues fade, their underlying principles applied to current issues), and let the people follow.
Aug '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
Uh, yeah, that's kind of a tautology. The more meaningful question is, would the entire Massachusetts voting public support a more conservative candidate in the general election?
Nov '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
I think the priority is getting good, principled conservatives into elected office as opposed to making them "one of us." If Scott Brown lives up to the expectations of the people who elected him, then why do I care if he chooses not to wrap himself in the Tea Party label? I'd rather politicians be a little stand-offish than to position themselves as some sort of spokesperson for what is fundamentally a grass-roots movement.
May '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
dittoheadadt:
Brown should focus on the issues that got him elected the first time...
Yes, that's what I meant. Thanks for clarifying.
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
I agree. Let's see how he votes. If he is prepared to vote to repeal Obamacare and to cut the federal budget down to size, he deserves support. If not, not. I am inclined to trust him now and verify in due course.
Jul '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
It's quite proper for Senator Brown to transcend faction.
It's not the Tea Party seat; it's the people's seat.
Nov '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
Showing a little gratitude to those who helped him wouldn’t kill the guy. So why won’t he?
Since I think RINO’s do more harm to conservatism than Democrats, I hope he loses in 2012.
May '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
I kinda wish he had dissed the Tea Party.
Aug '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
BlueAnt
Uh, yeah, that's kind of a tautology. The more meaningful question is, would the entire Massachusetts voting public support a more conservative candidate in the general election? · Feb 22 at 8:20am
That question was asked and answered in California last November.
Oct '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
Kenneth: It's quite proper for Senator Brown to transcend faction.
It's not the Tea Party seat; it's the people's seat. · Feb 22 at 9:37am
The Federalist in me disagrees: it is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' seat!
Oct '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
The fly in the ointment again, eh Harlech?
Edited on Feb 22, 2011 at 10:54amSep '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
Anneke9
BlueAnt
Uh, yeah, that's kind of a tautology. The more meaningful question is, would the entire Massachusetts voting public support a more conservative candidate in the general election? · Feb 22 at 8:20am
That question was asked and answered in California last November. · Feb 22 at 10:25am
Huh? Whitman and Fiorina? They were the ideal "Scott Brown Republicans".
Aug '10
Re: Did Scott Brown Diss the Tea Party?
Mark Belling Fan
Anneke9
BlueAnt
Uh, yeah, that's kind of a tautology. The more meaningful question is, would the entire Massachusetts voting public support a more conservative candidate in the general election? · Feb 22 at 8:20am
That question was asked and answered in California last November. · Feb 22 at 10:25am
Huh? Whitman and Fiorina? They were the ideal "Scott Brown Republicans". · Feb 22 at 1:25pm
Even they couldn't get elected. It remains to be seen whether MA voters will stick with Brown if a liberal candidate better than the inept Martha Coakley can be found.