Sen. Brown kicks off re-election campaign

sentinelandenterprise.com ^ | 21 Jan 2012 | Chris Camire

[smokingfrog]

BOSTON -- Less than 24 hours after launching his re-election bid, U.S. Sen. Scott Brown came to Lowell Friday and discussed his Democratic opponent's foreign-policy credentials, the presidential race, and even his personal finances.

During an hourlong editorial board meeting at The Sun of Lowell, Brown also expressed frustration with Washington gridlock. He criticized partisan bickering for stalling action on issues such as reducing the national debt and fixing the economy.

"There are times when I'm going to be with my party," said Brown. "I'm a Republican, obviously. But there are times when our party down there, especially, is acting irresponsibly and not allowing things to move forward."

The freshman senator's visit came just hours before a meeting between top-level staffers for Brown and chief Democratic rival Elizabeth Warren ended without a deal to curb political attack ads by outside groups.

Both sides went into the closed-door meeting saying they wanted to come up with a proposal to block ads by third-party organizations. The meeting ended without an agreement, and with each campaign pointing a finger at their rival candidate.

Brown has suggested that each candidate donate half the cost of any third-party ad -- whether on television, cable, broadcast or online -- to a charity of their choice if that ad either supports their candidacy by name or attacks their opponent, also by name.

Immediately after the meeting, Warren's campaign issued a statement saying Brown's proposal "still includes loopholes that Karl Rove could drive a tank through," referring to the Republican political operative. Those "loopholes" include the need to come up with a better way to track online advertising spending in addition to the purchasing of ad time on radio and television stations.

[newzjunkey]

The choice here is RINO Brown or Ms Warren.

I support Brown if only to keep "the Kennedy seat" out of Democrat hands.

[NKP_Vet]

I support no PRO-ABORTION RINO!

And that’s exactly what he is.

[Vendome]

Scott Brown is gay and in denial.

[pokerone]

I’m a Mass. resident, volunteered for Brown in his first run, made phone calls and stood outside in the snow holding a sign for him. A couple of weeks after the election I get the news that he’s playing basketball with Obama. I didn’t stand in the snow so he could play basketball with Obama.

I’m not voting for senator in this election, unless it is to primary Brown. Let Warren win as far as I’m concerned and my logic is this: If we keep voting Rino’s like Brown into office so they can vote along with the Dems on all the crucial issues and write weak legislation like Brown’s attempt to limit insider trading by Congress, which will do nothing to stop the practice, then how will voters ever see the errors of their ways and stop supporting Dems and Dem-lites?

And as far as a Republican majority, let me ask, what the hell have they done with it when they had it?

So whoever is calling me from Brown’s campaign asking me if I’ll volunteer again I guess this is my answer. For the rest of you, keep your money to donate to someone you can trust to reflect your values. Brown is in this to fatten his pension, I’m not contributing to that.

[Makana]

I too donated and worked for Scott Brown. Not this time. I’ll put my money and effort toward specific Conservative candidates, here in MA or elsewhere.

Jeff Perry, Scott Brown, and Mitt Romney - All cut from the same cloth.

[brooklin]

I heard him on Howie Carr last Friday evening. He just doesn’t get it.

[campaignPete R-CT]

Thanks DEM,
Scott Brown: very good voting record. Also was vote #41 whenever it was needed. The only NO vote on Kagan in the northeast. 23 YES, 1 NO.

Goes to show that if people have nothing to complain about, they will find something.

[Raider Sam]

Its actually better than that. He got a 75 from the ACU.