Massachusetts has become famous for electing supposedly "moderate" Republicans who have revealed their true colours upon taking office and aiming for still higher office (think Mitt Romney, folks). Scott Brown, the Republican candidate for the US Senate seat formerly held by Edward Kennedy, is just such a chameleon...
The unthinkably close Massachusetts Senate race to fill the unexpired term of the late Edward Kennedy pits MA Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democratic stalwart, against State Senator Scott Brown, until recently a Republican non-entity. The closeness of this race can be attributed to any number of potential causes such as voter disgruntlement with incumbents, concerns over how the national health care bill will impact Massachusetts' 98% health care program coverage, even the lackluster campaign of Coakley who expected to coast into what was presumed to be a "safe" Democratic seat in the so-called bluest state in the nation. Brown, regardless of the long-shot nature of running as a Republican in MA, has taken the lead in numerous polls in the final days before the special election on January 19th by taking advantage of Coakley's missteps and running on the perennially popular message of lower taxes.
As a victim of Brown's tactics when confronted by criticism of his policies, I am well acquainted with his abilities and qualifications. Three years ago, Brown took exception with my characterization of his vote against gay marriage in MA as being a vote against equal rights by demanding to present his point of view to my students. Through negotiations with the school administration, the presentation he then agreed to make was not to repudiate my characterization of his vote but, rather, an explanation of the legislative process to my students whom he believe didn't understand his "obligations" to allow voters to vote on a issue of equal rights.
In what became a national sensation, Brown appeared on the agreed upon date forty minutes late for what was supposed to be an hour presentation and Q & A session. He arrived not to discuss his vote or even the legislative process. Instead, having been informed that a group of students had created a Facebook page concerning his appearance and his opposition to gay marriage. On that page, I'm sorry to say, several students chose to immaturely attack Brown's daughter, who had appeared on American Idol. For the next half an hour, he harangued the 90 assembled students, using the same profane language that appeared on the Facebook page in question. The incident, transmitted via text messages and phone calls, immediately flashed to Boston-area radio & television stations and, then, nation-wide.
Brown became the darling of the right-wing for slamming those obviously out-of-control students. He repeatedly appeared on conservative talk shows to condemn me for polluting the minds of my students AND accused my of threatening the grades of any student who chose to have an opposing political viewpoint to my own, which was a blatant lie. In playing to the right-wing, he elevated his political standing and garnered support as the poor victim of a vicious and out-of-control teacher while, simultaneously, savaging me and my students, all while never actually explaining his objections to gay marriage or explaining his beliefs in the need for voters to vote on civil right matters.
Brown is hardly an intellectual giant, yet he stands poised to take advantage of a dismal economy created by the previous presidential administration and the disgruntlement that accompanies it, to succeed a senator whose intelligence and legislative accomplishments have become legendary. While I am appalled at the sausage-making that went into the creation of this national health care legislation making its way through conference committee, I am more appalled by the thought that this deceitful, prejudiced and bigoted individual could possibly become the vote to prevent any real health care reform from taking place. I would hope that every person here would make every effort to communicate the need for friends, colleagues, family, anyone living in MA who is a registered voter to make the effort to cast their vote against Scott Brown on January 19th. Otherwise, that date will become, to paraphrase Franklin Roosevelt, America's new date that will live in infamy.