Everybody's favorite pickup-driving, carpetbagging former senator is having a hard time getting back into the swing of his campaign. Maybe it's the new state, but Scott Brown is not doing it right. At least, it doesn't seem like it's right when he's
sending the cops after pesky reporters who are trying to ask him about key issues of the day. Here's the
Guardian's Paul Lewis.
While an inquiring member of the public will be told about Brown's forthcoming campaign stops, the schedule is kept secret from anyone who, like me, self-identifies as a journalist. Fortunately, I received a tip-off that Brown would be appearing later in the day at a diner 100 miles north, in the foothills of the White Mountains.
I found Brown at a table at a restaurant called Priscilla's, introduced myself as a Guardian reporter and enquired if I could ask him some questions. Brown smiled nervously and replied: "What do you want to ask me about?"
"Hobby Lobby? That would be a start," I said.
“I’m all set," he replied. "We’re enjoying ourselves right now.”
“But you’re standing for Senate. It is routine for journalists to ask you questions and usually the candidates answer.”
“Not without notifying my office."
Brown stood up, walked to the back of the diner, and took shelter in the bathroom. A campaign aide, Jeremy, looked bewildered. He lingered beside me for a few moments, before politely excusing himself–“Nice to meet you”–and joining his boss in the bathroom.
Lewis had no better luck at the the next campaign stop, where "Brown walked up the stairs, spotted me in the audience, frowned, turned around and walked back downstairs." Then it got even better, when the campaign called the cops, leaving an interesting situation for them to figure out. Because when the cops showed, Lewis had already left the meeting and Brown was holed up inside refusing to come out and talk to the scary reporter, leaving the cop with nothing to do but laugh at the candidate.
Officer Valley mulled over the situation before delivering his summary judgment. “There’s no crime,” he said. “No issue here at all."
Poor Scottie, he doesn't have the
Boston Herald to prop him up anymore, and is learning that some journalists are kind of mean, and expect him to know about stuff and take positions on stuff that matters. And that he might have to do it on the fly, not after his office has set up the appointment for him and told him what to say. Man, politics is hard.