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Scott Brown Responds To Coakley Ad (VIDEO)
MA Senate Candidates AG Martha Coakley (D) and State Sen. Scott Brown (R)
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Republican candidate Scott Brown has a new ad up in the Massachusetts special Senate race, responding to a recent attack ad from Democrat Martha Coakley.
The Coakley ad called Brown a "lockstep" Republican who would block tougher oversight for Wall Street, wants more tax breaks for the wealthy, and favors denying emergency contraception to rape victims. "At times like these, we can't afford a Republican like Scott Brown," the announcer said.
In his new ad, Brown declares that the ad isn't true, though he doesn't specifically refute anything. "Instead of discussing issues like health care and jobs, they decided the best way to stop me is to tear me down. But the old way of doing things won't work anymore," Brown says. "Their attack ads are wrong and go too far. I'm Scott Brown, and I approved this message because I'm running in the name of every independent-thinking voter, to take on the political machine and their candidate. And with your help, I intend to win."
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Richard L. Adlof
January 12, 2010 11:24 AM
BROWN: "I fierce believe ALL those things BUT I am NOT a Bush Man."
(Not a direct quote)
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Maritza
January 12, 2010 11:55 AM
You are too!
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Peter Principle
January 12, 2010 12:04 PM
Brown should have learned a lesson from LBJ, who once proposed spreading a rumor that his opponent enjoyed carnal relations with barnyard animals.
"But Lyndon," his shocked campaign manager supposedly replied, "nobody will believe that."
"Maybe not," replied LBJ, "but let's force the son of a bitch to deny it."
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FlownOver
January 12, 2010 12:35 PM
Shorter Brown: "Those attacks are wrong about everything except the facts!"
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FlownOver
January 12, 2010 12:38 PM
Shorter Brown: "Those attacks are wrong about everything except the facts!"
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Indie Pro
January 12, 2010 1:10 PM
Attack ads? That's the best route for the campaign? Isn't that widely seen as a desperate measure?
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rwc
January 12, 2010 1:43 PM in reply to Indie Pro
It may well be. I live here in Boston and things do seem to be getting dicey for the Dem. She has run a horrible campaign up till now and Brown, despite the fact that he is and will be a lockstep Republican in the Senate, has managed to make himself seem more moderate, just like Romney did before voters caught on to him, and he's telegenic, just like Romney. What's more, the rightwing has mobilized and completely taken over the web, flooding every local media site with Brown cheerleading of every sort. If there is a low turnout, watch out,Brown could squeak in.
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Indie Pro
January 12, 2010 1:47 PM in reply to rwc
it jsut seems this allows him to take the high road, atleast seemingly, which plays well for the narrative you describe.
I thought the logic behind attack ads is it sinks all ships, but you hope the other ship sinks faster. I don't know. Not my area of the country. If you're on the ground, I trust your assestment more than my own.
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Stroszek
January 12, 2010 2:09 PM in reply to Indie Pro
Attack ads mobilize the base while depressing irregular swing voters, so they tend to benefit the side that has the larger base. Since generally apolitical indies are very unlikely to turnout, Coakley is trying to get the Democrats out to vote. She's not trying to persuade anyone to change their mind about Brown. She's trying to scare Democrats shitless. This is why the ad is so vicious.
In a regular election, this probably would be a sign of desperation. In a base election, it's probably the smart move. A good example of this would be the 2002 mid-term elections when the Republicans were really over-the-top in their attacks on Democrats. The Max Cleland morphing into Osama ad probably wouldn't have seen play during a presidential election year, but in a lower turnout mid-term in a conservative state, that kind of crazy shit was exactly what the GOP needed.
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Steaming Pile
January 12, 2010 1:53 PM in reply to Indie Pro
Only to the candidate on the receiving end of the attack.
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Forrest
January 12, 2010 1:57 PM in reply to Indie Pro
It's definitely a negatively biased ad, but is it untrue? Her ad is saying that he doesn't want more financial system oversight, that he wants to cut taxes for the wealthy, and that he takes a hard stance against abortion. If any of that is wrong, his ad should have disputed it.
Swiftboating and personal attacks reek of desperation, but IMHO this ad is fine. If he's not being forthcoming about his more conservative leanings, shouldn't she do it for him? We can't exactly count on journalists these days to ask real questions.
Besides, it's not like she said he molests pigeons. I'm sure she's saving that one for the last few days.
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we r all husseins
January 12, 2010 1:14 PM
Obviously, Brown is in a snit because he, the Republican, is being attacked before he could attack the Democrat, thus forcing the Dem to waste campaign time defending herself. The nerve.
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Hussein Stemper
January 12, 2010 1:22 PM
Wow. He's got a microwave. He must be a regular guy just like me!
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monet768
January 12, 2010 1:28 PM
he also has a old arse jeep cherokee......and old arse fiscal conservative talk.
we heard all about that fiscal conservative b.s. for 8 lond hard years.
invasion of wrong country
tax cuts for the wealth and uck mainstream
cost to hide dirty dick in his undisclosed location
cost that the show thrower didn't knock gwb head clar the uck off.
This is what we got so Scotty boy....SAVE IT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION
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