Blue Mass Group

[Cross-posted from the ProgressMass blog.  Like ProgressMass on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.]

As Republican Scott Brown continues to offer Massachusetts nothing besides divisive attacks and mudslinging, he has painted himself further and further into a corner.  This held true over the last week.

The most notable event of the last week was the second debate between Republican Scott Brown and his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren.  While the debate itself was considered pretty close to a draw, with the “winner” entirely in the eye of the beholder, by far the biggest takeaway from the debate was Brown declaring as his “model” Supreme Court Justice far-right-winger Antonin Scalia.

ProgressMass assembled the graphic at right (click to share on your Facebook Wall!) to highlight some of Justice Scalia’s most shockingly extreme positions.  With four Supreme Court Justices currently in their 70’s, suggesting some turnover in the years ahead, it is abundantly clear that support for Republican Scott Brown not only equals support for a Republican Senate Majority but also for an even further-right-wing U.S. Supreme Court and potentially the overturning of Roe v. Wade.  (For the record, Brown has an 80% anti-choice record, regardless of his misleading rhetoric cynically uttered out of political convenience; and, he has voted against a pro-choice female Supreme Court nominee.)

Across the board, Republican Scott Brown’s praise of Scalia had jaws dropping.  Business Insider declared that Brown had “shot himself in the foot.”  Brown had even become the butt of Comedy Central’s joke.  The bottom line was that Brown had once again severely undercut his attempts to misleadingly portray himself as a moderate when he chose the Court’s most extreme right-wing member as his “model.”

Republican Scott Brown’s attempts to obfuscate his Republican affiliation were further complicated in recent days by Governor Deval Patrick’s spot-on new moniker for Brown.  In an appearance on WCVB’s “On the Record,” Gov. Patrick dubbed Brown “the Bay State Birther” in response to Brown’s race-based mudslinging.  Gov. Patrick joins numerous media outlets in likening Brown’s attacks to the right-wing fringe “birther” movement.

Gov. Patrick wasn’t the only elected official making Republican Scott Brown’s attempts to hide his GOP affiliation more difficult.  Brown’s disingenuous efforts were made more difficult by none other than Brown himself!  Apparently, Brown doesn’t realize that his fundraising e-mails to right-wing Republican donors across the country have a habit of falling into the public eye.

Scott Brown paints win as key for GOP
Pitch to non-Mass. Republicans stresses control of Senate, not bipartisanship

[...] Four fund-raising pages linked to Brown’s website show his campaign making some of the same points emphasized by Warren, that control of the Senate is at stake in their election and that national party affiliation matters.

Just as Republican Scott Brown has said goodbye to his “Mr. Nice Guy” image by predicating his campaign on relentless, divisive attacks, so has he said goodbye to any notion of a bipartisan image with his clearly partisan rhetoric (in addition to his voting record overwhelmingly supportive of partisan obstruction).  Brown’s image maintenance is still further complicated when “Wall Street’s Favorite” receives scrutiny for heightened Wall Street fundraising.

Elsewhere, Boston Mayor Tom Menino, former President Bill Clinton, and Boston’s black clergy are all people that Republican Scott Brown had hoped would not play a visible role in Massachusetts’ 2012 U.S. Senate race.  Unfortunately for Brown, each played a prominent role this past week in working to unseat him.  But, hey, Brown always has the far-right-wing Tea Party at his side, highlighting Brown’s spot on the ideological spectrum and reminding Massachusetts what the U.S. Senate’s agenda could be if Brown helps achieve a Tea Party Republican majority.

Finally, there are a few more “Must-Read’s” this week:
·    A MetroWest Daily News editorial takes Republican Scott Brown to task for his relentless mudslinging.
·    In a letter to the New Bedford Standard-Times, a Dartmouth resident shares her tale of an interaction with supposed-nice-guy Scott Brown.
·    In a column in the Bay State Banner, Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea Cabral shares her thoughts on the divisive and ignorant behavior of Republican Scott Brown and his staff.
·    In a letter hand-delivered to Republican Scott Brown’s office, asbestos workers share their shock at and disappointment with Brown’s exploitation of them as Brown misleadingly and offensively attacked his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren.

What obstacles will Republican Scott Brown encounter this week as he continues to try to hide his Republican affiliation?  What political wounds will Brown self-inflict at Wednesday’s debate in Springfield?  Stay tuned for the next “Weekly Scott Brown-d Up” to find out!