A New Political Star is Born
It’s tempting to say a new political star has been born.
The startling victory of Republican Scott Brown in Massachusetts’ special election for the Senate seat held for 46 years by the late Ted Kennedy, is not only a rebuke to President Barack Obama’s policies, but it’s the emergence of a politician with unlimited potential and charisma.
Scott Brown, a former Massachusetts state senator, came from nowhere to challenge the unchallengeable. By dint of his self-deprecatory sense of humor, his poise, and his relentless fiscal conservatism, and his grasp of issues that make Americans uneasy (i.e. healthcare reform), he made history.
He was helped, of course, by his Democratic rival’s self-sabotaging campaign. Attorney General Martha Coakley’s campaign was a disaster – suggesting there were no al-Qaeda left in Afghanistan and that Red Sox pitcher (and Brown supporter) Curt Schilling was a “Yankee fan.” Whoops.
It was Hollywood stuff for Brown to come from a 30-point deficit on Dec. 19 to win by five points in a state that Obama won by 26 points in the presidential election.
Even before the votes were counted in Massachusetts Tuesday, Democrats and even the Obama-maniacs at CNN and MSNBC, were poor-mouthing the campaign of Martha Coakley, the state’s attorney general.
What winning Massachusetts means is that Senate Democrats lose the right to prevent filibustering on healthcare – which now seems doomed, or will have to be revised.
As an aside, CBC Radio sounded almost in mourning as it reported the outcome of the vote. One radio person said Brown’s appeal as an ordinary person was upsetting as she didn’t want “someone like me” running the country. Funny, but revealing.
In Massachusetts, Democrats were dissing their candidate (“dumb as Sarah Palin,” said one) even before the votes were counted. Not even Republicans do that.
Mindful of Obama’s presidential campaign theme “Yes we can,” Scott Brown’s refrain was “We can do better.” We shall see.
It’s a fair bet there isn’t a Democrat in the U.S. today who feels secure. The loss of governorships in New Jersey and Virginia, coupled with the Massachusetts outcome, in all of which Obama campaigned without effect, means momentum nationally has shifted towards the Republicans.
Self-mocking, Brown said he first realized he had a chance to win when driving his truck on a side-road he saw a sign with his name on it that he hadn’t put up himself.
He quipped that he didn’t mind the president criticizing him but he went too far when he criticized his truck.
Brown won cheers when he got serious and with reference to the underwear bomber being tried in New York, said “our constitution and laws exist to protect this nation, not our enemies.” Any direction America takes should not be “giving new rights to terrorists.”
In his acceptance speech, Brown repeatedly invoked the memory of President John Kennedy and praised the dedication of Ted Kennedy. He even expressed wonder at being on the same stage as Doug Flutie – former Argo quarterback whose band (Flutie plays the drums) provided post-vote entertainment.
The U.S. doesn’t know much about Scott Brown . . . yet.
He seems to have the right stuff. If so, we may be hearing more from him next presidential election.
After all, if Obama can do it, why not a good guy from Boston?