Senator Scott Brown launched another high profile attempt to demonstrate his independence from the Republican Party platform Tuesday, sending a letter to GOP leaders urging them “to recognize in its platform that you can be pro-choice and still be a good Republican.”
Brown’s letter to Party Chairman Reince Preibus comes as the committee drafting the Republican platform approved a draft that calls for a ban on abortion, without exceptions for rape and incest victims. It also comes as he faces attacks from his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren, who warned that electing Brown would empower a party that is hostile to women’s interests.
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The man is a hypocrite. Scott Brown cosponsored the blunt amendment which was an attempt to undercut women's reproductive choices. Scott Brown is not "Pro-Choice". He is indeed and always has been hostile to women's interests in every vote he did in the Senate.
Who knows if Romney believes in much of anything, but Ryan is reactionary (not conservative). With Ryan now running to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, and with the anti-abortion plank in its platform, the Republican party is making a hard right turn. If Scott Brown is truly appalled by the situation, he should withdraw from the party and become an independent. Then I would believe him.
Good for you Republican Sen. Brown. NOW what is it that you are going to do about this absurd Republican platform other than speaking out against it for purely your own political gain. Are you going to vote against this at the convention? Are you going to leave the Republican Party? Are you going to endorse President Obama? Are you going to vote against Mitt and Ryan at the convention. Words are one thing, what are your actions?
This situation demonstrates the need for a third party, not of outsiders, but of moderate incumbents of both parties. This would not be a party of "independents", but a real part with a real name. With moderates like Brown freed up from the need to please the hard liners both of the left and the right, they could win a large number of seats in the House and Senate, appealing to the average voter who wants to see things get done rather than push an extreme agenda. Even controling 15 - 20% of congress, a moderate third party would control the swing votes, preventing the far right or the far left from ramming it's agenda down our throats. Common sense and compromise would return to Washington..............................................Moderate incumbents of BOTH parties need to form a third party of the middle funded by their existing war chests. The average American is sick of having to decide between two extreme ideologies. The average American voter will support a middle party and will take back control of government from the extremists of both parties.
For those who want to read about Brown's current 5 point lead in the polls, it is located on the bottom right 1/8 of B4 in the Metro section of the print edition. Can't find it in the on-line edition??? Perhaps it is not newsworthy.
Scott doesn't mean it. If he was serious he would leave the party instead of whining that they are making him look bad.
You are 100% correct.
Unfortunately, a vote for Brown is a vote for Republican control of the Senate and the Republican agenda, whatever Scott Brown may say about his personal disagreement with portions of it.
'who-cares-1940' has identified the problem: reactionaries control a major party. Having Brown denounce one of the reactionary policies is hardly worthy of comment. he will only say he wont vote for a total ban ?? that is IT for Scott Brown ?
I couldn't agree more, Dot. The biggest problem with establishing a viable third party is money. I think you could get small contributions from ordinary citizens, but the big corporate and PAC money is already flowing to the Democrats and Republicans.
"Even while I am pro-choice, I respect those who have a different opinion on this very difficult and sensitive issue," he wrote. "Our party platform should make the same concession to those of us who believe in a woman's right to choose." What does that really mean? He can't have it both ways. When you are prochoice, you respect people's choices. But, you can't respect people who don't believe in your choice.
I'm a conservative independent and I think the Republicans have made a huge mistake in approving the abortion ban. If it's not revised, I wouldn't vote for a Republican for national office.
Simply Google his record in the MA congress. He put forward bills to make access to abortion and contraception more difficult in MA. They were not passed because the Republicans were not in charge...just wait until they have both nouses of the US Congress!