RE “HOW Brown lost support from women” by Joan Vennochi (Op-ed, Nov. 8): Senator Scott Brown struck another sour note when he portrayed Elizabeth Warren as an outsider with his refrain of “I’m from here.” After the third debate, one of his spokesmen, speaking on NPR, added that Brown didn’t come here just for a paycheck.
The senator effectively disparaged hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts citizens who also came here, like Warren, for career opportunities, to establish new businesses, or for education or medical residencies, and who have been proud to build their lives in the Commonwealth. Brown may have lost many votes by basing his reelection bid in part on xenophobia.
Comments
Excellent observatiion. Brown's townie style nativism and xenophobia would not allow him to run for selectman or school committee in Wrentham. He would only be allowed to run for office in his hometown of Wakefield. He was too caught up in his barncoat-pickup truck style brand-building image.
Brown could have lost with some dignity. Actually he could have won if he had behaved as he said that he would but instead it was all hollow words. I believe he has ruined himself. I cannot see a future for him in public life except possibly as "Mr. Gail Huff" and that assumes that she can get her Boston market job back.
Thank you for saying this. I chose to move to Massachusetts precisely because I love the Bay State and decided to bring my small business here. I intend to make my entire life here. Though I love the sound of local Massachusetts accents, I have an accent similar to Elizabeth Warren's, and it hurt to hear her attacked just for coming here from outside. A lot of us "immigrants" from other states deeply love the Commonwealth and it isn't good strategy for a politician to imply that we're not wanted here.