Coming Clean in Washington
As the New York Times‘ Public Editor puzzles over the paper’s coverage of a best-seller “filled with racy anecdotes about dysfunctional marriages and political back-stabbing,” we get our first look at Washington’s new Mr. Clean, a Senator arrested for shoplifting at 12 who posed naked for a magazine at 22.
In his first Sunday interview, Ted Kennedy’s replacement tells Barbara Walters that “I’m a Scott Brown Republican. What does that mean? That means I’m going to…be accountable, accessible, open, and honest, and I’m going to bring good government and fairness back to the equation.”
When Walters offers to show him the nude Cosmopolitan picture, Brown says wistfully, “I wish I still looked like that,” prompting her to respond, “Well I’m not going to ask you to prove it. But this is pretty–this is pretty raw stuff” and asks if a woman could have been elected after posing for such a centerfold.
Brown is non-committal about that momentous issue, but assures Walters he is a fiscal conservative and “a little more moderate on social issues,” carefully sidestepping the assumption that Tea Party Republicans elected him.
Meanwhile, the Times Public Editor parses the paper’s use of the raft of scandal in the new best-seller and finds it “treated ‘Game Change’ as news, but carefully…
8 Responses to “Coming Clean in Washington”
Scott Brown's views on several issues the far-right considers etched in stone [abortion policy (still a supporter of Roe v. Wade), gay issues ("I’ve always been a big tent person"), DADT , the marriage issue (" it's settled here in Massachusetts"), etc] his views arte still “evolving.”
It remains to be seen whether the far-right and the Tea Party people will like such an “evolution.”
Hi, DdW….
I personally welcome the “evolution”. The GOP needs to split into true conservative and rhino brands. Likewise, the DNC needs to split into true liberal and bluedog brands.
The corruption, special interest, and outright bribery (Cornhusker kickback, and many like it from both parties); are exactly what founding fathers warned about the dangers of parties. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson warned about this circumstance. When parties grow too big, they leave the PEOPLE behind. Both the Democrats and Republicans answer this description and have for many decades.
The Tea Party movement is the only one speaking on this problem. They are largely made up of independents and GOPers, but have many bluedogs interspersed among them. I'm one of them.
As I said on another post, the Tea Party movement is the only voice out there talking against what we all detest – typical DC politics. When the GOP or DNC talks against the establishment, no one listens because they are part of the problem, not the solution.
A few extra parties would definitely be good thing now, especially since it would help spread the lobbyist money a little thinner.
I like your new picture. With all the icon changes it seems like springtime at TMV!
As a fellow conservative Dem, JD, I certainly hear what you're saying. However, I don't think there's a viable third party yet on the horizon. I like what Rep. Stupak and others have been able to do on conservative issues within their own party. We're more than a year into President Obama's term, and he has had to track right on lots of issues. Let's keep that conservative balance within his own party. It's working.
“I’m going to bring good government”
Well, it is good to see a Rep that believes good government actually exists. Most of them spend their time bashing government as if it does nothing but destroy the fabric of America.
“Let's keep that conservative balance within his own party. It's working.”
You may be right on that one redbus. The pendulum effect will take its toll of course, and both parties continue to ebb and flow when they go too far one way. But I'm simply tired of the pendulum. Many of us think the Dems in DC have gone too far, but we don't want it to go back to the Republican Revolution of 96, because they did the same darned thing.
Like the new bus, by the way. Makes me want to hop in and go to a protest in DC with “flowers in my hair”.
In fact, JD, when you open the sliding door of that VW Microbus, a few “love beads” might fall out — LOL.– Hey, why should just liberals have the really cool rides?
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