Debunking Scott Brown's Misleading "Diner" Ad

 

Ad omits truth about his partisan record of obstruction and putting Wall Street before Main Street

For Immediate Release: May 29, 2012
Contact: Mathew Helman, Communications Director
E-mail: mathew@progressmass.org, Cell: 617-821-8004

BOSTON - Republican Scott Brown released a new television advertisement this week entitled "Diner," but the only items on the menu of this "Diner" are misleading claims about Brown's record.  The advertisement contains several misleading claims meant to misdirect voters about Brown's actual record in the U.S. Senate.

"Almost every single claim Republican Scott Brown makes in his new ad is meant to mislead voters about his real record," warned Mathew Helman, Communications Director for ProgressMass.  "Republican Scott Brown has voted overwhelmingly in support of partisan obstruction in the U.S. Senate and has worked to secure backroom deals for Wall Street while Middle Class Massachusetts is left holding the bag."

Scott Brown claim:

"The problem with Washington is that people down there are always battling.  That's not how I operate."

Scott Brown reality:

Scott Brown routinely uses aggressive, partisan, "battling" rhetoric.

In an email to supporters asking for money, Brown strikes a more partisan tone, and emphasizes that he could impact which party controls the Senate, a message Democrats have been more keen to push inside the state. "I know there are several other GOP campaigns to support, but this race is THE battleground for the United States Senate- the only sure hedge to a potential second term for President Obama," he wrote to would-be donors. [Boston Globe, "Scott Brown strikes more partisan tone in national fundraising appeal," 4/24/12]

Scott Brown claim:

"I'll work with anyone to get things done."

Scott Brown reality:

An analysis of Scott Brown's voting record makes clear that Brown overwhelmingly votes in support of right-wing Republican obstruction over "getting things done."

A new study of Republican Scott Brown's voting record in the U.S. Senate by ProgressMass reveals that, when Brown had the opportunity to oppose Republican obstruction in the U.S. Senate and demonstrate bipartisan leadership, he voted overwhelmingly with his Republican colleagues.  This finding runs directly counter to Republican Scott Brown's recent claims of bipartisanship.  Brown voted with his Republican colleagues at a rate of over 75% (over 93% prior to Elizabeth Warren's entry into the Senate race) to block legislation that had the support of 50 or more Senators, measures that would have passed the U.S. Senate on a so-called "up-or-down vote," according to the ProgressMass review of Brown's Senate record. [ProgressMass, "New Study: ProgressMass Analysis of Scott Brown's Voting Record Reveals Highly Partisan Record, Overwhelming Support for Republican Obstruction in U.S. Senate," 5/7/12]

Scott Brown claim:

"I was the tie-breaking vote on Wall Street reform."

Scott Brown reality:

Scott Brown worked behind the scenes in closed-door meetings scoring backroom deals to water down regulations on Wall Street in the reform bill.  Meanwhile, Brown has been a top recipient of political donations from Wall Street and financial services firms.

Campaign contributions to Senator Scott Brown from the financial industry spiked sharply during a critical three-week period last summer as the fate of the Wall Street regulatory overhaul hung in the balance and Brown used the leverage of his swing vote to win key concessions sought by firms. From mid-June until the Fourth of July, according to a Globe analysis of his campaign finance reports, the Massachusetts senator took in $140,000 from banks and investment firms and their executives, including companies based in the state, such as MassMutual and State Street Corp. That is 400 percent more than the $28,000 received on average by all Republican senators during the same three weeks. As the money poured in, Brown and his Senate staff were working both publicly and behind the scenes to scuttle $19 billion in fees on the financial industry that would have paid for part of the regulatory overhaul, and to weaken a provision intended to curb certain types of investment activities by banks and insurance companies. [Boston Globe, "Donations poured in as Brown's role grew," 12/12/10]

When Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown addressed supporters after his upset victory in January, he declared there would be "no more closed-door meetings or back-room deals by an out-of-touch party leadership." Some would argue that's exactly what he just did in the final push on Wall Street reform. After private talks with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd and other top Democrats, Brown scored a series of exemptions from the "Volcker rule" -- which would bar certain forms of proprietary trading -- a provision pushed by big Massachusetts banks and financial firms, including State Street Corp. and Mass Mutual. [Politico, "The temptations of Scott Brown," 6/28/10]

Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., achieved fame earlier this year when his election threw a wrench into Democrats' health care plans. But as the recipient of nearly $442,000 in campaign contributions from the financial industry in 2009 and so far this year, he's also an important player in Wall Street reform. In fact, only nine other members of Congress took in more from the financial community--and most of them hold leadership positions or important seats on the committees writing the bill. [Forbes, "Wall Street's Favorite Congressmen," 6/1/10]

The financial industry is lining up behind Republican U.S. Senator Scott Brown's reelection campaign, making him one of the top recipients of cash from financial, insurance and real estate companies during the current election cycle. [...] According to the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, donors from the finance, insurance and real estate industries gave Brown $2.3 million between January 2011 and April 30, 2012. [Springfield Republican, "Financial industry keeps cash flowing into Sen. Scott Brown's reelection campaign," 5/26/12]

Scott Brown claim:

"... and helped pass a strong new ethics law for Congress."

Scott Brown reality:

Scott Brown's behavior in recent months has raised numerous questions about whether he is in violation of the U.S. Senate's ethics policies, and Brown has had an ethics complaint filed against him.

The Massachusetts Democratic Party has filed a complaint with the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics calling for an investigation into Republican Sen. Scott Brown's alleged use of official Senate staff to create campaign-related materials. [Springfield Republican, "Mass. Dems file ethics complaint against Scott Brown alleging Senate staff was used for campaign activities in shooting basketball video," 5/9/12]

I count at least three situations in just the last six weeks - two involving political use and abuse of taxpayer-funded resources and one involving the appropriateness of "super-expensive" gifts - that raise ethical questions about Republican Scott Brown's behavior that he ought to answer, especially since he seems to routinely call on everyone else under the sun to answer questions. [ProgressMass, "Republican Scott Brown Repeatedly Skirts Senate Ethics Policies," 5/9/12]

Scott Brown claim:

"You know what makes me really proud?  Being called one of the most bipartisan Senators in the country."

Scott Brown reality:

Scott Brown's voting record indicates that he routinely puts right-wing Republican obstruction in the U.S. Senate ahead of getting anything accomplished by supporting measures with majority support.

Republican Senator Scott Brown touts his bipartisan voting record on the campaign trail, but a study published Monday by a progressive advocacy group makes the case that Brown has failed to reach across the aisle at key moments. ProgressMass identified 53 bills that had the support of at least 50 senators but lacked the 60 needed to break Republican filibusters and bring the measures to up-or-down votes. On these bills, the study found, Brown sided with his party 76 percent of the time. [...] The ProgressMass study also noted that Brown was even less likely to break from the GOP before Elizabeth Warren, his probable Democratic opponent this year, entered the race last August. On 32 bills before Warren became a candidate, Brown voted with Republicans 30 times. [Boston Globe, "In tight votes, Senator Brown often loyal to party," 5/7/12]

 

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