Scott Brown & the GOP: How Big Tent Will They Be?
Conservatives — By Harrison on February 2, 2010 at 9:00 am
Scott Brown, Senator-elect from Massachusetts and vote #41, is to be admired for his political honesty regarding a core “Republican” stance, abortion:
Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts said he opposes federal funding for abortions, but thinks women should have the right to choose whether to have one.
Brown told ABC’s “This Week” that he disagrees with his party’s position that the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion should be overturned.
Brown said the abortion question is one that’s best handled by a woman, her family and her doctor. He also said more effort needs to go into reducing the number of abortions in the U.S.
Brown has said the GOP shouldn’t take his vote for granted on every issue. He said he’s fiscally conservative but more moderate on social issues.
Now that Brown has won his race, he will soon go from Republican media darling to outcast. He is already on his way (though his record in Massachusetts is no secret many ignored it so the Democrats could lose the race). Maybe Brown will run for president in 2012:
When Barbara Walters, in her exclusive This Week interview, asked Brown if he’d rule out a 2012 run, he said he found it humbling, but he wouldn’t say no.
Brown played his campaign smartly and he rode a wave of discontent into office. He also lucked out that his opponent was asleep at the switch after the primary and didn’t seem to act as if he was a true threat.
There should be no reason for Conservative pundits to tear Brown down for some of his social stances but I predict that they will anyway. I’m speaking of such people as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck. As the honeymoon slowly wears off, expect these three to start to chip away at Brown from the margins until they feel they can sweep in for the kill.
Perhaps this is how Alren Specter or Joseph Lieberman ended up becoming estranged from their party.
Expect this prediction which I made on January 21, 2010 to come true:
Expect over the next 12 months for Scott Brown’s name to be less and less in the headlines as the Republicans tire of his opinions (much the way it went with Lieberman).
We will see how “Big Tent” the Republican Party really is but, if we go by the past, I think we will find Scott Brown will appear on quite a few Republicans’ hate lists.
Like this post? Subscribe to the Conservative perspective of Just Politics..? via RSS or Email and enjoy great articles like this every day or spread the word with one of the share buttons below!
Related posts:
- Scott Brown: From Hero to Zero
Scott Brown is not the Panacea for GOP Revival
Scott Brown, Pick-up Truck Populist?
Coakley and Brown: Why Liberals Can’t Understand Losing
How Martha Coakley Blew Her Lead in Massachusetts: Jumping in Pools
After the Brown Win: Democrats Ram Through Obamakare Tout Suite!
Tweet This
Digg This
Delicious
Stumble it
Facebook
8 Comments
As a down the line conservative with pretty strong pro-life views, I have no problem with his stance on social issues. Abortion wasn’t on the ballot, healthcare and run away government spending was.
Abortion seems to be one of those issues that only come to the fore in relatively calm political waters. These times, my brother, are not them.
My focus on Brown will be zeroing in how he votes on fiscal matters and cutting back the advance of government to the detriment of freedom and liberty as it will be, I’m willing to bet, for the referenced conservative talkies.
Abortion is a major test for Republican candidates, like it or not. Brown was for Romneykare in Massachusetts and wants the “stimulus” money that’s been sent to his state spent ASAP.
Time will tell for Brown but I’d be willing to bet the GOP will tire of him fairly quickly.
Great article…alot of concern over how Brown will do…
Unfortunately, I think you are right. Similar things will likely happen to Kirk in IL
Matthew´s last blog ..We are among the top 75 Conservative blogs.
I can live with his social stance, at least as stated, as long as he pulls the plug on Obamacare, cap and trade and any other socialist wish list items the Dems try to sneak through. As far as the pundits I’m pretty sure Glenn Beck as already started in on him. We will see how long it takes the others to join in.
Robert´s last blog ..“Big Daddy” Obama and the American Police State
He was for Romneykare so who knows what he will do.
“Brown has said the GOP shouldn’t take his vote for granted on every issue. He said he’s fiscally conservative but more moderate on social issues.”
A statement like this is to be expected from a Republican elected into a seat that has such a large democrat based constituency. He has to lean left in order to prepare longterm support from his state.
By playing closer to the dividing line now, is a very strong hint that if he were to be nominated as a Presidential candidate in 2012, he would have been gaining support on both sides of the field.
My concern is whether or not he will uphold his agenda, to stop the current healthcare legislation, which he proclaimed during his campaign.
For a Massachusetts Republican he may be moderate. My issue is not so much with Brown but with how Republicans nationally view him. I’m concerned that, because of his social views, he will be viewed harshly which doesn’t bode well for the GOP gaining votes nationwide.