Scott Brown is coming to make an appearance at my company this spring - any suggestions?

[mreilly]

I live in MA and have just found out that Scott Brown is going to be coming to my company to give a talk in the next few weeks.

As a background, I despise Brown as a phony and a fraud. He ran for the Senate to claim Ted Kennedy's seat with a lot of sanctimonious posturing that "it's the PEOPLE'S seat" - as if the Kennedy establishment had wrongfully wrestled it away from the citizens of the commonwealth, ignoring the fact that it was the PEOPLE who elected Kennedy time and again, and rightfully so. Brown's campaign consisted of him strutting about in a barn jacket with a pickup truck, pushing the usual "I'm just folks like you" bullcrap, ignoring the fact he's just another rich millionaire out to further his own ends and those of his wealthy friends.

Brown was elected as a fluke; his opponent, Martha Coakley, was not inspiring and there is (unfortunately) just enough of a population of angry right-wing know-nothings in this state (though for all their screaming on talk radio you'd think they numbered in the millions, except of course when they're crying about being victimized by the big liberal machine in this state) that Brown managed to eke out the win.

Since his election Brown has generally stuck to the GOP party line, never daring to stand out or even take a position until he saw which way the wind blew. I used to subscribe to his newsletter to see what he was up to then lost interest when it became clear the answer was "nothing." His greatest idea - tax cuts for company that hire veterans, because, you know, tax cuts are about all these people can ever think up. Nothing against veterans, but this just so blatantly reeked of "And the rest of you non-veterans out there, well - too bad!" I thought he was supposed to be a Senator for ALL the people.

Personally I'm inclined to simply refuse to attend and pay no attention to what will obviously be a thinly-disguised campaign speech/sales pitch. I don't believe Brown has a chance at re-election nor does he deserve it - Elizabeth Warren will take the Senate seat and send him packing. But if anyone has any suggestions (please keep in mind I don't intend to heckle the man; this is my place of employment) I'd be more than happy to entertain them.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. Try to get a copy of his Playgirl spread and ask him to sign it. nt

[joeybee12]

2. Is there a question and answer period?

Perhaps bone up on some vote of his and really, really grill him...if you feel you can without getting fired.

[karynnj]

8. You can sound polite and not even really paritisan asking questions like,

Will you vote for the Buffet rule if there is a vote on it (he has already said no)?

OR a question that spells out why his position is wrong - without saying it - Like:

"If the country could pass a Constitutional balanced budget act, how could the government deftly response to a war or a catastrophe of some kind? Aren't those responsibilities what makes the federal government different from the state governments?

OR

Ask the type of detailed question that other past and present MA Senators have always answered without blinking an eye lash - and he can not answer, though his image makers have labeled him as reading all the bills before voting. Yet, somehow the other Senators, who presumably have not read the bills diligently like him, seem to know a wealth of details.

But, it may be that the BEST way to influence your peers is to be able to point to things he did that you think they would dislike. (ie if he speaks of the bills he co-sponsored on small business - mention that he voted against the bipartisan bill that he was a co-sponsor on last spring. (The Republicans wanted to insist that all returned TARP money be applied to the debt which was unrelated to the bill - but their reason for filibustering. The filibuster held and the bill was not passed.) It is likely that they will talk of the visit afterward and you may be able to "swing" some people back to us who believe his lies.

(One thing he has pushed is that he is the most "bipartisan" member of the delegation. I hope someone questions that metric - and suggests it be replaced with how often each vote with the majority of people in MA. (Why would any MA Democrat vote against their own long held Democratic position, when it is simultaneously their position, their party's position, and the majority position in the state? This is often the case. For Brown, his party and the majority position of his party are often at odds. He would have NO chance for reelection if he voted the straight Republican line.

But he is a co-sponsor of the Blunt amendment (against the birth control compromise), for a Constitutional amendment for a balanced budget, and against the tax on millionaires. All announced yesterday!

[protect our future]

11. Good info.

I hope you're advising activists or helping to train them in some fashion.

[karynnj]

12. Thanks - and, other than my own kids, I have not advised anyone

[Emit]

21. Here's another issue re: flipflopping

EXCLUSIVE: As State Rep, Scott Brown Voted For Contraception Mandate Stronger Than Obama’s

~snip~

... Massachusetts already requires insurers to carry contraceptive coverage for women and Brown voted for the provision as a member of the Massachusetts Assembly on Jan. 30, 2002, ThinkProgress has learned.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/02/14/424833/exclusive-as-state-rep-scott-brown-voted-for-contraception-mandate-similar-to-obamas/

Now: Sen. Scott Brown joins GOP push against Obama's revised birth control policy
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/02/sen_scott_brown_joins_push_aga.html

[Emit]

22. More: Elizabeth Warren 'Shocked' At Scott Brown's Support For 'Extreme' Birth Control Policy

Elizabeth Warren 'Shocked' At Scott Brown's Support For 'Extreme' Birth Control Policy

Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (D) tore into her rival Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) for supporting a GOP amendment that would permit any employer to deny coverage of birth control or other services they deem morally objectionable in their health insurance plan.

"I am shocked that Senator Brown jumped in to support such an extreme measure," Warren told The Washington Post's Greg Sargent in an interview. "This is an all new attack on health care. Any insurance company could leave anyone without health care, just when they need it most."

~snip~

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/elizabeth-warren-shocked-at-scott-browns-support-for

[Lochloosa]

3. Wear one of these and get in the receiving line.

http://www.zazzle.com/elizabeth_warren_for_senate_2012_hat-148731026232497701

[11 Bravo]

4. I believe we have a winner!

[PavePusher]

5. Here's a thought.

Why not just ask some questions on the issues, respectfully insist on non-platitude answers, and don't play stupid "gotchya" games.

[Ikonoklast]

17. Yeah, Republicans never do that...no, wait, that's all they do.

Brown isn't exactly the smartest guy in the room, I'd think just about any question asked of him would be a 'gotcha' question.

[zipplewrath]

6. Be careful

I'm dubious you'll have any "opportunity" to say or do anything that wouldn't get you in some trouble. One way or another your employer probably considers him a "guest" and will expect you to treat him as such. Other than giggling during a particular line in his canned speach, I can't think of much else to do. If there is some Q&A opportunity, you might try to dream up basically a "Colbert" question. i.e. something that is basically along the line as his stump speach, cut sounds absurd in the context.

For example, one could ask him about the direct effect of his stance on the debt ceiling with respect to your company's line of business. Alternately, one could ask him about a particular feature of "Obama Care" that is similar to Massachusetts law and find out if he objects to it at the state level or only the federal level.

[TlalocW]

7. Ask him what he's going to do after he loses to Elizabeth?

Going to do any fishing, going to Disneyworld, etc?

TlalocW

[ecstatic]

9. Keep quiet. Politics at the job

is not a good idea.

[northoftheborder]

13. I was going to say, wear a donkey pin, but being at your job, pins and hats & such might.....

....not be a good idea.

If you can get in the question line, ask a really good question pertinent to Mass. interests.

[LibDemAlways]

10. Go with your instinct and simply don't show up. He's an asshole and

not worth your time.

[LibertyLover]

14. Would suggesting that you bring

poo-flinging monkeys with a supply of poo be cost-prohibitive?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

15. Ask if his daughters are still available

He's a dbag.

[mreilly]

16. Thanks, all - great ideas here

I love the idea about asking him to sign the copy of Playgirl. I also like the notion of inquiring "Senator Brown, would you support legislation that would give my employer the right to deny me insurance coverage for contraception?" My company would not do such a thing, but it would put him in a nice box - either he has to say he'd let my employer screw me on coverage or that he'd support my rights to contraception over my employer's wishes (who invited him to speak). But I'm sure like most politicians of his ilk, he'd come up with a smooth nonsense answer that would be geared at not offending any voters.

The more I think about this issue the more disgusted I am, though. The owner of my company is a decent guy - for a Republican. He's kind of like a Barry Goldwater sort. He's an old-school fiscal conservative who, as far as I know, stays out of the BS cultural wars and religious crusades. Our company is very diverse; lots of women and minorities, and he has progressive views towards the staff. We're compensated and rewarded well. I don't blame him for being a Republican - he SHOULD be, since he's wealthy. I've often said there are only 3 types of people who should support Republicans: the rich, the rabidly religious (I'm talking about the hateful fundamentalist type, not the peaceful "love thy neighbor" sorts) and the racists.

But it does irk me that we're being invited to attend what is obviously a stump speech. No, it's not mandatory to attend - this was specifically pointed out; allegedly the talk is going to be about the economic climate in Massachusetts but you and I both know that every sentence out of Brown's mouth is going to boil down to "Vote for me, I did [X]" or "Vote for me, I supported [Y]."

I can honestly state that if the owner of the company were a liberal and he invited Elizabeth Warren to speak at the company I'd also feel like he was pushing his views on the staff in an effort to drum up votes for his preferred candidate. Yes, I would be more gracious and would attend, not because I'm a hypocrite but because I've nothing against Warren as I do with Brown, the fake populist.

[TheKentuckian]

18. I suggest strategic setting of an appointment, a nice vacation day, or calling in sick

Personally, it would be a moment to avoid. I could pop of my mouth in a workplace position dangerous way or bite my tongue and regret it going forward.

Best to skip it for me, so that is sadly my best advice.

[LadyHawkAZ]

19. Wear pink leather shorts that day? n/t

[spanone]

20. take the day off.

and go to occupy.

[hyphenate]

23. My suggestion?

Lots and lots of really ripe tomatoes.






If nothing else, seriously, make sure questions about education and contraception are peppered throughout the Q&A. That should do the trick.