Scott Brown

Living in an apartment with mostly Democrats, my Republican views are seldom given the last word. But on January 19th, I was finally awarded the last laugh and presented with a victory worth noting for the GOP.

The last Republican to hold a Senate seat in Massachusetts was Edward W. Brooke, who lost his bid for re-election in 1978 to the beginning of a long legacy of Democrats. Senator Brooke was first elected in 1966 and held office for an astounding 12 years. It has been 32 years since the GOP has occupied the “People’s Seat,” which of late has mainly been inhabited by the now deceased Teddy Kennedy. Senatorelect Scott Brown started his campaign on September 12, 2009 and it was clearly a long shot for this underdog candidate. At an early Boston College Republicans meeting in October, Sen.-elect Brown arrived (alone, might I add) after a brief introduction from State Representative Karyn Polito and continued to speak to the crowd and encourage volunteers to acquire the lofty 10,000 signatures required to run for office. It was an intimate gathering and no one could even imagine the political whirlwind that would occupy the next few months in Massachusetts. After a few weeks of gathering over 17,000 signatures, Sen.-elect Brown was on a roll that did not cease until the night of January 19, 2010. All across the country, millions of people became familiar with his story and he attracted national attention from such prominent political analysts as Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, and Mark Levin. One of the more remarkable feats the Brown campaign overcame was raising over $1.5 million in 24 hours using the tactic of a “MoneyBomb.” People from all over the country tuned into the multiple media outlets covering the Massachusetts race and gladly donated to such a worthy cause.

It became apparent closer to Election Day that Attorney General Coakley’s campaign was running short. Her smear-tactics left bitter tastes even in the mouths of Democrats and her startling remarks during both the campaign and debates surely did not assist her in the polls. With her shocking comments about the Taliban and even the Red Sox beloved pitcher Curt Schilling, it was all down hill from there. Seriously, Martha? Curt Schilling, a Yankee’s fan? It should be noted that Attorney General Coakley has indeed lived in Massachusetts her entire life. Although early on Coakley was leading by over 15 points, it clearly did not add up to much in the end.

With a strong victory for Brown, this is a definite turning point in the turmoil that is currently dwelling in Congress. With Sen.-elect Brown’s swearing-in ceremony not taking place until next month, Democrats are scrambling to pass legislation they know will surely falter when they lose their 60 vote majority to block filibusters (which, consequently, only work if all Democrats and two Independents vote together). Additionally, the issue of health care is a main concern for Congress, but with Nancy Pelosi already seemingly conceding defeat, I’d like to say there isn’t much hope for the complete reform President Obama is striving towards. Recent polls have suggested that the majority of the general public does not even care for this bill that was rushed through the Senate on Christmas Eve. The process of passing any joint healthcare bill now includes Brown, who terminated the Democratic supermajority in the Senate. After President Obama’s State of the Union address last week, both majority leaders Reid and Pelosi claim a healthcare overhaul will pass in the upcoming year. This attitude seems to be more despairing than previously demonstrated last year. With Sen.-elect Brown’s 41st vote, Republicans now have the power to stop a healthcare overhaul that is in its later stages. Never fear, there is hope Republicans can come out on top and this sticky bill filled with hundreds of stipulations will be brought down.

I think attorney and political activist Phyllis Schalfly states it best by remarking “While Coakley was sipping wine with drug and insurance company PAC representatives, Brown was shaking hands with the voters.” With an excellent smear-free campaign, GMC-driving Senator-elect Brown hit a homerun and proved that red can indeed invade blue.

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