Kerry, Alongside Brown: 'I Would Think' Scott Wouldn't Want People Denied Insurance For Preexisting

[Mass]

Conditions)

Note: Brown is between a rock and a hard place on many issues. While voters did not want this healthcare bill, they want a bill to be passed. The RW does not.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/kerry-alongside-brown-i-would-think-scott-wouldnt-want-people-denied-insurance-for-preexisting-condi.php?ref=fpb

en. John Kerry (D-MA) appeared today alongside his new junior Senator-elect, Republican Scott Brown. The fifth-term Democratic senator said he could work constructively with Brown on health care and other issues -- and appeared to be putting Brown on the spot in that regard, with Brown standing right next to him.

"Look, I think a lot of people objected to the process of the, you know, sort of last-minute deals and the way things were put together," said Kerry. "I understand that. It wasn't pretty. That doesn't mean that everything in the bill is bad. I would think Scott would not want people to be denied health insurance for a preexisting condition. I would think that he would not want somebody who paid their premiums and bought insurance to be told when they get sick that they don't have insurance anymore. There have to be some basic things here, that we can all agree on. And I certainly look forward to trying to do that with him. "

Brown did not directly respond, but was asked shortly afterward by a reporter whether he felt like he was being courted by Democrats as a swing voter.

"I've always had great respect for Sen. Kerry, always. We have worked together on other issues and we'll work together on issues on the future," said Brown. "I have a great relationship with the delegation because of my years at the statehouse.

"If I see a bill that is good for my state, I'm gonna vote for it. And that's my first priority. Other senators represent other states. My initial job is to protect the state of Massachusetts, and I don't owe anybody anything. In the legislature in Massachusetts, I look at the bills first, determine what -- how much they cost, and if they'll benefit my district and the state, and you know, I'll take it that way and continue to be the same type of voter I always have been."

[blm]

1. heh...cornered with kindness... Brown refused to be specific about what he was AGAINST in healthcare

bill. That's why Kerry called him Silent Scott.

Now, he can't stay Silent, can he?

[Arkana]

31. Heh...he's gonna be under a microscope for the next two years.

He has to run hard right or the Tea Parties that funded him will not rescue him next time. When he inevitably does, Massachusetts will experience such severe buyer's remorse that as long as his Democratic opponent acts like he/she has a fucking pulse, he'll lose.

[Jennicut]

2. Brown voted for Romney Care in Mass. He is not the hero teabagger types are looking for.

He would vote against health care but perhaps not incremental pieces of legislation such as against denying people for preexisting conditions. He is back up for reelection in 2012 and the electorate there, despite voting him in, is moderate. Indies and Dems are pissed in CT about Lieberman because he has been playing games instead of trying to get something done about health care. Brown has to hold onto those indies.

[wisteria]

14. He is no Jim DeMint?

The a**hole.

[SunsetDreams]

3. Brown has boxed himself in with the state of Massachussetts

Good for him, Good for Kerry highlighting the obvious.

[AlinPA]

6. Limbaugh will box him in before too long. He will have to bow down then.

[treestar]

4. Once he gets to DC the pressure to vote in lockstep with the block

could be too much.

Or maybe he'll be more like Snowe. He does come from a blue state. Sort of the opposite of a Blue Dog Dem from a red state.

[CoffinEd]

9. He's already practicing the lockstep move

Brown campaigned mainly on these issues during the run-up to the election:

1. Playing the 41st card on HCR.
2. Corralling "out of control" government spending (never provided specifics on what "out of control" spending he wants to coral).
3. Cutting taxes.
4. Killing more terrorists 'cause, you know, they're all around us.

I'm not expecting to much from him in way of 'pleasant surprises' with regard to how he votes. My focus right now is to make sure that he's known as the ex-junior senator from MA come 2012.

[Arkana]

32. Hear hear.

[jillan]

5. Way to go!! Quick thinking on Kerry's part!

[Island Blue]

7. Brilliant. n/t

[Blaukraut]

8. Nicely done, John! n/t

[Better Today]

10. Good on John, but why is this in GD:P?

[Mass]

11. Somehow, I thought healthcare was part of the president's agenda.

Am I wrong?

[Better Today]

12. Yes, you're wrong. Insurance reform is part of the president's agenda, healthCARE

reform is part of the general population's agenda.

[ObamaKerryDem]

13. Way to corner him, Kerry!

:fistbump: :kick:

[kiranon]

15. Respectfully disagree. Brown isn't cornered at all. Kerry is.

Talk will get Kerry nowhere. Brown will be the new Olympia Snow - promise him everything and he still won't vote with the Democrats. Why should he? So Kerry will like him? I don't think so. Kerry's seat is the next target in Massachusetts. Brown paved the way. Kerry does not see the weakness of his position and won't until it is too late to save his own seat. Independents want someone who looks like he will get something done. The people are looking for "a man on horseback" not one on a surfboard. The Dems need to deliver on something and to stand up to the Repubs or the Repubs will win in 2012 and continue their destruction of this great country in furtherance of corporate rule, in my humble opinion.

[wisteria]

17. No one is promising Brown anything. He is the one between a rock and a hard place

with the people of Massachusetts and the people who helped elect him.

Oh, and the Dem's are getting prepared to deliver. I will ignore you stupid comments regarding surf boards and horses.

[politicasista]

18. Everything is always Kerry or Obama's fault here at DU

Go figure.

[wisteria]

19. Interesting isn't it. The other poster is obviously one who favors the FDL approach. n/t

[politicasista]

20. Yep. If the Senator had cussed him out,

the blogs would go crazy. Hearing crickets?

[Mass]

21. Brown is between a rock and a hardplace. Voters did not send him to be

a RWer. He ran on a moderate platform and avoided the word Republican as much as he could.

The teabaggers who financed him, though, voted for him because they hoped his RW leanings would be followed by votes.

Those are two masters that are difficult to satisfy at the same time.

This said, Kerry is only for reelection in 2014, so a lot will have happened in between. I agree Dems need to deliver on something or the Repubgs will win in 2010 and 2012, but this has nothing to do with this. This has to do with having a leadership ready to challenge the GOP to do something, or at least not to block things to be done. This is what Kerry was doing here. Hopefully, this is what the leadership will do. Propose a bill that is decent and challenge the GOP and the corporate Dems to pass it.

[ObamaKerryDem]

22. Ah, but Kerry's not up again until 2014..

..and by 2014, Brown could well be history. Plus Kerry is a million times the campaigner Coakley was, not to mention the fact that he both won and has held on to that seat, even during some of the worst, lowest points for Democrats (he won the seat in 1984, for example, even when Reagan won there in MA for President..and most everywhere else). So comparing his next potential challenge to Coakley vs. Brown is apples and oranges, I think. Plus Kerry has gotten plenty of things done.

2014, at least at this point in time, is a world away in terms of politics . Plus you seem to assume Obama will not get re-elected? Way too early to assume anything like that, I think (also respectfully). :)

[ProSense]

23. Get a grip!

"Kerry's seat is the next target in Massachusetts"

Kerry got almost as many votes as McCain and Brown combined.

[politicasista]

24. Shh, you'll ruin their argument

that Kerry is a secret DLC corportist. :sarcasm:



Good post. :applause:

[karynnj]

27. Brown and Deval Patrick are up for re-election first

Kerry is not up until 2014 and he just won with about two thirds of the vote. In fact, Brown toyed with the idea of running and rejected it because he didn't have a prayer of a chance. This year was the strongest anti-incumbent mood and Coakley was a PATHETIC candidate and this was a special election.

Brown's seat is far more in danger. If he goes to the far right, he will lose to any decent candidate.

As to your idiocy about a man on horseback, Senator Kerry is an excellent at that. Not to mention, MA has a coast and they know that it takes strength, endurance, balance and skill to windsurf. Not to mention, it is Kerry's intelligence, knowledge and the fact that he is a decent, honorable person.

I would bet that in a few months when approval ratings are taken of Kerry, Brown and Patrick - Kerry will be very positive and, if Brown has acted as a RW er, the other two will be negative.

[wisteria]

33. Really? Brown considered running against Kerry. LOL n/t

[karynnj]

36. Per at least the Cape Cod paper - which made fun of the idea

[Noisy Democrat]

30. Brown's seat is the next target in MA

Kerry isn't up for reelection til 2014, and I expect he'll crush his opposition then as he did in 2008. Brown has to run again in 2012. A lot of us are looking forward to seeing him thrown out on his ear.

[wisteria]

16. Interesting who was in charge of this meeting. Brown and his friends are going to learn

real fast, that he is the Jr. Senator-not the Senior Senator and that will hamper their little ideas of obstruction.

[Generator]

25. I'm sure Brown would be all for people dying with blood coming

out of all their orifices in front of him if it got him elected again. I actually am serious.

Democrats may be weak and useless but they aren't immoral scumbags like Repukes. Which may be why they think it's a political game and not life and death. Maybe one day the Dems will learn you cannot negotiate with the immoral and insane.

[politicasista]

26. Hope his recovery is going well

cause in the pics, he didn't have a cane or crutches like maybe the previous day or week.

[karynnj]

28. He had crutches yesterday when he was going to leave a SFRC

hearing to vote, commenting that it would take him longer than usual. At the various Coakley rallies, he did not use them when spoke - so he may need them only when he walks. I hope he recovers quickly and finds he can again move easily without pain.

[politicasista]

29. Ok.

Thanks. Heard he was going to be using the Kennedy cane so, that's good to know. He looked like he gained weight before the surgeries, so hopefully, everything goes well for him and Momma T.

[karynnj]

35. Like you, I hope they are both doing well

Kerry's positive attitude about all of this really shines through in the comment he gave on what he is thankful for last Thanksgiving, after both their problems were known:

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry: "I've got a ton to be thankful for this year starting with the love and health of my family and friends, including a new son-in law. My friend and mentor Ted Kennedy's passing especially reminds me how lucky I am to have the gift of his teaching over the years and also the blessing of good health, and a brand new hip that feels better by the day.

“I'm grateful for the skill and commitment of our troops, especially those who are spending this holiday away from families and loved ones. The funerals of two Massachusetts soldiers this month were a tough reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made for our country, and their families and all the families of the fallen are on our minds this Thanksgiving. I'm thankful that Massachusetts has continued to give me the privilege of serving in the Senate when so many big issues are being debated and decided, and I'll continue to do my best to meet the expectations folks have placed in me."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/26/thanksgiving-thoughts-from-washington-and-beyond/

[wisteria]

34. It appears to me he is using them only when he as some walking to do. n/t