Brown eager to get on the job as he savors Senate victory
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Scott Brown, the Republican candidate who turned the political world on its head by winning a once-solid Democratic Senate seat, said today that he was eager to get on the job and that he hoped to be quickly seated based on unofficial returns.
At a televised news conference in Boston, Brown said he asked the secretary of state’s office to speed up its certification so that he can be quickly seated in the Senate where he will be the 41st GOP vote, enough to prevent Democrats from unilaterally imposing their will.
“It’s important to hit the ground running,” Brown said. “I’m looking forward to getting down there as quickly as I can.’
Brown said he would visit Washington tomorrow to meet with Massachusetts’ senior senator, John Kerry, who campaigned for Brown’s Democratic opponent, Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley, in the race for the seat held by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Despite a harsh campaign, Brown, a state legislator, said he would have no problems getting along with Kerry, whom he has worked with before.
“Game’s over,” he said. “Let’s get back to work.”
Brown called for a bipartisan approach to deal with issues such as healthcare overhaul, the economy and terrorism. He said the main thing he learned from the campaign was that people wanted change.
“The No. 1 thing I have heard is that people are tired of business as usual,” Brown said, echoing a campaign theme that President Obama used.
Much of the campaign, especially among conservative Republicans who backed Brown, dealt with the pending healthcare overhaul legislation that Brown has pledged to oppose. However, he noted that he does support healthcare reform.
“Healthcare was certainly an issue, but it was only one of many,” Brown said. “I voted for healthcare” in Massachusetts, he said, adding that he opposed the one-size-fits-all approach of the Democrats.
“I think we can do it better,” Brown said. As the 41st senator, “I can help bring it back to the drawing board.”
The victory has thrown the political world into a frenzy with Democrats trying to figure out the next step in the healthcare battle and all incumbents wondering what the race means for the midterm elections.
“I will let the political pundits determine what’s happening in the larger scale,” Brown said, refusing to be typecast as anything more than an independent. “I’m going to be a Scott Brown Republican,” he said, adding that he saw himself as part of “a new breed not beholden to the special interests.”
Brown said he was congratulated by President Obama on Tuesday night and that he suggested a two-on-two basketball game at some point.
Obama appeared this morning to sign a tax crackdown directive
‘Mr. President, what’s the lesson of the Massachusetts vote,’ a reporter shouted.
Obama did not respond.
-- Michael Muskal
