Wow that was very uplifting!
I am really impressed that ALL of the Massachusetts delegation were able to come together, and do something so positive for the LGBT community in their state. That was really quite touching.
But you know, it felt to me that there was something missing. Did you notice it too?
Yeah that's it! Scott Brown, where in the hell was Scott Brown?
Did he not get the memo?
A Democratic Hill staffer with knowledge of the project told The Huffington Post that Brown was invited to participate, but he declined.
"Scott Brown has a strong record at the state and federal level against bullying and believes that all people regardless of sexual orientation should be treated with dignity and respect," said Brown spokesman Colin Reed when asked whether the senator had been asked to appear in the video. "His main focus right now is on creating jobs and getting our economy back on track."
Yeah you know I don't think that anybody's segment on that video was more than a few seconds long. Surely THAT would not seriously take away from the time that Senator Brown needed to "create jobs" or get the "economy back on track."
I mean someone might start to think that Scott Brown hated the gays or something!
What's that?
Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus stated, “Scott Brown has voted consistently against the LGBT community throughout his entire career in the Massachusetts legislature. His has not been an incidental opposition. He has voted against us loudly, proudly and unequivocally.
Unfortunately, most people don’t realize just how bad his record is:
–He voted over 25 times against marriage equality, even when 3/4 of our legislature and many MA Republican legislators stood with us.
– He doesn’t support the Transgender Civil Rights & Hate Crimes bill
– He opposes repealing “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell”
– He opposes repealing the “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA)
– He has ridiculed LGBT parents as inadequate
– He supported anti-gay policies of George W Bush & Mitt Romney
Ohhh! I get it now. Brown is one of THOSE guys.
You know the ones that are so insecure about their sexuality that they are constantly making sure that they don't do anything which might accidentally appear gay, like stripping down for a national publication.
Well to be fair, Brown WAS quite a bit younger during his "drop trou for Cosmo" days, and besides there is NOTHING gay about that pose. (Okay well it might be a little gay.)
Still there is some hope that Brown is not one of those idiots that goes over the top to prove they are a strapping heterosexual by posing in a vaguely inappropriate manner with their scantily clad daughters. Because that would be just....oh.
Oops, I spoke too soon.
You know maybe the Massachusetts LGBT community is better off WITHOUT Senator Brown's participation in their "It Gets Better" campaign.
Because I don't know about you, but he kind of gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Besides, I am still not sure whether homophobia is something you are born with, or something that you get from your environment, so perhaps it is best to keep Senator Brown away from impressionable young teenagers. At least until science is certain about the issue.
(H/T to the Huffington Post.)
Scott Brown is a tool. He only won Ted Kennedy's senate seat because his opponent Martha Coakley ran a terrible campaign. And Scott isn't doing so well on that job creation thingy - Boston Scientific announced it's laying off between 1200-1400 workers the DAY after unveiling plans to expand their operations in China and add 1000 jobs there. I hope Elizabeth Warren runs against him in the next election.
ReplyDeleteI'll give him a pass on this one. He admitted on tv that he was sexually abused as a child, and that took some guts. And, maybe it might inspire some other people to speak out on that terribly sad issue. Also, he's one of the few sane Republicans in office right now. He finds some common ground with the opposite side on occasion.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I think the "It Gets Better" campaign is one that is incredibly compassionate and humane. I remember when that local politician started off the whole thing with the speech he gave, when he broke down in tears. I was incredibly, incredibly moved.
Well written Gryph. You are getting up there.
ReplyDeleteScott Brown as a sitting U.S. Senator? Not so much.
"His main focus right now is on creating jobs and getting our economy back on track."
ReplyDeleteWith all the legislating the poors and sex, I don't see any evidence that many Republicans are focusing on jobs and getting the economy on track.
Actually, Scott Brown did change his mind on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and the source being quoted here should have cited this. It was only the most major gay rights legislation in decades, and Brown was one of only six Republican Senators to vote for repeal.
ReplyDeleteCome on, guys, don't beat up on someone that clearly shows he can change his mind on an issue. It just makes him more likely to NOT change his mind in the future.
G.O. P. = Glorified Oversized Pricks !!!
ReplyDeletehe SAID he was molested at camp - but the devil is in the details. It turns out that someone made a pass at him in the bathroom. Scott ran away.
ReplyDeleteIf that is molestation, than 99% of the women in this world were molested as teenagers. The man is an ass.
His wife also did a nude bit for a video. She jumps off a boat and is topless.
C'mon Gryph, give poor Cosmo Ken a break. He IS thinking about job creation. He's thinking about how in the hell he's gonna hold onto his job the next time he's up for re-election.
ReplyDeleteMaybe for Scott Brown it didnt get better?
ReplyDeleteBrian Camenker, holocaust revisionist and head of SPLC-designated "hate group" MassResistance is a good old boyfriend of Scott.
ReplyDeleteBuh bye, Scottie. The voters of Massachusetts are among the smartest and sharpest in the US and you are GONE- and not just for not participating in this ad, but for all the cowardly things you have done since the misfortune of your election. You are unworthy of such a great state and your time as Senator is running out. Nice to see you go.
ReplyDeleteAs a lifelong MA resident, Scott Brown makes me sick. I would love to see him thrown out of the Senate. That Cosmo spread makes me want to scream (in a bad way) - can you imagine what would happen to a WOMAN who did something like that? Good grief. I don't find him attractive in any way. He is undoubtedly a homophobe, and I would never pose with my daughter in a sea shell swim suit. Oh gawd...
ReplyDeleteWow, if having a pass made at you as a teenager qualifies you as "molested", then I was molested, too. Never knew...
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @5:48, thanks for the praise for my "great" state of MA!
The one with the coconut boobs was a finalist on American Idol. In this case, the daughter had actual talent before her dad's political aspirations were elevated.
ReplyDeleteIn Sarah's case, she was as desperate as Joan Rivers to find 'work' for her talentless daughter. She couldn't trust Todd being lusted after by non-forced-prostitutes so they agreed to have Bristol shake her fat ass on DWTS.
Pat in MA @ 4:15
ReplyDeleteThere is a silver lining to Elizabeth being snubbed in a Senate confirmation for Consumer Protection after all if she ends up running against Scott. : )
Dis Gusted @ 10:54 a.m.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard that story. Was it a male? Is that why he's grossed out and prejudiced against gays?
Was this like Michele Bachmann calling the police on two women (one of which was a nun) to say they attacked her (with questions) in the bathroom?
Ok, so he's not quite ready to be a full fledged advocate. But again, keep in mind he was one of only six Republicans to vote for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I am really surprised that people are overlooking this in their anger at him for not participating in the "It Gets Better Campaign."
ReplyDeleteNot everyone is ready to completely let go of their biases against gay people, but at least Scott Brown, if he has them, is willing to try by voting for legislation deeply unpopular with his party.
According to Scott Brown, the sexual abuse occurred more than once. I don't know the details, but from this interview, it sounds like more than just someone making a pass at him in the bathroom. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8332423/US-senator-Scott-Brown-tells-of-sexual-abuse-as-a-child.html
ReplyDeleteAnd apparently his abuse occurred at a camp called Camp Good News, and from what I understand, many other people have stepped up to say they were abused at this camp, as well.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me sick that some people on this thread are trying to downplay pedophilia because they're in a snit that Scott Brown won't appear in the It Gets Better Campaign.
@ 6:02 AM - yes, it was a male counselor who approached him.
ReplyDeleteI went to camp Good News and so did my brother. We had a great time and never had any such incidents happen to us. We were shocked to hear this story, but then we heard what really happened.
The truth came out about Scott when he refused to identify the counselor.
Personally, I don't believe this was a traumatic experience for him. People who were really abused as a child, do not pose nude for national publications. Scott Brown loves to show his pubes and I would guess that he flirted with both men and women at some point.
"Girl with the Curious Hands" features the topless Gail Huff, Scott's wife.
ReplyDeleteOne should remember that Cosmo is not the only modeling that Brown did. For ten years that's all he did. He was a male model. Has he ever had another job?
That made me cry! Seeing Senators and Representatives of all ages speaking so simply and eloquently, in their endearing Massachusetts' accents,to provide support for gay youth is amazing. That project is brilliant in its strength and love. It may do more to change this country than anything else.
ReplyDeleteHe says he was molested then refused to name the person. He is a coward. He may have let other innocent children get molested by not naming his supposed assailant. He's a POS in a "pretty" coating.
ReplyDeletePat in MA @ 4:15 - I can't wait to campaign for Elizabeth Warren. She has my vote and my time!
ReplyDeleteScott Brown is a dead man walkin' politically. He has pissed off the teabaggers many times already, yet he still tries to ingratiate himself to these idiots. He may indeed truly be a homophobe at heart, but I suspect the real reason he declined to take part in the "It Gets Better" project was that with that one act he would have insured that the teabaggers would have put someone up against him in the GOP primary.
ReplyDeleteBrown is a sniveling coward who managed to exploit a very unusual set of circumstances that allowed him to make it into Ted Kennedy's old Senate seat. Since he is still trying to walk a fine line that appeals to both the very liberal voters of Massachusetts and their homegrown teabagger buffoons, I doubt that he will be able to hold on to it. So, he tries not to offend the 'baggers too much.
If Brown had any brains he'd realize that unless he does EVERYTHING the teabaggers want, all of the time, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, they will view him as a backsliding apostate, a RINO, a socialist/commie, and probably suspect him of being gay. For a long political life as a Senator from MA, he would be better off actually being a left of center Senator, but the teabaggers will not allow such political diversity in today's GOP.
Brown's situation is emblematic of the greater GOP: they could not have had recent successes without the teabaggers, but they cannot maintain their support without losing the rest of the far more moderate electorate.
As for the teabaggers, they can all go to hell.
I like the MA political scene, but even there you're gonna find some losers.
ReplyDeleteHey, Gryph, would you put me on your blogroll?
http://mikeb302000.blogspot.com/
@4:46, Scott Brown's claim of sexual abuse (which he "revealed" while promoting his book) was that he had been molested at camp. But he subsequently REFUSED to reveal who the abuser was, stating that the man would be in his 70's by now. And surely everyone agrees all 70 year old men are harmless and feeble, right?
ReplyDeleteScott Brown was never sexually abused. He expanded on his experience -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/scott_brown_say_1.html
the details reveal it was ONE incident and nothing happened. Anything else is hyperbole by the media.
He is also an accomplished thief, by his own admission.
It seems like the goal post keeps getting moved on my defense of Scott Brown. First people implied he wasn't really abused so he's a POS for bringing the issue up; now it's being inferred that because he didn't name his abuser, he's a POS for bringing the issue up.
ReplyDeleteBrown won because we MA Dems were caught offguard, and believe me, never again will that happen. We're all horrified and are out working already to overthrow him. Scott claims to be open to Democratic opinions, but in fact he votes over 90% of the time with Republicans. He's voted to gut the EPA, cut job programs, and cut Pell grants. He's like Sarah Palin in that he never has press conferences, never opens up to citizens, doesn't even respond to major MA newspaper questions. Call his offic and ask them about anything, and "he's thinking about it," even minutes before a vote. We've got a rousing Democratic primary going here with several really good candidates. I'm pulling for Bob Massie. Elizabeth WArren isn't the only person who could win here. We're a Democratic state, and SB's time is UP!
ReplyDeletePS. As far as his DADT vote being for once on the right side... Every once in a while when it doesn't really matter, he throws a bone to the MA citizens to make them think he's open-minded. That vote didn't make any difference; it would've passed without him. Same with the nuclear disarmament treaty, one of the famous ones when he didn't know how he'd vote until the last second.
ReplyDeleteHere is how Brown won the Senate election in MA.
ReplyDeletedoes anyone remember the recent video of Scott and one of the evil Koch brothers talking? Scott thanked him for his financial help last time and asked if he could help him again.
Here is what happened. No one in MA had even heard of Scott Brown. Then the weekend before the election, a bogus poll's results were issued that Brown was surging or even ahead. Then all weekend constant, mulpiple, long robo calls were made to all MA voters.
The day of the elections there were many voter reports of irregularities particularly in electronic vote counting districts.
Coakley croaked rather than stand up and challenging these. Instead she conceded muck like her mentor-stiff Kerry.
Scott Brown sucks and I mean sucks!
ReplyDeleteScott Brown made up his abuse claims to sell his book. He couldn't identify the abuser because it didn't happen. There was no abuse.
ReplyDeleteHis story, 25 years after the fact, helped his book sales. End of story.
Charles DeVita, a counselor at Camp Good news for decades, committed suicide this spring because of sexual abuse allegations in 1985.
Scott Brown denied ever knowing this person. In his own words, he described the one time bathroom incident and admits there was NEVER any sexual abuse.
Something isn't right with this guy. He looks sick, like AIDS/HIV sick. I know, I work with AIDS patients and that gaunt look is commonplace. Does make me wonder...
ReplyDeleteDon't forget this is the guy who was offering up his daughters to any guy who would take them. And it did it on his election night on national TV.
ReplyDeleteAnd he thought it was funny.
With heterosexual dads like that....
The "It gets better." campaign is terrific. And it speak to all young people who are picked on or bullied or treated badly at home.
ReplyDeleteIt is a message of hope, and it is realistic.
So much of what traditional religion offers is magical mumbo jumbo based on pre Medieval superstitions.
This ad campaign is realistic.
How, exactly, would a two second blip on a remarkably effective campaign against bullying lgbt youth, harm Brown and his career?
ReplyDeleteIf he was truly molested, he clearly felt fine posing nude or semi nude in a magazine, so apparently he's faced that demon and won.
Since when is showing compassion and or support to vulnerable youth a "bad idea" or "sign of weakness"?
The photo of him posing with his daughters is more repulsive to me, especially after his comments that they were "available" on the night he won.
So speaking out against bullying lgbt youth is beneath him, but posing naked and putting your girls up to ridicule sits fine with him as a father and compassionate human being?
I just don't get it.
You missed the pink leather shorts.
ReplyDeletehttp://bostonist.com/2010/02/25/scott_browns_pink_leather_shorts.php
When I was 10 I was traviling on a Greyhound bus with my mom to visit relatives. I was standing at a urinal a bus station bathroom when a man came up to me. He looked at my penis and asked if I knew what it was for. I was standing at a urinal, so of course I knew what it was for. It was for urinating through.
ReplyDeleteI think that was all that happened. I never had a total visual memory of what happened. All I ever remembered was his eyes. It was like eyes piercing fog and I knew the story that went along with the eyes.
I don't think that I was molested, but I reacted like I had been. I wet my pants in class at least once because I didn't want to go to the lavatory.
10 year olds are a bit young for that sort of thing.