Ken O’Brien
You’ve probably seen the following ad by SenatorScott Brown:
Note that he says, “So I filed a bill to stopinsider trading in Congress, and it got passed and signed into law.”
Well, that’s not exactly true.
As the BostonGlobe reported on September 12, “Brown’s bill, however, was not signed intolaw. The bill that made it to Obama’s desk was introduced by Senator Joseph I.Lieberman, the Connecticut independent.”
Apparently, as we’ve pointed out in regard to theirPresidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, lying is becoming a standardcampaign tool among Republican politicians.
The Globereported in May that Brown did introduce a bill on the subject. But thebill was so hastily drafted that the Congressional committee set it aside infavor of Lieberman’s bill.
The relevant portion of that story said:
Withinthree days of a “60 Minutes’’ broadcast that suggested some members of Congresswere financially profiting from advance knowledge of government regulations,Brown introduced a measure blocking anyone in Congress from using nonpublicinformation to influence personal investments. Brown muscled his way into theheadlines in a race against a fellow Senate freshman, Kirsten Gillibrand, aDemocrat from New York who was drafting her own version of the same bill.
Brownhas said that he does his homework and that he reads the bills that come beforeCongress. But in this instance, Brown’s measure was so hastily drafted that itcontained exact language lifted from an earlier House bill on the same subject.And even after Brown’s draft was set aside by the Homeland Security Committeein favor of another version, Brown continued to claim credit in an encounterwith President Obama. In January, Brown intercepted the president as hedeparted the House after his State of the Union speech.
“Myinsider trading bill is on Harry’s desk right now,’’ Brown told the president,referring to Reid. “Tell him to get it out. It’s ready to go.’’
Astelevision cameras caught the moment, Obama promised Brown: “I’m going to tellhim. I’m going to tell him to get it done.’’
Thepresident signed the bill on April 4, with Brown among a handful of Democratsand Republicans invited to the White House ceremony.
Itstretches credibility for Brown to claim the act as his own, said WendySchiller, an associate professor of political science at Brown University. Butthe rookie showed a quick response and deft footwork that could help him rackup more significant achievements if Massachusetts voters decide to send himback to the Senate for a full term.
“What’sfortunate for Scott Brown is that most people from Massachusetts aren’texpecting much from him legislatively,’’ she said. “His reelection campaign isnot about what he’s done legislatively, but what he’ll do if you give him sixmore years.’’
Maybe it’s time to go back to telling us about thesecret meetings he has with foreign heads of state.
UPDATE: This just in (click here). To clarify the latter, here's the difference between Democratic and Republican definitions of "Small Business."
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