For nearly half a century, the people of Massachusetts were represented in the United States Senate by Senator Edward M. Kennedy. But more importantly, Teddy Kennedy’s influence was felt across the nation, not just in Massachusetts, because he was probably the most powerful, listened-to liberal of his time. Admiring liberals (especially in the media) affectionately referred to him as the “Lion of the Senate.” Conservatives called him things which I can’t print in this blog. Suffice it to say that he was a major player in virtually every liberal, big-government cause over the last 40 plus years.
Teddy Kennedy died exactly one year ago today – August 25, 2009. Following his death, there was much speculation as to what Democrat would replace him in the Senate, and take up the liberal causes he had championed. When Martha Coakley prevailed in a spirited Democratic primary, it was assumed by all of the political pundits, and just about anybody else who follows these things, that the people of Massachusetts had made their choice, and Ms. Coakley would be off to the Senate.
But the political pundits were missing something – something big. And that’s just how outraged the American people had become over what was happening to their country. Washington was a total mess. Spending was completely out of control, and the National Debt was skyrocketing. Huge stimulus spending was growing the government exponentially, but not creating jobs in the private sector, votes were being bought left and right (the Cornhusker kickback, the Louisiana purchase). And the government takeover of health care was at the door.
As a result, patriotic Americans were rising up all over the country, rallying at Fountain Squares and other venues, marching on Washington, and attending tumultuous Congressional town hall meetings all over America. Democratic Members of Congress were cowering, canceling town halls rather than answering to their constituents, and even refusing to answer their Congressional office phones. In November, races for Governor in Virginia and New Jersey shocked the liberal power structure to its core. In Virginia, a state Barack Obama had carried by six points just the year before, the Republican candidate for Governor Bob McDonald won by 18 points, a 24 percent turnaround. And even more shockingly, in New Jersey, a blue state that Obama had carried by 17 points, Republican Chris Christie won by four points, a 21 point turnaround.
Then came Massachusetts – and in the bluest of blue states, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, Scott Brown, defeated the Democratic candidate Martha Coakley, to replace Teddy Kennedy. It was a shock heard round the world. Democrats no longer automatically had the 60 votes they needed to ram their liberal agenda through Congress. (It’s probably the single most important check Republicans have to stop the Democrats from pushing through even more liberal agenda items in a lame duck session – like an immigration/amnesty bill, Cap and Trade, Cardcheck, and more wasteful stimulus spending.)
Well, good news. Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown is coming to Cincinnati this Friday, August 27th, to do a fundraiser for my campaign at the Hyatt , downtown. And we’d love to have you there. We tried to keep tickets to the event at a relatively affordable level, so it would be within the price range of as many people as possible. The breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and it’s only $75. We also have a pricier event at 7:30 a.m. where you can have your photo taken with Senator Brown (and me!) for $500. And an even pricier roundtable event at 7 a.m. for a mere $1,500.
I hope one of the levels mentioned above meets your price range (although I know everyone’s hurting in this Obama/Pelosi/Reid economy!) Just call my office at 481-9998 for a ticket. Also, as always, you can sign up for a yard sign or to volunteer by clicking the links here.
And, oh yeah, Remember in November!