Moderate Like Us

[Ian Duncan]

My interest in state and national politics began with the convincing
local radio voice of Jay Severin during 5th grade with my grandfather
on the way to my youth hockey games. I have been a student of
political science ever since- as an amateur first but as a
professional at my university. I consider myself a political moderate-
I am sympathetic to those who have less opportunity than I’ve had and
I am antagonized by unregulated big business. However, I am also
highly skeptical of government’s ability to get anything done
efficiently, while I do not believe that government is a very good
catalyst for justice. And because I am a moderate, as a growing
majority of residents in this commonwealth confess themselves to be, I
have a vested interest in the re-election of Scott Brown this
November.
        The focus on Mr. Brown has always been replacing Ted Kennedy’s
senate seat, but the real comparison voters should be making is
another Kennedy who preceded either of them in the Massachusetts
delegation. Mr. Brown hasn’t been the first good-looking politician to
serve in Congress from the bay state. A young, energetic, and handsome
John F. Kennedy, while serving his first term in the Senate, published
Profiles in Courage, a book about how he was inspired by congressmen
who risk their seats in order to uphold their personal morality and
integrity. JFK won the Pulitzer Prize for the work, and while Mr.
Brown cannot write like Kennedy could, he has lived up to the
courageous standard Kennedy set for him. Mr. Brown may have replaced
the “lion” senior Ted, but he certainly resembles the young John.
       But since JFK’s political reign Congress has been more broken and
ineffective than ever. Neither Democrat nor Republican is willing to
compromise in divided government. The few in the ideological center,
especially with this spring’s announcement of Olympia Snowe’s (R-ME)
retirement, are growing scarce. While Congress is becoming more
partisan each session public opinion tests show opposite
trends-Americans are becoming less and less polarized. In fact, the
average voter in Massachusetts is negligibly different from the
average voter in Alabama or Nevada. The number of independents have
grown substantially nationwide, 41% in April, dwarfing those with
consistent party affiliation. Americans are more willing to vote spilt
ticket than ever before. So why has Congress become so divided on
party lines? Political scientists have found that it has to do with a
combination of polarized media outlets, partisan elites and interest
groups with large amounts of resources, and, most importantly for
Massachusetts, an increase in party strength.
       While Mr. Brown isn’t the perfect legislator he certainly has
maintained his integrity over his party loyalty- he has proven he is
accountable to the moderate vote in Massachusetts. Brown broke with
his party on key policy votes such as the automotive industry bailout,
the jobs bill, advocating against harsh austerity, and supporting the
repeal of “don’t ask don’t tell”. He openly discussed bipartisan
policy with President Obama and voted with his party only 54% of the
time during his tenure- compared to Senator Kerry who obeyed the party
line 96% of the time. Would Elizabeth Warren be willing to act as a
Democratic maverick and work with Republicans on cutting bloated
federal spending? Or reform tort? Or tax reform? Or would the freshmen
Senator Warren answer to Minority Leader Pelosi and Majority Leader
Reid just like every other Democrat in the Massachusetts delegation?
This writer knows the later is highly probable. This election isn’t
about Republicans or Democrats- its about maintaining the moderate
voice over the ever loudening verbatim of partisan bickering. If
Massachusetts wants a senator that can pragmatically be held
accountable to a people, not a party, Scott Brown must win.