Keller @ Large: Voters See Through Senate Race Spin

April 2, 2012 8:29 AM

Sen. Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren (Brown photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/CBS via Getty Images)

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BOSTON (CBS) – Say what you will about polls, and the attention we in the news media pay to them during political campaigns.

Listen to Jon’s commentary:

Sometimes we overdo it, but for the most part, you’ve got to admit that polls tend to be more often accurate than not, and they do represent the opinions of actual voters, as opposed to the hum of opinion from partisans and pundits that we normally get.

I love a good poll, so it was with great interest that I read the results of the Boston Globe poll yesterday on the US Senate race between Scott Brown and likely challenger Elizabeth Warren.

The campaign has only recently started to engage in earnest, but the attack ads have been flowing for months now.

And the most interesting finding of the Globe poll is that for the most part, you, the voters, have been doing a great job of seeing through and dismissing the bogus spin on both candidates.

For instance, the Democrats’ indictment of Brown is that he is a right-wing Republican pretending to be a moderate independent, that he is a tool of Wall Street and big oil indifferent to the suffering of children with breathing problems, remember that especially vile ad?

Voters aren’t buying it.

The Globe poll shows Brown is viewed as far better able to work across party lines than Warren.

News reports ranking Brown as one of the most bipartisan-voting senators have helped blunt that attack.

And his high favorability rating suggests voters know him and generally like him, whether or not they’ll eventually vote for him.

Voters are also rejecting the Republicans’ efforts to falsely brand Warren as a snotty Harvard elitist, out of touch and looking down her nose at the rest of us.

Instead, people appear to respect her intelligence, education, and activism on behalf of consumers.

I predict as they get to know her better, they will be even less susceptible to that GOP spin.

The Globe poll found the race was a dead heat, and no wonder.

These are two strong, personable candidates, each in their own way, and it’s reassuring to know that most of us have the common sense to ignore the mudslinging and keep an open mind about the difficult choice ahead.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.

Keller @ Large: Voters See Through Senate Race Spin

Rob Cleary

Warren is just Pelosi light. Her and John Kerry Heinz working in tandem will be the death of Massachusetts. Senator Scott Brown is the obvious choice for those of us who can still think on our own.
Stephen Stein

Good report, Jon. It ought to be a very interesting, hopefully high-toned race, in stark contrast to what the Presidential race promises to be.

One thing – “the attack ads have been flowing for months now.” Maybe, but I really haven’t seen or heard much of anything since “the pledge” was signed. Where are these ads appearing? All I see on the race are the internet bumper-sticker Google ads.

Anyone else seeing or hearing ads on TV or radio?

dan

have not seen one,or heard one on the radio

NikW

Scott Brown is the only clear choice here!!

dan

well my vote will counter yours
petem

Based on???
Patricia

I agree, Prof. Warren is a manufactured candidate that was put in the race by the White House admin, you know as a token gift for being overlooked for the consumer agency. Has anyone asked why she was passed over if she is indeed all that?

bees knees

Good article. Again, I’d love to see both as senators from MA. I feel they make a great team and have – even during the campaign – BOTH shown the ability to work TOGETHER. Refreshing.
sdfsdgsfdgd

I think Liz “I laid the intellectual framework for OWS” Warrens hick vote comment shows that she actually is a snotty Harvard elitist, who is out of touch and does look down her nose at us. Despite John Keller, who is not exactly a rocket scientist, trying to spin it otherwise.

Concerned Voter

Well said…
“Instead, people appear to respect her intelligence, education, and activism on behalf of consumers.”
Not so much Jon. This woman is some sort of Manchurian candidate. She has zero reason to be in Massachusets(aside from getting her education here).

In fact I would like Menino to bill her directly for all the money we had to spend protecting the OWS dorks. If you have any doubt then go to the film.

Marilyn R

Well, Menino is mad at Warren because the city had to pay to clean up the mess that the Occupy Wall Street crowd made…………

The Tea Party protesters didn’t attract as much anger from Menino. They were lucky to have their Billionaire backers, the Koch Brothers, clean up the mess they made…………

petem

A snotty Harvard elitist? Do you know the context of the comment? From the globe story 10/18/11,
“Warren said: “I think I’m a new category, the elite hick.’’

When pressed by an interviewer on the website Left Ahead who said he also grew up in Oklahoma and had been called a hick, Warren replied “I’m going for the hick vote here.’’
Where’s the snottyness? She is an elite Harvard law professor, but where is she being snotty?

To Concerned Voter: How in the world do you get that she’s a Manchurian candidate? And she has no reason to be in Massachusetts? She works at Harvard! Do you expect her to commute from Oklahoma?

Come on guys! Where just looking for some intelligent conversation here, not this nonsense…

petem

By the way, CV, re:“Instead, people appear to respect her intelligence, education, and activism on behalf of consumers.”
She is an intelligent woman, has a great education, and was the genesis behind the Consumer Financial Protection Agency. That’s activism on behalf of consumers.
petem

using my handle? Really? I guess you should probably get back to middle school sonny…
tsalnew

petem – since you and stephen and I are being the ones who’s “names” the child is using we can only surmise that the person is one leaning right since we are all perceived as leaning left. I keep saying the right is out of control – and some seem to want to prove me correct. Not to worry – anyone here worth a darn knows the comment didn’t come from you.
Fenway Franklins

What on earth are you people even talking about?
tsalnew

fenway franklins – the 12:51 comment is what we are talking about – some rather pathetic individual is using the names of some people here to post rude comments. I’m a little surprised we haven’t had a comment from the blog author as this has always been a respectful place to blog
Fenway Franklins

Oh now that makes sense.They probably don’t want to limit free speech. This is a media site after all so any attempt to censor would be unwise….

Unless people are being racistor or threatening…
tsalnew

fenway – do I understand that you feel it is perfectly fine to use another person’s name?
Daddy Keller

Tsal is a troll don’t answer
Patricia

Petem, you seem to know alot about Warren, why was she passed over for the consumer agency that she created? Doesn’t make sense to me.
bees knees

Patricia – she was outspoken and would not cowtow to either party. Not a good thing in Washington but something I consider a very important trait.
Patricia

Bees Knees, what was that asbestos settlement money she earned on behalf of the company she was representing? I iunderstnad that in this case, she was representing a company against asbestos claims and from what I understand, she made quite a winfall and the plaintiffs got stiffed. Do you know anything about that?

Thanks.
Bees knees

Patricia. I’ve only read about that is low grade fox news type rags. Do you have link to a reputable source.
Patricia

Bees Knees: From what I read on the Asbestos story, it is kind of muddled. She said she fought for the consumer by protecting Travelers from more claims. It may be one of those cases that isn’t as straight forward as we would be lead to believe, so I did learn something today!

But, in the end. I think she’s not suited to be a US Senator. She’s got a long way to go..

bees knees

Did you base your opinion of Warren on one statement? If so I have a few from Brown I can share with you. For me a statement or two do not define the person.
dan

you seem to have all the info…tell us all you know?????

Concerned Voter

Thats funy Marilyn…I don’t remember the tea party messing up the city and camping out for months. I’m not a tea party member so perhpas I missed it?

Menino is mad at Warren? You bet….and so isn’t everyone else that had to pay for these derelicts to be babysat by the police.
Mustachioed Mandible

“The campaign for Democratic Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren said she had been paid $192,722 for serving as chairman of a congressional committee that monitored the 2008 federal bank bailout, three times as much as had originally been acknowledged.”

This, in addition to her support of OWS, is reason enough to consider her out of touch with real people.

I’m glad they both agreed to have better transparency in the race.

bees knees

Since OWS’s message is the inequality that is totally out of control in this country, I’d say it puts her very much in touch with “real people”.

fred

Sorry, I prefer liberty. When equality is emphasized it is always the person who works hard or studies hard who gets the short end. How much did OWS have to pay for their permit or police detail. Oh yeah, they didn’t have to pony up because after all some people are more equal than others.
Loki

Fred, I prefer equality. Since there is little doubt about the income inequality in this country and the fact that the majority of Americans do not receive income increases in line with the top few, can I assume you believe the majority of Americans do not work hard or study hard?
fred

So Loki, you prefer equality over freedom. Do so at your own peril. Just remember you can not have both.
Loki

I think freedom comes with equality. You sure do not have freedom when a country caters to the wealthy and all centers around the wealthy. There are a lot of names for that type of government but democracy is not one of them.
Loki

whoa – I just re-read your comment – you can’t have BOTH equality and freedom? What?
Patricia

Has OWS paid the money to the city of Boston yet. You know the money they said they would pay to cover the costs of damages? You know the ones that Or, is it up to the tax payers to pay for it.
Just wondering, I always ask but never get an answer.
casper_itsBeenFun

Patricia – have the corporations paid the money – far more than OWS will ever owe – to the taxpayers that they cheat us out of every year- every day – every minute?
Patricia

That isn’t my question. My question is: Has the OWS crowd paid the city of Boston the money they “promised” to repair the damages they caused? It’s really a yes or no question.
Patricia

Oh and Casper…how much money did “Wall Street” you – personally, out of. How have you been personally affected by “Wall Street”. Do you have an IRA?, 401K? Retirement funds, pension??? If so – you’re part of wall street. But I really want to know from those who spout “Economic Inequality, the 99% vs the 1%, etc.. you know, all the usual talking poiints, How have you personally been affected?? I’d love to know, maybe give me a better understanding because I don’t understand this OWS crowd – at all.
fred

Within the boundaries of our constitution how does one provide income equality without trampling on our freedoms. The idea of income equality is purely subjective. In order to formulate a system to ensure income equality one would have to develop some objective criteria for such a system. Right now we have the market place. Where I work we have eight sale people working in our office – should we all be paid the same? Our job descriptions are the same, we all make money for the company however some of us clearly perform better than others for a variety of reasons. You see, we are different. Pay is generally related to ability and performance. Should i sacrifice some of my salary to someone else to make our pay equal – if I had to i would be giving up my freedom to prosper based on my work ethic. How does it work in government and academia? Should everyone at Harvard who just teaches one class make as much as Elizabeth Warren? Their system is generally based upon tenure – not really a great measure of ability. When the OWS crowd demands equality they operate in complete disregard of laws and local public ordinances while claiming a higher ground. When the Tea Party has a get together they obtain permits, pay for security and clean up after themselves at no cost to the municipality. How is this equal? Equal opportunity is one thing but an equal outcome can not and should not be guaranteed. Equality can not be manufactured because like it or not we are not all equal – that’s just a fact of life. We are all not going to be millionaires.
Patricia

Well said fred.
Tsal

Fred justify 10% getting 275% income increase in 30 years. Middle income getting 60% and the poor 18%. Then we will talk. I’m not sure you understand what income equality means. NO ONE is saying everyone makes the same. But a 215% difference. It’s called plutocracy not democracy.
tsal

fred and patricia – see if this helps explain what income inequality is. Note income comparisons pre-depression as compared to pre-recession – see any similarities? Also note income comparisons during the prosperous years for all in our country.

http://www.cbpp.org/files/9-9-09pov.pdf

In addition, keep in mind that 70% of our economy is driven by consumers. If the consumers have no income – and they clearly do not – how will the economy survive? Hint – the middle class is disappearing (look it up or I can provide links) and more and more in this country are dropping below poverty line.
tsal

Patricia and Fred – is this the same tea party you are supporting?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/05/AR2010120502691.html
tsal

what you both don’t seem to understand is there is no all right or all wrong party – I don’t even get the mindset of a person who actually believes that only one group has all the answers.
Patricia

Tsal and Bees knees; about income inequality. I don’t need an explanation on income inequality because I am one of those middle class workers everyone talks about. But, I don’t like what you’re getting at, income redistribution. Everyone in this country has a shot. Some people bust their gut and some don’t. To be honest, all this class division talk is worrisome. Sure, I don’t like what CEO’s make in some companies but you know what, it’s their money. Boycott the company if it bothers you that much. Private companies can do what they want within the limits of the law. Mad at wall street? You should be going after congress since they make the laws allowing this to happen. Too much mis directed anger.
Willow

I think what’s important between the classes is that those in the 1% pay the same percentage in taxes that the rest of use pay. Congress should be paying their way for their pensions and health care the way the rest of us do. I think those types of things are what needs to be addressed in this country instead of placing the burden all on the middle class.
fred

TSAL, I am not affiliated with any party or group. I would never belong to any political organization that would have me as a member. I do have some standards.

Mustachioed Mandible

Inequality is out of control? As opposed to what? China? Russia? Europe?

So the answer is to camp outside and never even come close to confronting those who are believed to be the biggest perpetrators of these social injustices?

Maybe you are right…By being out of touch with reality she is in touch with the real people
dan

tsalnew.. LOVE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS PORKY.COULD NOT HAVE SAID BETTER MYSELF!!!!

tsalnew

dan – wasn’t me – and you know me better than to think it was. When have you ever heard me say anything insulting?

fred

I thought once a name was chosen no one else could use it – or at least that is what I have found at other web sites. I guess it explains some responses last week where I thought you had developed some sort of split personality. Although I often disagree with you at least you put some thought and effort into your comments.
tsalnew

fred try posting under a different name. You never chose a name or logged in to any of the BZ sites since they do not require it. However, you are right that doing both of those is standard blogging procedure – just not here.

The Owl

The question as I see it is which of the two is going to do a better job of achieving legislative consensus.

For Brown, there is a track record. For Warren, there is one, too. It is not necessarily one that shines in the political firmament.
Loki

Brown and Warren are setting an example for the entire country – not just Massachusetts. They both doing all in their power to run a clean and fair campaign based on their own merits. Regardless of whether you are independent, democrat or republican, that should be clear. They are leading by example………………finally a campaign that can make every voter proud.

The Owl

Now, who woulda thunk it in the land of winkin’ and blinkin’ and nod to the cronies and hacks?

Loki

was one of my favorite stories when younger…………and who woulda thunk is right.

mikey

What difference does it make? About that Mega-Millions 640 million dollar prize, it takes the federal government 1 hour, 29 minutes to spend that amount in either borrowed or printed money. Yikes!
JohnC

Scott Brown has done exactly what he promised to do when he first ran for “Ted Kennedy’s ,seat”. Why would you have voted for him in the first place, and not now?
Patricia

Marilyn R

Well, Menino is mad at Warren because the city had to pay to clean up the mess that the Occupy Wall Street crowd made…………

The Tea Party protesters didn’t attract as much anger from Menino. They were lucky to have their Billionaire backers, the Koch Brothers, clean up the mess they made…………

April 2, 2012 at 10:16 am

This has to be the funniest thing I have read today. So now, according to marilyn, the Kock brothers are funding the clean up of the parks from tea party rallies – really Marilyn???? You really believe this?? Please tell me you don’t vote….
Tsal

Patricia. I had to start here since the other area is getting muddled. The problem is and you can see it in the chart the income started being distributed 30 years ago. It’s done. Look at the chart. If redistribution bothers you as it should I’m suprised you don’t see that the ship has sailed. We need to get back to fairness. Until we do consumers who are responsible for 70% of econimic growth will not have any purchasing ability

Tsal

Patricia. Good discussion. I found this. I like the CS monitor because it’s considered the most unbiased of all publications in US and perhaps world. It’s a good read from both sides. You said you’d leaned something and I have as well. That’s what I like about this blog and the people on it

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2012/0214/America-s-big-wealth-gap-Is-it-good-bad-or-irrelevant

D Patrick

Sitting back with a stogie and watching timmy cahill go down in flames. That was the old massachusetts and its dead and gone. You are all gonna feel a chicago style whooping. Vote or don’t vote for me…I win either way!
Rob Cleary

Liz is the “Everything Free in America candidate”. She has never met an illegal Alien she didn’t want to give your money to. That’s why they will all be voting for her. Require an ID at the polls and this Moonbat loses by a huge margin.