Against All Odds, by Senator Scott Brown (R, MA): on Principles & Values


2008: Won State Senate seat by 20% in Democratic district

In the 2008 election, the Democratic Party thought it could win back the Norfolk-Middlesex district that I now held by relying on the massive pro-Obama turnout. The big money got on board behind the Democrats' handpicked candidate, a female psychologist. I figured that the other side could be running a convicted criminal, and the reflex would be to endorse him or her over me. I ended up beating her by over 20 points at the height of the Obama wave in the election. After that, it began to dawn on some of the Democrats that I run to win. Some of them, but not all of them.
Source: Against All Odds, by Scott Brown, p.239 Feb 21, 2011

I drive a truck, and I'm nobody's senator but yours

On election night I remembered Ted Kennedy for his service and spoke of how "I honor his memory" and pledged myself to be a worthy successor. I spoke of the people I had met in every corner of the state. I looked them in the eye shook their hand, and asked for their vote. I didn't worry about their party affiliation, and they didn't worry about mine. It was simply shared conviction that brought us together. I promised to work to put government back on the side of the people who create jobs and on the side of the millions of people who need jobs. And I spoke about working on behalf of our veterans and working to keep out country safe. I ended with the lines, "I've got a lot to learn in the Senate, but I know who I am and I know who I serve. I'm Scott Brown. I'm from Wrentham. I drive a truck, and I am nobody's senator but yours."
Source: Against All Odds, by Scott Brown, p.285 Feb 21, 2011

It's not Ted Kennedy's office; it's the people's office

I heard a woman's voice: "You're the new US senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown." And it was Maria Shriver [Ted Kennedy's niece and her husband] Arnold Schwarzenegger. Maria added, "Thank you for your gracious words about Uncle Teddy on election night. The family appreciated that very much."

Indeed, out of respect, the first call I made on election night was to Ted Kennedy's widow, Vicki, and I kept a picture of Ted Kennedy in my US Senate office, the office where he used to serve.

We exchanged a few words, and then one of the other Shrivers at the table asked, "So where's your office?" I answered that I was in the same office that Ted Kennedy had occupied. He looked at me with utter shock, and then Maria said, "YOU have Uncle Teddy's office?"

At this point, Arnold interrupted them all and began to laugh. He said in his perfect Terminator voice. "Maria, Maria. It's not Uncle Teddy's office. It's the people's office." But it was a great joke. And it is also the truth.

Source: Against All Odds, by Scott Brown, p.290 Feb 21, 2011

  • The above quotations are from Against All Odds, by Senator Scott Brown (R, MA).
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