Scott Brown is getting desperate. He's in real trouble in reelection, and this is a particularly disgusting comparison. To paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen, I knew Ted Kennedy, and you, senator, are no Ted Kennedy.

Whether or not Ted Kennedy thought it was a good idea is irrelevant to me. It is NOT a good idea no matter who endorses it. The contempt in assuming that his constituency blindly worships Ted Kennedy is only slightly less astounding than the ineptitude of this move, which is practically guaranteed to alienate Democrats and Republicans equally.

Dan, you think that making a point of emphasizing his agreement with Ted Kennedy (the LAST thing he'd want to do) is a mark of his confidence in his campaign? That's an... interesting perspective.

Ben, you are wrong wrong wrong. The comparison was referring to a how Ted Kennedy had a particular view. Unless we live in a communist country he has every right legally to make the comparison to someones viewpoint or voting record. The question we should be discussing is who will bring more jobs to the baystate brown or warren. The answer is very easy. Scott brown all the way.....

It is disgraceful that Sen. Brown is taking Sen.Kennedy's words out of context and trying to use them to trick voters. Rick Santorum just did the same thing with a speech JFK had given to a group of Houston ministers in 1960.I think it is very sleazy politics and tactics like this should not be tolerated from any politician.

I believe it quite arrogant on his part to use Kennedy's name when the latter would disagree on just about every vote Brown has made. Brown has represented the Koch Brothers and not the people. No matter what anyone thinks about Kennedy - he did bring lots of money and jobs to the State. Brown has done neither.

Here is the full text of a 2009 letter from Kennedy to the Pope.

http://fratres.wordpress.com/2009/08/30/full-text-edward-m-kennedy-letter-to-pope-benedict-xvi/

Please note this section. "I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I’ll continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone."

Senator Scott Brown has no shame. That the senator refuses to admit he is misleading voters with his advertisement in the face of Kennedy's staff members' and family's refutation of his claim demonstrates his unworthiness for election. Senator Kennedy supported a conscience exemption for medical personnel who objected to participating in abortion services, period.
Senator Kennedy supported Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended by the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which make it unlawful sex discrimination for employers to exclude coverage for prescription contraceptives and devices from health plans. The Health Reform Act makes that coverage available to women without a co-pay. In it's 1990 decision in Employment Division v. Smith, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment does not permit individuals to violate valid laws simply by claiming a religious objection. In response to that ruling Congress passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 1993. That statute says that any government action that burdens a person's exercise of religion must advance a compelling interest in the least restrictive way possible. Clearly the government has a compelling interest in promoting women's health and autonomy.
Scott Brown's support of the Blunt amendment would allow any private employer to become a moral or religious objector, inviting consciences of convenience for simply fiscal reasons and opening a huge loophole in discrimination laws.
Carolyn Gritter

As Brandon above points out, Kennedy did voice support for a "conscience protection" but at the same time, his voting record did not. That is the key distinguishing factor in this argument. All politicians must make compromises with their personal beliefs and their responsibility to their constituants. In this case, the problem is Republicans (including Scott Brown) are more interested in tearing down the wall that rightfully divides church and state rather than doing what is best for their constituants as a whole. If you aren't capable of compartmentalizing these two areas of your life, you are unfit to hold office.

Daniel Marcella says: "There is far more to this state than the elitist confines of Cambridge and Brookline."

Ah, yes. More of the "elitist" talk. The last resort of the debater who can't keep pace with those more well-reasoned and well-informed than himself. "You and yer fancy book learnin'! You can have yer science! I pray to god and he tells me what laws we should have!" After all, every other country ruled by religion is working out really well.

D, When are we going to find a "MAN" that will stand for the right even if the Heavens fall? It is not going to be in Scott Brown. Does a Leopard change his spots? The people of Mass. were taken in by the Kennedy's because most of them did not know any better. The whole Kennedy Clan were like the old Man Kennedy and apparently it shows what the MORALES of the country are becoming and have become. We have a guy in the White House that anyone with any brains would not be doing what he is doing - bringing home all the Forces when the country is still badly off. Oh, just to show that he promised to bring them home when he running for President. Social Medicine -- ask anyone that has left Canada and they will tell you their system SUCKS - wait 2 yrs. for surgery, put on a list and waits months for see a Specialist. Don't ever think this is never going to happen here in the USA. When men run for office they will say anything to get you to vote for them. Brown, is no different and let me say again, "Show me a MAN that will stand for the right regardless if the heavens fall." He has not changed since a KID!!!! Wake up and smell the roses!!!!

Brown has every right to reference any public figure, living or dead...
but I would caution him to not paint himself in the same light as Ted Kennedy as one of the reasons I am glad Brown was elected is that he is NOT Ted Kennedy!

Ted Kennedy was die hard liberal who loved spending everyones money, the man never saw a TAX he didn't like. Thank god, Scott Brown is nothing like that crook. People squawk about term limits, until its their own elected officials up for re-election. Enough already, Obama had Democratic control in congress and got zero accomplished. That should tell you how pathetic the Democrats really are.

There are many that know how much he accomplished when he was in Boston. Yes, he loves to spend our money. He needs to look himself in a mirror and say,"Am I really doing what I promised to my people back in Mass. ?" He is arrogrant and thinks already that he will be running for President down the road. He needs to forget that and go back to be a so called Lawyer. My question is, what has he done thus far for Massachusettes? think long and hard before voting for him again. Vote for his wife, Gail Huff and you will get honesty. Not Scott Brown!!!! Wake up Massachusettes.

In response to Carolyn Gritter's comment that Scott Brown has no shame. No shame compared to who? Ted Kennedy? The same married Ted Kennedy who drove drunk on a suspended license with a single woman as his passenger in the middle of the night while his pregnant wife was back home and not on Martha's Vineyard. The same married Ted Kennedy who let his single female passenger drown to death, then took 9 hours to sleep off the booze and confer with his cronies in order to get his story straight. Saint Edward even wanted to place the blame for the accident on his deceased female companion. Nice guy that Ted Kennedy. Saint Edward's son Patrick denounced Scott Brown as a joke. This is the same Patrick Kennedy who was stopped by police in DC for driving under the influence. The same Patrick Kennedy who assaulted a female airport security agent who had the audacity to stop him because he set off a metal detector. Take a guess what his first words to her were. You guessed it, "Do you know who I am?" Shame on YOU Scott Brown for comparing yourself to a man of such high morals, integrity and character. SHAME ON YOU.

Erm... just as a general FYI, Ted Kennedy's dead. Why not discuss Brown's actual very own merits as a legislator? That should save us all bunches and bunches of time.

Daniel, I fully expect to be the lucky recipient of a "technical glitch" sometime this evening. I'm sure it hurts when people find out (or don't want to accept) that their idols aren't what they appear to be. The PC police don't want to hear it, and will call me a "Hater" but everything I stated is fact.

Sure it is. Ted Kennedy's still dead though, and Patrick isn't running in Massachusetts, so maybe you could move on and discuss Scott Brown?

Unless of course no one can think of anything to say about him, which I find totally plausible.

Ms. Justice, Smoke and mirrors? Ms. Gritter said Scott Brown has no shame. Compared to who? I'm curious if she's using Ted Kennedy as the benchmark that's all.

So nothing to say about Brown then? Okey dokey. Totally understandable.

Hi, I'm Scott Brown. I voted to cut taxes for the wealthiest of Americans. Like other republicans, I claim they are job creators. But when it came time to bail out Detroit and save jobs, we voted against stuff like that. So we really weren't creating jobs, were we? But to be fair, we also voted to cut subsidies for farmers making less than $1m per year. So that's fair, right? We just want to be sure everyone suffers equally. Well, some more equally than others, I guess! Thanks for your vote!

Hello folks. Wondering do any of you know Scott Brown? Well, I know a number of people in Wakefield who went to school with him and grew up there at the same time. He is not a nice person, quite a bully in fact. Some people would be sick to hear him speak on that subject. There is again, no good choice to replace Senator Kennedy and our state is paying for that big time. Neither Brown or Kerry have any kind of backbone, very spineless. This Elizabeth Warren, eeee gads, go manage a mental ward will you. Guess nobody else is left.

Scroll on up, and look at that pic of our boy Scott.. he's as smug as they come.
He'd stick it to you in a heartbeat. His personal aspirations, are way more important than anything you need.
Unfortunately, Warren is no prize either, and she'll have a hard time beating him, and that is what really sucks.

It's official - All of Daniel's comments have been deleted. Is The Patch doing this, or do readers actually hate other people's opinions so much they flag them as inappropriate? Why am I not shocked that you all vote and think the way you do - Big Brother Is Good!!! God help us all.

To Kasey Hariman: can you explain why all of Daniel Marcella's comments on this thread were deleted? I don't recall any of them containing foul or inappropriate language, so does the site automatically delete the comments if a certain user does not like them and flags them as inappropriate, without an editor reviewing said comments for its contents?

My son, our political state is sad all over, locally and nationally. But Warren is HATED by Wall St. , so she must be doing something right . The current clown car of GOP presidential candidates are racing to the bottom, inspiring our kids to go to college makes you a ''snob'' ?? REALLY ?? They are appealing to the ignorant , and proud of it far right. Against pre natal screening ???? Going to Harvard is a negative?? REALLY?? EVERYONE I know would give their left nut to get their kid into Harvard. Dubya, Willard Romney and Scott Bielat ALL WENT TO HARVARD, why no ''elitist'' tag on them ?? The GOP has done NOTHING to help our economy, actually hoping it tanks, really patriotic there eh? Now they are trying to hang the price of gas around O'Bama's neck, like he controls the world markets, meanwhile the Dow is at 13,000 and taxes are at an all time low and we are adding jobs every month, much to the GOP's chagrin. The GOP has nothing to run on, we have high unemployment a national debt through the roof, that the GOP somehow acts like they have nothing to do with, and O'Bama is STILL ahead in national polls against whomever the GOP nominee is.

Come on now folks. Its "oppinions, comments" from a bunch of people, who for the most part, are screwing off on the boss's dime. Now, back to the topic: Scott Brown should not be re-elected, his opponent is wishy-washy and MAY possibly do a better job. The only way to find out, is to elect her, and if she does the same as he did (NOTHING) vote her out too. Someday we may get a Senator like Ted, that works FOR the people of Massachsetts, not for his own ambitions. Go Away Scott, you had your chance, and blew it. Take heed Liz.

Daniel my son, it is acceptable , I guess yo missed O'Bama's trip and great speech in Ireland a couple years ago, and his roots were traced there. P.S, lighten up, stop taking yourself so seriously, because I'll let you in on a little secret, BOTH parties suk, if you really think that either one has YOUR interest at heart, you're an idiot.

Got to love people like Joseph. He's getting all riled up, trying to defend the GOP. Brother Joseph, you have to stop watching Hannity, and stop believeing that all of the "Left Wing Extremists" are trying to undermine the Constitution. Most democrats in this State are actually considered moderate, and don't want to take away your pretty gun, or give your hard earned tax dollars to some welfare layabout.
Lets agrre, to disagree on some of the issues. But, Scott Brown has done nothing for you, or your State. Send him packin. He's the layabout on your tax dollar.
Not the single mother trying to make ends meet.

Joe, WTF are you ranting about ? The GOP is crushing UNIONS , trying to LOWER minimum wage, cut unemployment benefits to the WORKERS of the country, cut S.S and Medicare defund Planned Parenthood and on and on. Name me ONE policy they have put in place that benefits the middle class or god forbid ,the poor. They worship greed, and depend on the anti intellectual, ''Keep your government hands off my medicaid!!" crowd. BTW, what gives you the idea that I am ''lazy'' ? And no , when I say culture war, I mean civil rights, women's rights, workers rights, keeping religion out of politics, helping the most vulnerable among us, not calling them ''lazy'', maybe you need to go back to college, you snob, and learn what the word ''culture'' means. If you think that O'Bama et al. are ''communist'' , socialists'' or whatever, you need your head examined, he's COMPROMISED on EVERYTHING with the GOP, would a ''communist'' take a penny from Wall St. ? You sound like another angry, bitter wingnut , chillax, I'll tell you what I told Mr. Marcella, if you think EITHER party is on your side, your an idiot, they are BOTH owned by special interest, and get their marching orders from industry.

Daniel deleted again. Shame on The Patch readers and the Editors. No further comments on multi-city Patch forums from this reader. G'day

Peter,
silencing a difference of opinion is a very dangerous thing. I hate to think you really mean what you said, or do you???

In response to Diana and D. The wiki link you provided did not show me anything I didn't already know, she's a highly intellectual person probably better suited for another postion - to me she is very experienced in one thing and really wonder why Obama passed her over for the Consumer postion which she is obviously more suited for.
D: Wow good thing our founding fathers believed in us Joe Schmoe's!! What's wrong with Joe Schmoes? You can't tell me the current administration, with all their education, is doing a bang up job??? We need people who can relate to the middle class and I'm afraid most ivy leaguers can't.

Patricia, that's fair, I just wonder if there's some particular reason that you feel that she's unqualified to be a legislator, other than being a Democrat. I mean, being a Democrat is sufficient reason for you to find her unsuited I suppose, but not unqualified, which is a different thing.

And just FYI, the majority of Ivy Leaguers ARE middle class. They don't all go on to make vast fortunes, and the ones that do are generally more accurately defined by their fortunes than by their education.

What about Scott Brown's voting record says to you "Hey Schmoe, I'm here for you."?

Also, our country was emphatcially NOT founded by average people, but that's a whole other argument.

Warren is a MOONBAT. So isn't Scott Brown, but Warren is so far out there he seems centered. No good choice on the ballot this year.

So, by Diana and D's logic; only well educated, ivy leaguers should be running for office.

What a sad state of affairs... I guess at this point we will agree to disagree.

Scott Brown all the way!

D, "given the advanced state of our society and the intricacies of law, it takes someone with rigorous education and training in the legal field to be qualified to take upon the office of legislator, because that person will be asked to create or amend the laws of this land, which I don't feel that an average person is up to task" So you mean a law degree should be a requirement?

so that makes him well qualified to be a legislator, don't you think?

Great, so he's got your vote???

Patricia B, bullseye with your comment at 12:48pm. Liz Warren tries to pass herself off as one of the so called 99%. Take a look at the Personal Financial Disclosure form she had to fill out to run for the senate. It shows that she's worth $14 million. Her house alone is worth $5 million. First off I don't care what a person does for a living. I don't care how they make their money nor do I care how they spend it. It's a free country. They earned it, and as far as I'm concerned they can do whatever they damn well please with it. I don't know how some people define wealthy, but in a recent interview when Ms. Warren was asked about her wealth her response was " I know there are some wealthy individuals, but I'm not one of them". What?? I never knew $14 million was chump change. She was also asked about the donations her campaign accepted from Wall Street donors. The same evil Wall Street donors she and her acolytes rail against and pillory Scott Brown for also accepting donations from. Her response , "Well yes I have, but I only take money from the good people on Wall Street". In other words do as I say not as I do. Are most politicians hypocrites? Sure they are. But Elizabeth Warren's hypocrisy is just more brazen.

Like I said Diana, we'll agree to disagree.
Have a great day!

Thanks Patricia. The Blunt amendment was defeated today, so I'm having a better day than Scott Brown is. :)

Well, if that's what it takes for you, as Liz Warren would say "Good For You!"

Richie, Elizabeth Warren is actually worth $14.5 million. Now we know why she's running for the Senate. At $14.5 million she's not wealthy, but she knows where the money is.

Anne Justice, what did I say out of turn?

Patricia, my heart goes out to you.Such disdain and closed mindedness is unhealthy. Please read the entire communication and I hope that you will see and understand.Have a good day.

No Anne, please don't feel sorry for me. Everyone who knows me knows I am fair and open to other opinions. Since I can't figure out which part of the converstion bothered you enough to offer me sympathies - can you do me a favor and point it out to me? I'd really appreciate where I have crossed the line.... thank you. If you can't, then I'll assume you're just blowing smoke.

Sadly my point was proven that you are not sincere with reguards to reading the communication. It is not at all difficult to figure out. I will not engage in such nonsense and indeed be pulled into a tit for tat. You are exactly the example of distraction that is happening in politics today. SLEAZY,SLEAZY behavior. I won't stoop to that level. Thanks and God bless you little heart.

Some facts. Hillarycare had language in it that did all of what the Blunt amendment would have done. This was not unusual. There was a long tradition of exempting religious organizations from many regulations that could infringe the free practice clause of the First Amendment. Kennedy in fact was instrumental in making sure that such language was in the proposed bill for Hillarycare.

Don't just take my word for it. Here is the text that you can google from the Hillarycare bill:

`SEC. 21223. PROVISIONS RELATING TO RELIGIOUS BELIEF OR MORAL CONVICTION. `Nothing in this title shall be construed to--

`(1) prevent any individual from purchasing a standard benefits package which excludes coverage of abortion services, if the individual objects to abortion on the basis of a religious belief or moral conviction;

`(2) prevent any employer from contributing to the purchase of a standard benefits package which excludes coverage of abortion or other services, if the employer objects to such services on the basis of a religious belief or moral conviction;

Thanks for the advice Diana. I'll leave the delusional thinking to the wealthy multi millionaire worth $14.5 million who thinks she's not a wealthy multi millionaire worth $14.5 million.

What happens if the Catholic Church decides to no longer offer health insurance to its employees given this decision? The church could easily stop coverage and pass along the monetary benefit to its employees. Who benefits then?

First Brown claimed that Kennedy's Senate Seat was the People's Seat. I would say it was a Massachusetts Seat. Then he renamed the Kennedy Library as the People's Library. Now he claims Senator Kennedy would agree with him that women working in Catholic Corporations (not Churches) should be denied contraception coverage. Where is this guy coming from? This is not a Communist country where everything is called the People's. And where does he get off going against the majority of women who advocate contraception. The guy is a nut case.

Diana, remember - Jesus told you to take a hike a few weeks ago. Probably stands today, but I wouldn't want to speak for the Lord.

Well, I personally don't require Jesus's approval, but I'm not claiming to speak for him, I'm quoting scripture. That particular quote is referenced in three out of four gospels, so don't feel obliged to take my word for it.

I don't think any company should be required to cover birth control. If a woman meets the criteria to receive government support due to insufficient income, I'm not opposed to having birth control provided for her. Otherwise, buy your own birth control. Give me a break. Our insurance covers this almost 100%, but I refuse to use the coverage because it cuts out the little guys like Michael at The Medicine Store. (only CVS, Walgreen's etc - will they cover). So it runs just under $500.00 for the year at Michael's. The Georgetown U chickie must be buying some other fun things if hers is running almost $1000.00 per year as she states. This is getting ridiculous. Hell, I think we should buy everyone a puppy. Because people might get depressed if they don't have a puppy. Give me a break and take responsibility for your own life and your reproduction.

That said, clearly they are going to cover it because it makes financial sense. But do not force religious organizations to "go with the flow" if it is against what they believe in. Get a new job if this is a problem for you! Imagine what Democrats would say if starting tomorrow we said - Sorry, all students will have to say the Pledge at school. Oh, it goes against your beliefs - so sorry - suck it up. In fact, isn't there something going on with this right now in a local school district? I think I can be pretty objective when I say allow the religious organizations to have their own voice, considering I have never belonged to one.

Marcy... Democrats (and all thinking people) would generally be against requiring students to say the Pledge, not because the Pledge is "against their beliefs", but because requiring it is unconstitutional.

Health insurance is part of your compensation package. It's payment for labor, not a gift to be administered or not at your employer's whim. There are all sorts of regulations governing compensation, and if you're going to run a business, you have to abide by them. This regulation is not special, and neither are the businesses run by the Church. Again, this would not apply to the Church itself, they won't have to offer IUDs to nuns, or even the nice Church secretary. It will apply to their business interests, and the employees of the Church's businesses are entitled to all the same protections as employees of any other business.

Just to say I mistakently marked Anne Justice's 10:50 entry as inappropriate. It is not inappropriate - is there a way to remove the flag?

thanks.

If you are referring to self insured, a business may opt for self insured whereas they pay claims out of pocket. companies I have worked for treat Workman's comp this way. And, I have heard many religious organizations are self insured.

BTW, I can't see Donald's 2 recent comments, am I the only one?

No, but it means that you should get reasonable medically justifiable coverage, and birth control is absolutely reasonable medically justifiable coverage. Can we really, as a society, not get together and agree that birth control is a net good? That boggles my mind.

No one is trying to stop anyone from using or accessing Birth Control. That is how the left is tryiing to frame this and it's bs. As I said, my opinion is that the government cannot and should not force any religious organization to break with their faith. Be it catholic, muslim, hindu, protestant, jewish, etc.... That's my opinion and I'm done with this topic -this could go on forever.

Well, if you're done you're done, but frankly, there's plenty of BS spewing from both sides, and I'd say that comparing prescription medication to lattes and conflating two comments of mine to imply that I'm saying that the RCC is trying to limit access to birth control is considerably BS-ier than noting that a large part of the purpose of insurance is to cover prescription medications.

Scott Brown tried to deceive voters by using Ted Kennedy's words out of context! That is Sleazy! That was at least related to the question at hand. With the sideshow issues though,how strange that plenty of negative incorrect comments are said reguarding Planned Parenthood as well as so called free contraception and are allowed but no one can mention that Viagra is covered by insurance companies without being deleted. Both are prescription medication! Where's the outrage over Viagra??

Anne I totally agree he's being a grave robber by doing that. Im independent but Warren will get my vote. She's down to earth and self made and a family person. Brown just another blowhard and has done nothing for the working class. Mouth Moves says nothin. Yup and I voted for him too. He says "LIKE TED KENNEDY" meaning I'm like...Should have said Ted Kennedy said or did.