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Scott Brown = RINO? So Say Some of His Disappointed Supporters

by Karen Hatter | February 23, 2010 at 04:04 pm

645 views | 22 Recommendations | 10 comments

Newly elected and seated Republican Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown and fellow Republican Senators Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe, George Voinovich and Kit Bond, joined with Democrats across the aisle to vote Yay on the jobs creation bill put forward by Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid.

The five Republican senators that voted for the job creation bill provided the Democratic controlled Senate with a fillibuster proof majority that allows the bill to be presented on the floor of the Senate for a simple majority vote.

Senator Scott's actions have angered many among the Right Wing and conservative base, as well as those claiming affiliation with the Tea Party movement, who all had previously cheered his win of the late Ted Kennedy's former Massachusetts seat, a Senate seat that had been Democratic for decades.

Senator Scott is being called a RINO, Republican in name only.

"I came to Washington to be an independent voice, to put politics aside and to do everything in my power to help create jobs for Massachusetts families," Brown explained in a statement. "This Senate jobs bill is not perfect. I wish the tax cuts were deeper and broader, but I am voting for it because it contains measures that will help put people back to work.

A lot of Brown's online followers weren't buying it. RINO (Republican in Name Only) was one of the mildest epithets hurled at him on his Facebook page. A few samples:

Scott Brown is a traitor

You voted for it because you are a coward. RINO. Just another politician. So disappointing.

You, sir, have made me regret my first political contribution EVER.

You let me down like Tiger Woods, Scott.
On Twitter, critics summed up their disappointment in 140 characters or less:

Nice sell out! You realize this is just a useless pork program. U turned on the people that put u in. We will remember!!

Senator Brown: You Weren't Elected for Bipartisanship

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158

at 16:10 on February 23rd, 2010

He is from Boston. If he wants to be reelected he can not be overly conservative.

Good report.

Mary Richard

at 16:40 on February 23rd, 2010

I've never heard that term RINO before. Is it a common term?

Glad to see he's an independent thinker.

Rory Cripps

at 17:02 on February 23rd, 2010

Scott Brown is a very moderate Republican. Otherwise known as a RINO (Republican in name only). I think that 158 is spot on here.

YankeeJim

at 17:07 on February 23rd, 2010

In the long run, you win in the middle and not on the extremes.

158

at 19:54 on February 23rd, 2010

There are also DINOs

Democrat in name only.

Like Ben Nelson of Nebraska.,

The_Cynic

at 20:55 on February 23rd, 2010

The story I read is here - and I must admit I did giggle a little when I scanned it.

How the right turns once someone doesn't see things their way. I cannot see him making any difference at all to the way the GOP has gone up the path to the lunatic asylum but he could be a pole bearer for those who need a little nudge off that particular path. Good on him, I say.

hidflect

at 21:26 on February 23rd, 2010

When I saw his first post-win press conference I was just relieved he wasn't swaying back and forth, eyes rolling back in his head and clutching the "good book" while muttering about the Armageddon...

Uwe Paschen

at 01:00 on February 24th, 2010

It seems the men has a conscience. I am some what surprised. Maybe the vote in the senate should be anonymous.

Riik (not verified)

at 04:55 on February 24th, 2010

It is good to see sanity in congress. I agree congress is out of control BUT, the jobs bill is a well thought out, small and targeted program aimed at jobs. Have any of the knee jerk conservative criers READ the bill ? UNDERSTAND ! some of us are out of work and need the help to survive.hurray for an politician who thinks and understands straight line politics are UNAMERICAN !let's elect people who care more about the country that party politics (or T-party support for re-election)