Associated Press
Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) has had better weeks. With the polls increasingly showing him trailing Elizabeth Warren (D), the Republican created some new trouble for himself when he falsely accused victims of asbestos-related illnesses of being paid actors.
But this piece, published by the conservative Boston Herald, is arguably the most damaging of all.
A group with the startling moniker "Obama Supporters for Brown" showed up in Dudley Square yesterday -- and were hit with an apparent racist slur from a group of Warren backers -- while organizers acknowledged they were paying modest "per diems" to homeless people and others to wear the T-shirts in an area where civic leaders have come out strong for Elizabeth Warren.
It stands to reason that Brown would want to tell voters that some President Obama supporters back him, too. After all, he's in Massachusetts, where the president is quite popular, and Mitt Romney is not. It also stands to reason that Brown would like people to believe his supporters are racially and ethnically diverse.
But the Republican senator's campaign is supposed to earn support based on merit. Instead, homeless people are, according to the article, receiving a per diem, "meant to cover transportation, child care and other costs, [that] 'works out to' roughly $8 an hour."
In fairness, I should note that some of the so-called "Obama Supporters for Brown" activists are not homeless, but all of them are receiving compensation in exchange for "volunteering."
Leave a Comment:
Carcetti for Mayor!
in the early 20th century, the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Carnegies, et al were creating wealth while creating jobs...the wealthy of today are just creating more wealth for themselves...Romney et al idiots say if you give the upper 1% tax breaks, they will create more jobs...WAKE UP!! they've been getting tax breaks for years and we are losing jobs...yet these kool-aid drinking conservative morons still buy into it....
On the one hand, I am appropriately disgusted and horrified by the fraudulent nature of this.
But on the other hand, people who really can use some money have a chance to make some -- which is a good thing. I don't hate that part of this story.
1st Question; Is there a correlation between people wearing T-shirts and votes? I don't think the relationship is strong enough for it to be cost effective - $8/ hr for say 6 hrs w 20 ppl [guessing here] for 20 days time to election day ($19,200 [$24,960 w/ Employer match see below])
2nd Q; In NJ w Fed payroll deductions an $8/ hr rate is about $10.40/ hr "employer" total pay-out (Employers are required to match employee deductions), are all the State and Fed regulations being followed? Brown et al should be investigated.
3rd Q; If this ain't illegal its definitely unethical, so doesn't this unethical behavior disqualify him from the Senate?
4th Q; What's to stop these people from telling folks that they're being paid to wear the shirts, that they support Warren?
5th Q; Did the people that have donated to this group and/ or the Brown Campaign approve this type of expenditure?
It's okay with Brown and the GOP because they are getting the dignity of work.
Rachel, I am so frightened by what I am hearing and seeing from the GOP. What is scary to me is we are in 2012, and the hate and disrespect I read on these boards, hear coming from the right (Rush and others) and then listening to people just "hate" is so sad, especially in this day and age. I don't understand how people can be so mean and nasty and disrespectful to each other (I know it's on both sides, but wow). Doesn't that kind of behavior get old? Isn't it hard to be negative all the time and to think doom and gloom about everything, even if you supported it in the past. I am thankful for our President, and frightened of what will happen if he is not reelected. I appreciate your show, and willingness to talk about all that is going on thoughtfully and respectfully. I also appreciate how you treat people when they come on your show even if you do not agree with their opinions. Thank you!
Republicans can't win votes on policies, candidates or ideas. Voter suppression seems to be backfiring, Billions of ad dollars don't seem to be working, So lets buy votes, have employers threaten their employees, rig the voting machines and if none of those work, then use violence. Schoolyard bullies once, schoolyard bullies forever.
That's funny, but not unusual. A few years ago, someone told me that a candidate for mayor in a small southern town had parked a flat bed truck in the town square. It was full of turnip greens and sweet potatoes- to induce people to vote for him. I got a sack and headed for the town square. The veggies were delicious, but the people did not vote for him. Boy was he mad.
Well, hey, this election's motto seems to be "If you can't win the election fair, cheat and lie"
Who says government doesn't create jobs?
But seriously, I hope Scott Brown has W-4s from all these "workers." Because the IRS will be looking for them.
Let's not forget that the greatest fraud and phoney actor in this race is the racist Elizabeth "Cherokee Princess" Warren.
Enrolled member in the Plastic White Wannabe Indian Tribe. A disgrace to the people who support her.
What happened, school bus late? Or was it detention?
Again.
You know many families would be surprised to learn of their native heritage as it has been hidden to such a degree.
Might rattle a few holier than thou judgemental racist comments.
There is everything right in honoring your family, all members.
anyone who thinks 8$ an hour is living then go to work for 8.00 an hour and let me know...that isnt life that isnt living...$8.00 gets you to and from work...
Mitt Robbedme & Scott Brown and most of the Republicans party they out od touch they just want to control everything they want to keep ebverything for themselves...and Romney asking CEO's to force their employees you got to be kidding me how could this man still be running obviously he has no case here to run if he did he didnt have to resort to nonsense like this...
What, he gave up on the Pow Wow costume billboards?
You know, as it has been said recently, turn over a rock under some of these GOP "leaders" and slithering creatures are crawling out from everywhere.
What's next on his game plan?
Scott Brown is also using Elizabeth Warren supporters in his commercials.