MEMO: Scott Brown's Bad Month

In January 2010, Scott Brown unexpectedly won a special election for Massachusetts Senate. Riding into the public spotlight in his ubiquitous pickup truck, the people of Massachusetts saw Brown as an authentic everyman who promised them he would go to Washington and be an independent voice for working people. In February 2010, Brown embarked on his book tour with the revelation that his fundraising goal for the 2012 cycle was $25 million, a figure that would represent a nearly insurmountable challenge for his potential opponents to overcome. But the last month has seen the veneer of inevitability chipped away from Brown’s reelection prospects. Brown’s supposed strengths – his financial advantage, his independent voice, his likability, and his authenticity – have each been called into question in just a few short weeks. Overall, from being outraised to having his real record exposed, from petty attacks to getting caught plagiarizing, it has not been a good month for Scott Brown. Read the full memo after the jump

Massachusetts Press Hammers Sen. Scott Brown Over Plagiarism

Massachusetts television stations are running with a Boston Globe report on Scott Brown plagiarizing web content from former Sen. Elizabeth Dole. The Globe wrote: 

"A Democratic group has unearthed a bit of inspirational autobiography on Senator Scott Brown’s official website that was lifted verbatim from Elizabeth Dole’s site, language that originated in a campaign speech..."

Boston Globe: Scott Brown web message mirrors Elizabeth Dole’s remarks on site

On October 12, 2011, the Boston Globe reported:

A Democratic group has unearthed a bit of inspirational autobiography on Senator Scott Brown’s official website that was lifted verbatim from Elizabeth Dole’s site, language that originated in a campaign speech. In a message to students, the Massachusetts senator uses the exact words as remarks delivered by the former North Carolina senator at her campaign kickoff in 2002. Brown’s staff acknowledged yesterday the words originally were Dole’s and said their presence in Brown’s message was the result of a technical error...

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Scott Brown's Website Steals Childhood Anecdote From… Elizabeth Dole

Sen. Scott Brown may have some explaining to do. It seems a passage from his website detailing the values instilled in him as a young child was stolen essentially word-for-word from former Sen. Elizabeth Dole. Original research & screenshots after the jump.

Missoulian: Rehberg’s budget plan assailed by Democrats and conservatives alike

On October 9, 2011, the Missoulian reported:

As he oversees U.S. House Republicans' draft of the federal government's 2012 health and education budgets, Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg finds himself hip-deep in the Washington, D.C., political fray, defending a $153 billion plan that's drawing fire from all sides.

AP: Sheriff kicks Democrat out of Rehberg public event

On October 10, 2011 The Associated Press reported:

Democrats said Monday the Garfield County sheriff wrongly ousted from his café a cameraman the party pays to track Republican U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg. The episode took place at a Rehberg listening session in Jordan that was advertised as open to the public. Rehberg is challenging Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in a heated race where both sides watch each other closely. Both Tester and Rehberg are accustomed to the opposition filming their public events. Still, Sheriff Frank Edwards said the Democrat should have asked permission to set up a camera at the café. Edwards said no one told him whether the congressman's event was to be public.

Mother Jones: Will Perry Return Koch Campaign Cash?

On October 10, 2011, Mother Jones reported:

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry railsagainst Iran's "extremist, repressive ideology." He condemnsany company who does business with "a terrorist state like Iran" for aiding a country that wants to kill American troops. And as governor he told his state's biggest investment funds to divest from all companies with Iran ties; continuing such investments, he explained, was "investing in terrorism." But now Perry, a top contender for the GOP presidential nomination, has an Iran problem: One of his most high-profile donors, Koch Industries, for years did business with Iran, helping to grow the Iranian energy industry. Which means that at the same time he was slamming companies profiting off of business with Iran, Perry was pocketing campaign cash from a company doing just that. In light of the Koch-Iran revelations, the left-leaning outside spending group American Bridge is demanding Perry give back his Koch money. "If [Perry] does not immediately return all of the Koch's Iran-tainted money and repudiate their actions, he has no business running to be the leader of the free world," says Rodell Mollineau, president of American Bridge, which compiled research on Perry's Iran comments and past campaign donations..."

Helena IR: Rehberg in the thick of budget fray

On October 9, 2012 the Helena Independent Record reported:

As he oversees U.S. House Republicans’ draft of the federal government’s 2012 health and education budgets, Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg finds himself hip-deep in the Washington, D.C., political fray, defending a $153 billion plan that’s drawing fire from all sides. The proposal — unveiled last week — would torpedo virtually all funding for the Obama Administration’s health reform law, including additional money for community health clinics across Montana; ax federal money for two dozen family planning clinics in the state; reduce funds for Pell grants that help low-income students pay college tuition; and scale back money for home-heating assistance. Those and other cutbacks have prompted Democrats to say the “Rehberg budget” unduly targets women, families, students and workers.

Columbus Dispatch: Romney campaign ad features Ohio company

On October 9, 2011, the Columbus Dispatch reported:

"If a New Hampshire campaign piece for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney looks familiar to Ohioans, that’s because it is. The piece features Romney standing before a crowd, under the headline, “New Hampshire — Let’s Get to Work.” But it’s not a New Hampshire company highlighted in the piece..."

AP:Rehberg town hall meetings far more infrequent

On October 8, 2011 The Associated Press reported:

It has been months since Rep. Denny Rehberg, a champion of the town hall meeting, has held one of the wide-open events - but the congressman is not abandoning the platform. Rehberg told The Associated Press in a recent interview that he has been forced to hold other types of events in recent months when back in Montana due to a new leadership post requiring he build part of a proposed federal budget, the demands of his developing campaign against U.S. Jon Tester and other factors. The change comes as many in Congress figure out the freewheeling town halls aren't the best way to gather voter support - and as Rehberg launches into the biggest campaign of his career in one of the most-watched Senate races in the nation.