In 2010, Scott Brown Called For An End To Ads From Outside Groups. “But, in an unusual turn of events, Brown also leapt to Coakley’s defense at one point, demanding that an outside group pull an ad attacking her … ‘I would encourage anybody who’s trying to influence this election to stop and let us do our jobs and let the people learn about us and not get sidetracked on these red herring issues,’ Brown said.” (Michael Levenson, “Furious Exchanges Mark Senate Debate,” Boston Globe, 1/9/10)
- “‘I Wish They Would Stay Out Of It, And Let Martha And I Talk About The Difference Between Us,’ Brown Told The Sun This Week. ‘I Don’t Need Anyone’s Help. I Need People’s Help.’” (Matt Murphy, “National Players Join Senate Battle As Brown Cuts Into Coakley’s Lead,” The Lowell Sun, 1/14/10)
Scott Brown Repeated His Call For All Outside Groups To Stay Out Of The Massachusetts Race. “Though Brown has benefited from outside groups, he said in a statement yesterday that he would like them to go away. ‘We need to focus on the very real issue of putting people back to work,’ Brown said. ‘I wish all these ads from outside groups would be taken down.’” (Noah Bierman, “Outside groups fuel Brown-Warren ad war,” Boston Globe, 11/11/11)
In November 2011, Professor Warren Defended The League Of Conservation Voters Ad Attacking Scott Brown. “Elizabeth Warren, who had no public events on Veterans Day, has said she believes the League’s ads are merely ‘calling him out on his voting record.’” (“Brown: I Won’t Be Distracted By Attack Ads,” WCVB, 11/11/11)
Warren Has Defended Negative Ads As Long As They Are, In Her Judgment, Truthful. “Warren has said she supports negative ads from outside groups so long as they are telling the truth, while U.S. Sen. Scott Brown has said he believes all outside groups should stay out of the race.” (Hillary Chabot, “Elizabeth Warren Slaps Down Karl Rove, Latest Attack Ad,” Boston Herald, 12/9/11)
During A Debate At Stonehill College In December, Warren Defended Outside Groups’ Spending In The Race, Saying They Have A “Real Interest,” But Said She Denounces Negative Attack Ads: http://youtu.be/BuD78xJXKds “HARVARD PROFESSOR ELIZABETH WARREN: “I think there is a real problem that we have to talk about. There are a lot of outside groups. I don’t like attack ads. Why would anybody like attack ads? But there are also outside groups who have something to say about what’s going on, who have a real interest. There are environmental groups, there are family advocacy groups who want to be heard in an election, and so I think a blanket notion that nobody talks except the two candidates is not within the spirit of how democratic elections work. I think the far more serious question is if you’re going to do unfair attack ads, then things ought to stop. But it’s the unfair attack ads, rather than the legitimate groups who want to come in and want to talk about the issues that are important to them” … WU: “Would you like to make a public statement, ‘outside groups, stay out of this race.’ Raise your hand. Two. OK. WARREN: “Do you want to ask us how many of us think attack ads are a bad idea?” WU: “I assume you’re all against attack ads, just a wild guess on my part.” (Democratic Forum, Stonehill College, 12/6/11)
The Brown Campaign Challenged Warren To Join Them In Calling For All Outside Ads To Stay out of The Race. “‘Senator Brown has made it clear that he wishes third-party groups on both sides would keep their negative ads out of Massachusetts,’ said Jim Barnett, Brown’s campaign manager. ‘Regrettably, Professor Warren has cheered on negative attack ads against Scott Brown, and refuses to join his call for outside groups to stop interfering.’ Warren said previously that she believes ‘a blanket notion that nobody talks except the two candidates is not within the spirit of how democratic elections work.’ Brown, however, called for all outside groups to keep out of the Senate race in Massachusetts.” (Robert Rizzuto, “Elizabeth Warren And Sen. Scott Brown Both Denounce Latest Crossroads GPS Ad,” Springfield Republican, 12/9/11)
Brown Sent A Letter To Warren Formally Challenging Her To Join His Call For Outside Groups To Stay Out Of The Race. “US Senator Scott Brown, stepping up his efforts to confront Elizabeth Warren, his Democratic challenger, sent a letter addressed directly to her, calling on her to denounce campaign ads from outside groups. The letter, which the Brown campaign said it faxed to Warren’s campaign office today, takes a pointed tone, stating that ‘it seems the only third-party ads you think are unfair are those that criticize you. Rather than adopt an elitist attitude with one set of rules for yourself and another for everyone else, I urge you once again to join me in calling for an end to all spending by third party groups,’ Brown writes in the letetr, which is adressed to ‘Professor Warren.’” (Noah Bierman, “Brown Challenges Warren To Denounce Campaign Spending From Outside Groups,” Boston Globe “Political Intelligence” Blog, 1/13/12)
Warren Reacted To Brown’s Letter By Changing Her Position On Outside Ads, And Calling For An “Enforceable Agreement. “Warren reacted quickly with her own challenge, suggesting that the campaigns draft an “enforceable agreement” on the issue. “We have the opportunity to set an example for the rest of the country. Let’s do it,” he said … ‘If you are serious about stopping the political games and getting to the hard work of keeping out third-party ads and independent groups, I’m ready,’ she said in her own letter, which was released this afternoon. She wrote that her campaign manager could meet with his to craft an agreement that would include ‘consequences’ for the campaign that failed to honor it.” (Noah Bierman, “After A Challenge By Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren Issues A Challenge Of Her Own On Outside Groups’ Campaign Ads,” Boston Globe, 1/13/12)
See Senator Brown’s Signed Proposal Here
Brown Asked Warren To Sign His Proposal That Would Force Either Candidate To Pay A Financial Penalty To Charity If Outside Groups Interfered On Their Behalf. “Republican Senator Scott Brown’s campaign is proposing a deal with Democrat Elizabeth Warren’s campaign to curb the influence of third-party political groups on the race. Brown proposes that if outside groups spend money on advertisements to support him or denounce Warren, his campaign would have to donate 50 percent of the cost of the advertising to a charity of Warren’s choice. The same rule would apply to Warren’s campaign.” (Noah Bierman, “Scott Brown’s Campaign Proposes Penalties If Candidates Get Help From Outside Political Groups,” Boston Globe, 1/18/12)
Warren Refused To Sign Brown’s First Proposal And Demanded Adjustments. “Warren responded late Wednesday evening in a letter of her own, saying she hoped to come to an agreement and proposed some additional clauses to expand on the pledge Brown signed.” (Josh Miller, “Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren Try To Limit Third-Party Spending,” Roll Call, 1/19/12
Brown Offered Warren A Second Proposal That Made Her Requested Changes. “A proposed deal to bar special interest groups from launching attack ads in the high-stakes race between U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and likely Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren calls for the candidates to donate half the cost of any outside attack ad to charity, according to a draft of the agreement. Brown sent Warren a series of letters today, including one called ‘The People’s Pledge,’ in which both would agree to disavow all independent expenditure advertisements, and any issue advocacy advertisements’. ‘It applies to advertising in all media — broadcast and cable television, radio, and Internet,’ according to the proposed agreement obtained by the Herald.” (Dave Wedge, “Brown, Warren Ad Pact Calls For Donations To Charity,” Boston Herald, 1/20/12)
Warren Rejected Brown’s Second Offer. “Elizabeth Warren rejected a proposal by Sen. Scott Brown to limit the influence of outside groups in the Massachusetts Senate race, throwing into flux efforts to curtail the power of third-party groups dominating this election season.” (Manu Raju, “Elizabeth Warren Rejects Scott Brown Pact To Curb Super PAC Power,” Politico, 1/20/12)
Warren’s Rejection Followed A 30-Minute Meeting Between The Campaigns. “After a 30-minute meeting between Jim Barnett, Brown’s campaign manager, and Warren campaign manager Mindy Myers, Warren’s campaign issued a statement saying, “the proposal [Brown] has put forward still includes loopholes that Karl Rove could drive a tank through.’” (Manu Raju, “Elizabeth Warren Rejects Scott Brown Pact To Curb Super PAC Power,” Politico, 1/20/12)
Warren Again Offered No Proposal Of Her Own. “Since initiating this conversation, Scott Brown put not one, but two historic proposals on the table and has addressed every single concern that professor Warren has raised,’ said Barnett. ‘She claims she wants to move beyond rhetoric, but so far she has offered nothing but talk and excuses. It’s time to take yes for an answer.’” (Manu Raju, “Elizabeth Warren Rejects Scott Brown Pact To Curb Super PAC Power,” Politico, 1/20/12
On January 23, Warren made minor suggestions, which Brown agreed to, and both candidates signed. The historic agreement to keep third-party groups out of the race went into effect immediately.
