Judson Phillips: Scott Brown Threw Tea Party 'Under The Bus'

Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips said on Friday that Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) threw members of the conservative movement "under the bus" by making critical remarks about budget cuts proposed by members of his party, the Washington Times reports.

"Memo to Scott Brown. If you think budget cuts 'disproportionately affect low income families and seniors,' what do you think is going to happen when we have an economic collapse?" wrote Phillips in a blog post.

Support from the Tea Party movement helped propel Brown to victory in a special election for the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat in 2010. But now, as the Massachusetts senator prepares to run for reelection next year, Phillips is making clear he's less than pleased with the Republican lawmaker. The Times reports:

Friday morning, Phillips claims Brown is all about "self-preservation and self-promotion" and that he's aligned himself with the RINOs who have "no beliefs, other than getting reelected and appeasing whatever base he thinks will help him get reelected."

On Thursday, Brown made an appeal to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to reach an agreement in ongoing budget negotiations to avert a government shutdown. He called spending cuts proposed by members of his own party "irresponsible." Politico reports:

"Sadly, rather than reaching a workable, bipartisan solution to responsibly address our staggering deficit ... our leaders have repeatedly given us a false choice between CR proposals that either don't go far enough to reduce federal spending and proposals that establish the wrong priorities that would disproportionately affect low-income families and seniors," he said in his floor speech, and repeated in his letter.

HuffPost's Sam Stein reported last year that Brown could face opposition from the Tea Party in his reelection campaign in 2012. On Friday, Phillips addressed the possibility the incumbent senator could face a primary challenge.

"Perhaps the Massachusetts Tea Party will step up with someone to challenge him in 2012," he said, adding, "That, unlike Scott Brown, is not an April Fools' joke."

Comments

[tommyjonq]

11:18 AM on 04/08/2011

fluking your way into one off-season surprise "victory" is not the same thing as having a realistic chance to suddenly turn massachusetts into a far-right wingnut bastion. by thanksgiving of 2012, the tea "party" will be as dead as ross perot. george wallace, on the other hand, will win georgia, south carolina, mississippi, arkansas, kansas, indiana, and iowa in a walk.

lieberman über alles!
http://politiqsbyjonq.wordpress.com/

[Redefeat Fascism]

10:17 AM on 04/07/2011

I'm at a total loss as to why anybody would believe that the people of Massachusetts elected Scott Brown to Congress because of the Tea Party, or why anybody would think that the tea party contributed to his victory AT ALL. This isn't Kentucky or Florida -- the ravings of RELIGIOUS EXTREMISTS and Timothy McVeigh sympathizers carry NO WEIGHT up here. Take your brownshirt parade somewhere else.

[jack1105]

01:46 PM on 04/05/2011

As a MA voter, I feel the need to remind Mr. Phillips that Scott Brown works for me, not him. How does he not get this? And, I think Sen. Brown is doing a decent job. That's what matters.

[Richard Mara]

11:02 AM on 04/28/2011

Yes, he is your senator, but please be aware that his vote can effect folks in all parts of this country. I didn't vote for Marco Rubio for that reason - - the people of Florida AND Massachusetts deserve better.

[rfrey]

04:28 PM on 04/04/2011

I think Senator Brown say the light on bi-partisanship. How refreshing, someone in government who actually understands that the political parties need to work together.

[george6090]

02:10 PM on 04/04/2011

He is trying to tell the Tea Party people that you have some valid points and they need to be worked into the agenda. You don't get everything you want like a spoiled little brat. You are now with adults, at least for the senator, and you have to grow up. It is not all or nothing, like the typical Republican rant. I want my toys and if I cannot get them all, nobody gets any.
Come on. Compromise, it is the way this Gov. works.

[3dtrix]

12:22 PM on 04/04/2011

How long will it take for the Tea Potty yo-yo's to figure out they've been WORKED seven ways against the middle by everyone who DIDN'T come to the county fair with straw in their hair?

[Pete Ludwig]

11:46 AM on 04/04/2011

Note to the Tea Party - we kinda DID have an economic collapse, and it was because people like you were dictating economic policy. You can't solve a demand problem with supply side economics, we are not at the same square one as Reagan was in the go-go '80s. We're long past where that game should have ended.

[zenbamboo]

11:37 AM on 04/04/2011

No, Scott Brown didn't throw the Tea Party under the bus, they just failed to realize that a Replicant in Massachusetts is not the same as a Republicant in Mississippi.

[RockyMissouri]

10:58 AM on 04/04/2011

I'm a democrat, but I appreciate the courage of Mr. Brown to be bipartisan.....especially in the poisonous atmosphere of our current situation...

[pixiepotpie]

12:34 PM on 04/04/2011

But is it quick enough to stop a recall? Stay tuned! :)

[ny rebel]

10:03 AM on 04/04/2011

I'm an independent and I like what he's saying. I could be a moderate Democrat or a moderate Republican. It's all about compromise. He may be one of the few that still knows how to compromise.

[sanddc]

09:54 AM on 04/04/2011

MR SCOTT BROWN-I am so glad to see a man still in congress and to stand up to his constients and not to those blackmailing teaparty people. Slavery is over and the these slaves owners are out to buy these politicians.They should all be thrown under the bus and on top of it too. These people are putting money up and most of them can't vote for you anyway. America politics are being bought just like slaves . Thank God to see real man left in congress. If a man stands up for what right and what his heart beleives ,he a winner in my book anyway. In life Mr. Brown you are going to stand for something or you are going to fall for anything. The modern day slaves' owners are putting politicians in office to do as they say do once they back your campaign only to enrich their pockets or their agendas. Thanks again, for not being a __hotdog with out the bun.

[bradenton]

09:23 AM on 04/04/2011

Thank you Scott Brown.

[seiedvard]

08:35 AM on 04/04/2011

At last, they are finding out what it feels like to be a minority in this country

[MosesDidItBest]

08:17 AM on 04/04/2011

Ultimatums and threats that will harm America is not political debate.