Joe Walsh: Scott Brown 'Should Be Ashamed Of Himself'

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) took issue with Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) coming out against a contentious plan to reform Medicare introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) during an appearance on Fox Business Network on Monday night.

"Respectfully, Scott Brown ought to be ashamed of himself," said Walsh on the program, according to The Hill. "This is the defining moment of this generation. We have got to be bold. We know these entitlements have to be reformed to be saved. He knows that."

Brown expressed opposition to the plan put forth by Ryan earlier in the day in an op-ed published online by Politico. The stance taken by the senator did not correlate with previous statements he had made about his posture toward the plan.

The Newburyport Daily News reported earlier this month on an indication made by Brown that he would vote in favor of the measure to reform Medicare. Shortly after, the AP reported:

The Massachusetts Republican said in a statement that he favors the overall direction Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget takes toward reducing spending.

But Brown declined, through a spokesman, to say if he backs Ryan’s proposed Medicare overhaul, or if he would vote for the Ryan budget plan.

Walsh said on Monday night, "Any Republican that doesn’t vote for this or doesn’t support this is purely being guided by political reasons."

HuffPost Hill notes that Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is another Republican in the upper congressional chamber who is expected to cast a vote against Ryan's plan.

Comments

[apauline]

09:54 PM on 05/25/2011

Why did people in this man's (Joe Walsh) district vote for him? He's a fool...........I am so glad he doesn't represent me in Illinois. I have watched hiim on TV and read various articles about him and in my view, he DOES NOT represent Illinois very well.

[jtabs]

11:52 AM on 05/25/2011

Being criticized by Joe Waste, humm, is that really a negative? While not a supporter of Brown, at least the man has the ability to think for himself and not his party.

[TheSecularist]

11:13 AM on 05/25/2011

Scott Brown may be delicious eye candy, but he's not stupid. He knows which way the wind is blowing and he knows when to flip.

[calimom123]

10:49 AM on 05/25/2011

The "defining moment in a generation" is denying sick kids access to healthcare? Scott Brown has a number of things to be ashamed of, but opposing Paul Ryan whacko plan is not one of them.

[Roman1]

10:44 AM on 05/25/2011

Oh, so because Scott may have a conscience, he should be ashamed of himself. This party is cutting its own throat more and more every single day. And....its a beautiful thing to see.

[tommt]

10:42 AM on 05/25/2011

Brown is a democrat in disguise, and it will be to
the MA. republican committees advantage to get
him replaced next election.

[gpie]

10:52 AM on 05/25/2011

If he gets replaced it will probably be with a real Democrat. He's just trying to do things that are in the best interests of his constituents and in this case that means voting against republican plans.

[Michael Willhoite]

09:46 AM on 05/25/2011

Ashamed of himself? For taking a principled stand? That shows how insane the Republican party has become.

[KickstandCat]

09:27 AM on 05/25/2011

Ah yes, another episode of the politic-opera, "The Republican Turns".

The storyline's gettin old. You need some NEW writers.

[dayzee10]

09:15 AM on 05/25/2011

Massachusetts voters should be ashamed of themselves! Though they didn't have much of a choice

[Jane48]

08:45 AM on 05/25/2011

Ashamed?
Ashamed of not taking orders from the party boss?
Ashamed of thinking?
Ashamed of an intelligent decision?
Ashamed of what his constituency wants?
The only thing he should really be ashamed of is his own party--the thugs who tro11 for the corporate state takeover.

[dayzee10]

09:17 AM on 05/25/2011

He is just posturing for the voters. Give him six years and his true Retealibanbaggerican agenda will be front and center!!!

[Jane48]

11:22 AM on 05/25/2011

Yeah..., unfortunately.
I like to entertain hope once in a while, but ur right, and linguistically talented :-)

[owlbreath]

04:32 AM on 05/25/2011

The voters, for the most part, will not tolerate a political party demanding that its members vote for what that party endorses. Scott Brown, as of the moment, attracts the anger of his party, but in the long run, his stance against Ryan's budget may serve him well with his constituents in Massachusetts. Time will only tell if he folds under pressure and reneges on his position.

[Neal Norvell]

03:21 AM on 05/25/2011

Ashamed of what? Voting for what he believes in. We need more politicians like him. Come on over to the Democratic side Scott, you're welcome over here.

[dayzee10]

09:19 AM on 05/25/2011

Two Massachusetts politicians with no beliefs that sway with the political winds.....Mittens Romney and Scottie Brown.

[Eileenla]

02:47 AM on 05/25/2011

I'm willing to bet this is going to be the issue that causes the republican party to self-destruct. Where's the popcorn?

[parkaybutter]

02:32 AM on 05/25/2011

Rep. Walsh needs to think about how it looks to the average voter for his party to go after "entitlements" that the middle class relies on, while on the other hand insisting that taxes for the wealthy must not be raised and tax breaks for the corporations must not be eliminated. When all is said and done, the power of one man, one vote will decide what's really important to the citizenry. Scott Brown was smart enough to see what's coming in time to step out of the way.

[Tonelook]

02:21 AM on 05/25/2011

Who's got the better Abd's, Ryan or Brown; that's about how interesting it is to read about Brown flailing in the Republican wind. He not only demonstrates his spineless survival ability, Brown etches in the American mindset yet another rump kissing GOP figure that desperately shuffles for stability juggling interests of an old guard big money controlled party (with pet issues/goals) divided by infighting from tea bagger (and their diverse issues). Bottom line, Brown and any other rudderless Republican and Blue Doggers out there, you all own the label of: "we are the ones that want to get rid of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security". Like BLING around your albatross neck; from here to eternity.