Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren faced off in their second debate Monday night at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell.
Brown touted his bipartisan record and attacked Warren on claims of Native American ancestry and legal work for corporations, painting her as an out-of-touch opportunist.
Warren cited her advocacy for the working class and attacked Brown for his votes against jobs bills, casting him as a politician for the wealthy and corporate interests.
The Boston Herald has the complete video of the debate.
Both candidates got their share of applause from the audience. But we want to know what you think.
Who would you say won? Did either candidate sway you in either direction? Were your questions answered? Discuss in the comments below.
Bill
6:57 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Brown, though not perfect, clearly won. It has become clear that al Warren has to offer are the same class warfare taking point that she repeats endlessly. The rails about oil companies, banks, millionaires etc, with no real substance or solutions other than higher taxes and more regulation in the most vague mannor. It is also clear she will voting with her party 100% of the time adding to the partisan gridlock
JC
4:54 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Why isn't anyone concerned with Brown's knee jerk reaction answer of Antonin Scalia to the "who's your model Supreme Court Justice?". That's an eye opener. Not the most fair-minded, bi-partisan choice from our so-called fair-minded, bi-partisan Senator. Sure, when the crowd started to boo he slipped in Kennedy, Roberts, and Sotomayor but he went straight to the most conservative Justice on the Court Speaks volumes to me. His "most bi-partisan" Senator schtick holds no water either, yes - statistics show he votes "across party lines" almost 50% of the time, but those votes are calculated. It's all part of the package in an effort to present him in a bi-partisan light. Remember, he won a special election 2 years ago - his party leaders have known he'd be running again soon. He votes with the Republicans on all issues of substance, Warren isn't making up his voting record - just look it up. He was weak on some simple, direct questions too very disappointing. Would not answer the "President Romney" question, would not answer the Mitch McConnell question, woudln't even answer the question about Lawyer/ethics after the accusations he and his campaign have dropped on Warren. And he's a lawyer himself. He's been nothing but a disappointment to me in this campaign - and he has stood with the Republicans, holding the rest of the country hostage over a potential 3.5% tax increase for the wealthiest 2% of the population. Just can't risk Republican control of the Senate.
JG
5:04 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
HEY JC... Do you really think Warren will be more Bi-partisan? Face it - you just want everyone to be a Democrat so they will think like you!
Mickey D
5:12 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
JG, yes, I do believe that the good professor will be more bi-partisan. I believe that because she stands for the middle class, not the banks, not the oil companies. She wants to build our infrastructure and help our children with college all of which helps the whole country, not just the top 1 or 2%. She understands that trickle down down isn't how to build the middle class. It is built from the middle out!
Sean Ward
6:04 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Mickey D, The middle class that Warren wants to help is actually the lower class. She has no interest in creating private sector jobs or enabling hard working citizens to earn their own living and bulid wealth for themselves and their own families. She is only interested in taking money from the people and organizations that earn it themselves and using it for programs that give it to those who don't. Banks, oil companies, General Electric, are all companies that employ 10s of thousands of people enabling those people to live off their own efforts instead of living off the public dole. She wants to take more money from them and hand it out. She is the most partisan democrat I've seen.
hammergjh
8:29 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Warren held her own quite well but Brown did fine. Neither was the clear winner but Warren's closing remarks were far superior.
Mickey D
9:03 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I believe that there was no clear winner in last night's debate; this was two politicians debating to a draw. But Brown continues to come across as some condescending bully. Brown continuing to want to make an issue out of Warren's national origin is a red herring that he falls back on because he has no substantive position on anything other than lower taxes for all. Regarding the "class warfare" talking point...it is a legitimate point! The middle class has taken it on the cheek for the past 30 plus years. The system is rigged, the halves and the halve nots. That isn't class warfare, that is reality. Trickle down hasn't worked, wealth is more concentrated with the top 5% of the population now more than any time in the past 80 years! Tax rates are at there lowest for everyone right now, let's share the responsibility. The facts are the oil companies receive billions in subsidies all the while they remain the most profitable enterprises in the world. The banks want to turn back the clock on regulations that were put in place to prevent them from taking us to the brink yet again! Billionaires and millionaires on average pay less of an effective tax rate than that of the middle class. So don't talk about "no real substance", Professor Warren gets it, she gets the MIDDLE CLASS and is willing to do something about it! Scott Brown...not so much! He votes the way he is told. Just look at where his campaign contributions are coming from if you don't believe me! Wake up!
Bill
9:19 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
She does get it - she is part of the rigging. She exploited affirmative action laws to be the only law professor hired by Harvard who went to a public law school. She and her husband now make 300K each to teach one class. She also traded on her position to take law clients who are big corporations to deny claims against people who sought recovery from injury.
Success is open to anyone who works hard and understand how the system works - Prof Warren is Exhibit A.
Concerned
9:45 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Well said Bill. And yes Mickey, lets look at how Scott Brown votes. He votes the issue, not the party. His votes have not been popular with his party at times because he has the courage to vote based on the situation and facts of what he feels is best for all. Not just his party. The bills and proposals that are voted on usually have many topics in them and he will not allow someones "pork" to be slipped into a bill. He'll vote yes or no even if it ruffles a few of his partys feathers. Warren will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS vote with the liberal dems no matter how the bill is phrased or what it will do to us. Warren and her occupiers can go camping together somewhere after next months vote and talk about the big bad rich people and how they want some of what the "haves" have. Of course she won't actually be camping with them. She'll be in a five star hotel telling everyone she is one of the regular people. Warren is the problem, not the solution.
Carol A Mazzetta
2:45 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
As Senator Brown pointed out, the oil companies are also the biggest tax payers. If you tax these companies higher, we (the middle class) are the ones who will pay the price. You think the gas prices are high now and the oil to heat our homes will go even higher. Professeor Warren is part of the problem of higher tuitions and student loans being sky high. She makes $350 thousand dollars a year to teach two classes!! I also noticed Mickey D refuses to call Scott Brown Senator Brown but Ms. Warren is Professor Warren! As for campaign contributions, where are Ms Warrens coming from? All the Lefties in Hollywood, you wake up, most of them are dummer than dirt and make their living playing pretend! If Ms. Warren is so concerned about everyone paying their fair share, why didn't she check off that box on her income taxes to pay more? Senator Brown (like Kennedy) reaches across the aisle all the time, that's why he's the 2nd most bi-partisan Senator in Washington and Ms. Warren would vote 100% with the Democrats!
Richard Pasley
4:28 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Carol Mazzetta- your defense of oil companies is deeply flawed, for a variety of reasons. First of all, the subsidies that go to the already highly profitable oil companies come from taxpayer dollars. Those are dollars that could be used to reduce the deficit or pay for military costs or any number of otherwise sacred cows among Conservatives. Second, the oil companies pay ZERO federal income tax, AND they get huge subsidies and privileges that other industries would kill for...industries whose growth would benefit our economy via job creation, or energy independence, or environmental protection. But instead, YOUR taxpayer dollars are going into the pockets of already well-heeled, well-connected beneficiaries of a commodity-based industry that does everything it can to protect the status-quo and to stifle innovation in the energy industry. And exactly how would eliminating the huge SUBSIDIES to the oil companies change the price at the pump for the middle class? Are you not a true believer in America? In our 'free market' economy, isn't it supply and demand that determines the price of a commodity? How would reducing the amount of taxpayer dollars that get siphoned into the balance sheets of the oil companies change the supply or demand for their product? It wouldn't at all. You and your allies are being played for suckers.
Bill
4:44 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Richard - you are so right about the oil companies. You should not buy any of their products - you show them. Also, you should try and find your own oil, get it out of the ground, refine it and get it to your house. It would cost you a few hundred million to get started and it will be risky, but what the heck -it looks easy when Exxon does it. They just sit back and rake in the bucks.
Sweetcheeks
9:51 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Can Brown leave Warren's ethnic background alone already? Is that really all he has going for his campaign?
Saber Walsh
10:03 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I have to agree -- I am so sick of the ads from both sides. Anybody with a brain knows what Warren did, we don't need to be reminded of it 5x per hour. Scott Brown is a RINO which would have made him a target for Republicans, except the four of them couldn't come up with anybody better.
Brown did exactly what he said he would do and did work across the aisle, which was often frustrating.
But here's the choice: the guy who already has the job and has shown he can play the middle and understands it's time to shut off the government tap on our wallets, or the gal who never served in government and keeps saying things like "we need to fund..." without saying how she would pay for it? The gal who is following the Marxist drum-banging about redistributing wealth, or the guy who came from nothing and knows what it's like to have to pull up your big-boy pants and earn your keep?
There's a great poster out there that asks, "Can we just talk about who we are going to vote for without a fight?" In this particular case, it's pretty easy...
john Clements
8:35 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Her claim in being a minority is morally wrong. Her claim that she was a child who believed her parents is Intellectual Dishonesty since it wasn't a child who made the claim to get the benefit. The average person would have had the moral conviction to try to do what was right and would have inquired or was she just STUPID? We have more than our share of Stupid and Immoral Politicians. We don't need another.
DreamJeannie
11:02 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Clearly, Warren was the winner last night. Scott Brown appeared aloof and unprepared. And what was that comment about "not being one of your students!" If it was meant to be some sort of zinger, the timing was completely off and he looked like a dork! While Scott Brown is certainly not the worst Republican in the Senate, he does march the party line on important votes, which adversely affect middle class families, the elderly and veterans. A vote for Scott Brown will only help the extreme right wing agenda in Washington, which is a disaster waiting to happen. Good job, "Professor Warren!" You have my vote!
cj
12:49 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
that comment about not being one of your students summed it up exactly...her condescending way of lecturing all of us is over the top...
go scott go
wake up out of your brainwashed msnbc stupor people!
Carol A Mazzetta
2:51 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Why can't you people call him "SENATOR BROWN?
Bob Tak
3:59 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Jean:
Think. Warren is saying the same things over and over again because her handlers have trained her. It is all canned. Beyond the oil compnaies, millionaires and billionaires she has no idea what is going one. She is locked up in the Boston branch of Disney World - Harvard. She doesn't feel what the middle class feels. She isn't touched by the insanity of the world. Scott Brown is in the real trenches each and every day. He knows the issues and understands the problems. Warren is the new puppet that the Deocrats have come up with who can memorize well and articulate clearly, but has no idea what she is talking about.
Bob Samson
11:30 am on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Brown, 31 out of 32. Warren, 1 out of 32.
Anja Poulsen
12:32 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Brown scored points over Warren when David Gregory asked about which Senators from the other party each candidate could work with. Warren named Richard Lugar, who is retiring and won't be there next year, but couldn't come up with another name. Brown got a chance to highlight his bi-partisan votes and had the advantage of experience on that question.
Yes, they kept on about the Native American heritage question, but Gregory was the one who brought it up and forced both candidates to rehash this issue. I do think voters should be interested, as it does reflect on character, but it shouldn't have been the main focus of the second debate. I hope they get into meatier issues in the next matchup, and give them each time to express their ideas and solutions.
I think that based on audience reaction, this debate was a draw but I felt that Brown had more detailed answers when it came to policies and issues. I think voters are too sophisticated to be won over with slogans, or at least, I hope they are.
Bill
2:50 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Audience reaction was skewed. I knew someone who went and the room was packed with Dems and Warren supporters. The place is run by a former Dem congressman. Brown wins points by going to a debate in left wing venue with a moderator who works for a network as biased as Fox in the other direction.
David
12:43 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I think Warren won the debate based on Brown's dodging of the questions related to his support of the republican agenda and his misleading claims about the clients Warren had.
Jimbo
1:07 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Elizabeth Warren, to use her expression, is in lock step with the Democratic National Comittee and President Obama. They keep talking about the millionaires and billionaires, but the laws they want to pass effect this duel income people that work very hard to make $250,000.00. I personally don't know the millionaires and billionaires, but I do know a few small business owners that employ a lot of people that fall into the $250,000.00 range. Elizabeth Warren and the president might be good lawyers but they flunked math. There are a lot of people that will be effected in their new laws that are not millionaires or billionaires.....................
hammergjh
2:13 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I hope she is "in lock step" w/ Obama. After what the right wing has done to this country no way in hell I'm voting for another one.
Dalko
2:51 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Scott Brown won hands down. It was a joke when Elizabeth Warren got into discussion about our military presence in Afghanistan. With her "strong world affairs or military experience" we can definitely "trust" her vote in the Senate to protect interests of the US. She has no real life experience, like Obama, and she wants to represent us in making tough economic and political decisions. I do not think so.
Carol A Mazzetta
2:57 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Just remember (hammergjh) in 2007 & 2009, the Senate & the House were Democrats! Barney Frank & Chris Dodd should be in jail for what they did to the housing debacle. But their Librals so they get a pass!
john Clements
8:39 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Absolutely!!! Well said!!!!
Mark
2:58 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
RIght wing done to this country? Seriously? Obama just spent 5 trillion dollars in 3 years, failed on his promise to cut the deficit in half, forced through Obamacare that raises healthcare costs, forced through the Dodd Frank Act that's stifling financial institutions, created absolutely no jobs, lied to the public about the death of the ambassador in Libya, etc. Our federal debt is now 100% of GDP. Another 4 years and we're owned by China. Please don't listen and regurgitate bias media crap. Do some research and take a finance or economics class.
Richard Pasley
4:42 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Get a clue...GW spent over 11 trillion in the eight years before Obama! GW started with a roaring economy and a budget surplus, and he blew it all by giving huge tax breaks to his already wealthy amigos (who were doing very well even before his benevolence) and by keeping his Iraq war off the books so the cost to the federal budget would not be apparent. At least the 5 trillion that Obama has spent has kept the economy solvent so that we're not in a major depression.
Kaneck Habletacker
6:08 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Richard, the first stimulus was signed by the former president...so your theory that Obama's spending kept the economy solvent applies to Bush too, in the end...just saying. Also, his benevolence towards the oil companies kept the price of a commodity very low (compared to today's prices). Considering the ratio of dollars spent to economic growth percentage during Obama's administration, the trillions of dollars that Obama has spent has not been even nearly as effective as it should be. If Bush was so terrible and he left a horrendous mess, didnt we hand the responsibility of cleaning up to Obama? Undoubtedly, it is a responsibility that he has shirked, because the fiscal situation is the same if not worse than it was when he was elected. He has promoted his own liberal agenda, ignoring the real needs and values of the ignorant voters who elected him 4 years ago, while superficially appearing to achieve the contrary
Very tired of it all
3:10 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
So tired of people talking about the undefined "middle class". If you have family income above approximatley $105K, you are in the top 5% - you are not in the "middle". Does that sound like millionaires and billionaires to you? Tell me , how many of you who thought you were in the middle are really in the top 5%. When you hear politicians talking taking the high wage earners, you should be thinking that they are talking about everyone with income above $50K. If you don't believe these numbers, look it up.
Mickey D
5:04 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Very Tired, I did look it up, and you are wrong. Based on 2010 data from the IRS, in order to be in the top 5%, you would need to earn $159K not $105K as you suggest. With regard to whether or not one is "in the middle" would depend on what we are talking about, income or wealth. They are very, very, different. By definition, the middle class is the socio-economic class between the working class and the wealthy. When I hear intelligent politicians speak to high "wage earners", they use $250K as the threshold of "high wage earners" who should pay a little more in taxes for the greater good of this society. When we speak of wealthy, that is really accumulated wealth, not income. The balance is skewed now, there isn't enough money left for the middle class to support our "consumer economy" because the millionaires and billionaires keep taking more and more from us in the "middle".
JG
5:10 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Well said Mickey.. The Dems are trying to divide and conquer. Unfortunately it works here in Mass but hopefully the rest of the country sees the truth...
Steve
5:16 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
We actually have 2 great potential senators here: Brown as a right-leaning moderate, and Warren as a liberal. I hate to vote against Brown because I agree with him that he is moderate and independent of the far right, but I think it is important that the democrats retain control of the senate so Obama's every move isn't blocked and his Supreme Court picks can go through. But either is a good candidate, which is a weird thing to say these days.
john Clements
8:46 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Obama over the last two years was unable to pass anything as the House turned everything down. If elected again we shall have 4 years of nothing which we as a country cannot afford. The House will not change and if the Senate remains Democrat with a Senate Pres who refuses everything the House presents we will likely go over the cliff in the next Obama Administration. He will however blame Bush.
Steve
12:44 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I got a better idea. Let's elect a majority conservative senate and Romney. Then the country can start recovering. Brown won this debate and warren looked petulant. Go Scott.
Mickey D
6:39 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Hard to see how returning to the same failed policy's of Bush's 8 year reign of terror is a "better" idea. The fact is the country is already recovering from that nightmare. Brown is a nice guy, no doubt. But he is in over his head. He can't think on his own 2 feet. His bi-partisan schtick is just that. he crossed the aisle on the easy votes, the votes that his leadership LET him cross the aisle on. When it gets down to the tough votes, he will be in Mitch McConnell's pocket. That you can bet on! Professor Warren looked like the intelligent, thoughtful, dignified person she is...anything but petulant!
Mickey D
5:21 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
JG, it's not the Dems trying to divide and conquer. It is the Koch Brothers and the rest of the billionaires who aren't happy with a billion dollars, they need a billion and one! And yes, it is the Republican party who has tried to make this "class warfare". Uber wealthy who think they can buy this election by throwing more money around than the less fortunate. For the record, I am an independent.
john Clements
8:55 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Independent you say! Then talk like one. The Democrats were in power for years prior to the economic failure. Frank and Dodd should be in Jail. I would put Bush beside them since he did not close the border over his 8 years. How many terrorists crossed the Border???? Obama is a greater failure. We have only on HOPE.
Mickey D
9:33 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
John, What do independents "talk like"? Like they have brains and can think for themselves? Frank and Dodd should be in jail? Really? And the shysters that run Wall Street shouldn't be? How do you figure Obama is a greater failure? Because the republicans came out on day one and said their goal was to make Obama a one term president? Bush still deserves blame! For 8 years he mis-manged this country at the behest of his neocon handlers, let's take a look: Tax cuts we couldn't afford, squandered an inherited surplus, started an Iraqi war that was completely unnecessary by lying about WMD, ill-prepared and poorly handled hurricane Katrina, and a near-collapse of the entire US economy to name but a few of Bush's blunders (in spite of your baseless claim the democrats were in power for years prior to the economic failure). Yea, i'm an independent and this is how I talk, like someone who is fed up with the takers wanting more and more and more at the expense of those less fortunate. This is the richest damn country on the planet, there is no reason why anyone should be homeless, hungry or uneducated. We are better than this! Independent enough for ya John?
Kaneck Habletacker
6:14 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
If a complete stranger tells you that he (or she) will give you FREE money, on the condition that you check the box next to his name on the ballot instead of the other guy, what is the average low income person going to do? The underlying principle of the entire Democratic agenda is to buy votes from people that they know wont seek out other options. It wouldnt matter if Obama shot a man on the White House front lawn. If he's giving a portion of the electorate free money, that portion will ALWAYS vote for him.
hammergjh
6:53 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
You can't be serious. My god.
Mickey D
7:22 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Fox News must be so proud of you! At least try and have an intelligent discussion or is that beyond you?
john Clements
8:57 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
RIGHT ON POINT!!
Richard Pasley
9:36 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I don't worry about the average low income person, I worry about the average low intellect person. I worry for you.
Bill
11:00 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
100% correct. The Dem Party is a business model - they votes and money in return for giveways through entitlement programs and increased spending that benefit public unions. That is why they are pushing the Dream act and amnesty - more voter who owe them
Gone4Now
9:00 pm on Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Elizabeth Warren is a Hypocrite and a Fraud
Lisa
7:38 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Scott Brown is an inarticulate embarrassment. His pick up truck is all he's got. He is not an independent. He voted consistently with the conservative republicans as Professor Warren showed with her citations of his voting record. Professor Warren won handily. Brown made that easy with his bullying, snide stupidity.
JG
9:23 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Mickey, you constantly repeat every single talking point from the Democrats. Please, don't insult our intelligence - you are not an Independent! BTW - Bi-partisan means working with both parties, Elizabeth Warren will not work with the Republicans on anything- You know it and we know it!
Mickey D
10:02 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
JG, I am speaking to the issues that got us to this point in time and where we should be going in the future. Just because you don't agree with these positions doesn't mean I am not an Independent...just like Brown says he is independent. You can't speculate that Professor Warren will not work with republicans...you have nothing to base that on. Isn't it just as fair to say that no republicans will work with her? Just like they didn't want to work with Obama? At the end of the day we need people in office who have good ideas to move us forward as a country and quite frankly Brown hasn't really put forth any meaningful proposals other than to cut taxes and reduce regulations. And let's be clear, there is absolutely no empirical data that shows that lower taxes or less regulation will create jobs (look at the 8 years BEFORE Obama took office!). But leveling the playing field for all tax payers, having those who can afford to pay a little more do so, that will help us get our financial house in order, lower deficits, get more students help with an education, get people the health care they need, upgrade our infrastructure, and get more people to work to support more economic growth.
And let's take a look at "talking points":
-" The Dems are trying to divide and conquer"
-"want everyone to be a Democrat so they will think like you"
JG
11:24 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Mickey, if we use your logic then we shouldn't elect Tierney,Kerry and the rest of the Mass Delegation for they only do what Reid and Pelosi tell them and not one of them has every had a "good idea that moved our country forward".
Face it Mickey, Warren is just another bleeding heart liberal. We already have enough of them representing us in washington. You do realize that over 60 percent of the registered voters in Massachusetts are NOT Democrats,right? I think it would be fair for the Massachusetts Independents, moderate Democrats and even those filthy Republicans to have at least one voice in Washington, don't you?
kerstin locherie
11:47 am on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Any intelligent debater would know that Brown won the debate, period.
Mickey D
12:01 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Perhaps remedial debate watching is in order then!
Header
8:23 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Liz is the problem, not the solution. Just think how affordable college could be if moonbats like her didn't make $325k for teaching one fluff class. No wonder students are drowning in debt!