The interview was done to mark his first three months in office. They posted the actual interview and the article they wrote. Reading both shows how they are really puffing him up and covering up how genuinely over his head he is.
In the transcript, through several questions, Brown insists that he will not have earmarks. However, he says, "There are certain projects that are worthy, and when I do fight for things, I will go and speak to the appropriate people through the authorizing process." and "You gotta work through the authorization process. You work through he administration, get it included in the budget. I'm going to still work with the delegation members to try to let them know my thoughts on particular projects, and try to get them funded." What does he think earmarks are? Those projects, if specifically designated, are earmarks. I've noticed that when funding has been announced, it is credited to both Senators and the relevant Representatives. So, should they leave his name out?
Not to mention, he, at least twice, references getting his office painted as a "high point" and an accomplishment. Having listed that early in a short list of high lights, he says that he could write a book about the high points. Given that painting was one of the highlights of the highlights, it would be a very fascinating book.
His description of the interactions with other Senators reminded me most of letters sent from sleep away camp - the same stream of consciousness and weird details. (That might be a slight to my daughters, who were more coherent and had enough manners not to think telling people things they thought would make them "a little uncomfortable" was a good idea.) Does this really sound like it came from a Senator?
Listen, I'm always cracking a joke. I think one of the biggest problems up here is people don't have a sense of humor, or they take themselves very, very seriously. The other day in the hearing with Senator McCaskill, she was doing a good job and I looked at her and said, 'You know what? I think we're really starting to bond. There's this bonding thing going on.' It's in the middle of the hearing and she's, like getting embarrassed, and took it in the spirit it was meant to be, which was -- she agrees we're really working well together. But who would ever say that? Well, I would, because that's how I am. You know, 'my daughters are available.' I say things that I think will get a nice reaction out of people, make them feel a little uncomfortable in a friendly sort of way, break the ice. Thune and I crack each other regularly, because of the athletic part of it. The Majority Leader -- he's always kind of digging me. Schumer, you know, Dodd. They're always kind of jabbing me a little bit. There's always this professional jabbing going on. But it's not mean spirited. It's all good-hearted. And that's what I've actually enjoyed. It reminds me of being in the Mass. Senate, there's a lot of good guys, you'd go up and say, 'Hey, you're getting fat! When's the last time you were in the gym?' You know? Just stuff that if you said it to someone else they'd get offended, but because it's us, they know that we've been in here for three days straight and none of us have worked out. Like Shelby. Yesterday, I said to Shelby, 'You know what, this must be driving you crazy.' He said, 'Why.' And I said, 'Because I haven't seen you at the gym in the morning like you usually are' -- and he's there, like, religiously every morning -- and he says, 'Yeah, I know I'm getting fat.' I said, 'I know, you are!' And then he says, 'Really?' I said, 'Yeah!' And then the other guys jump in, 'Yeah, you are. Boy, and your hair. You haven't been to your hair guy, your hair is getting gray.' So we just start piling on. I enjoy that a lot.
For your reading pleasure,
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/05/09/transcript_from_the_interview_with_scott_brown/?page=5Now, here is the article the Globe wrote based on that really weird interview.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/05/09/a_star_from_day_one_brown_settles_in