NBC's 'Today' Frets Scott Brown Getting 'Nasty' and 'Personal' in Mass. Senate Race
At the top of Friday's NBC Today, co-host Matt Lauer wondered if a joke by Republican Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown in response to a jab by Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren was a "comeback or insult" and noted that "women's groups are giving him a big dressing down today."
In a later tease of the story, fellow co-host Ann Curry proclaimed: "A senate race in Massachusetts has turned ugly and personal." Lauer summed up the situation this way: "...during a debate, a potential Democratic challenger took a shot at Republican Senator Scott Brown for saying that he had to pose nude in Cosmopolitan magazine way back in 1982 to pay for school. Brown's response is now what's drawing a lot of heat."
Introducing the segment on the trade of barbs, Lauer again emphasized how the Senate race was "turning personal," as the headline on screen read: "Cosmo Controversy; Senate Battle Turns Nasty Over Nude Photo Spread."
In the report that followed, Correspondent Kelly O'Donnell described how Warren quipped that she had "kept her clothes on" to pay for her education and that Brown later responded by remarking, "thank God." O'Donnell observed: "Rarely do two simple words cause such an uproar."
O'Donnell posed the question: "Was that just a snappy comeback or a personal insult?" After playing sound bites of both Warren and Brown, O'Donnell focused on negative reaction to Brown: "Some Democrats and women's groups angrily said Brown's comment was more suited to a quote, 'frat house,' and a dig at Warren's appearance. A race getting personal." Glen Johnson of The Boston Globe argued: "I'm not sure that Elizabeth Warren's remark was entirely innocent but there's been a real sort of towel-snapping quality to Scott Brown's campaign so far."
O'Donnell did feature a fuller response from Brown: "Let them throw stones. I did what I had to do. But not for having that opportunity, I never would have been able to pay for school, and never would have gone to school." Wrapping up the story, she also noted: "Now there were a couple of women in the Senate, Republicans, who did back up Scott Brown. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Susan Collins of Maine said that no one should make fun of how he had to pay for school because he had a humble background."
Here is a full transcript of the October 7 segment:
7:01AM ET TEASE:
MATT LAUER: And comeback or insult? A Democratic rival takes a jab at Senator Scott Brown for claiming he had to pose nude back in 1982 to help pay for college, leading to this dig from the Senator.
KEVIN KARLSON [BOSTON RADIO HOST]: Have you officially responded to Elizabeth Warren's comment about how she didn't take her clothes off?
SCOTT BROWN: Thank God.
LAUER: Now women's groups are giving him a big dressing down today.
7:25AM ET TEASE:
LAUER: Still ahead, Senator Scott Brown spars with a potential challenger over his nude photo shoot in 1982.
7:30AM ET TEASE:
ANN CURRY: A senate race in Massachusetts has turned ugly and personal.
LAUER: Yeah, here's what happened, during a debate, a potential Democratic challenger took a shot at Republican Senator Scott Brown for saying that he had to pose nude in Cosmopolitan magazine way back in 1982 to pay for school. Brown's response is now what's drawing a lot of heat. Coming up, what he said that's causing controversy.
7:35AM ET SEGMENT:
LAUER: Now to a Senate battle in Massachusetts that's turning personal and the controversy stems from the incumbent's nude photo spread nearly 30 years ago. NBC's Capitol Hill correspondent Kelly O'Donnell has the details on this. Kelly, good morning.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Cosmo Controversy; Senate Battle Turns Nasty Over Nude Photo Spread]
KELLY O'DONNELL: Good morning, Matt. Well, not every Senate race gets this kind of national attention, but consider that Scott Brown has often been named the most popular elected official in Massachusetts, according to polls, so it was only a matter of time before that centerfold from way back when would become an issue and a punch line in 2012. Well, it started, the insults have begun in Massachusetts. Rarely do two simple words cause such an uproar.
SCOTT BROWN: Thank God.
O'DONNELL: Was that just a snappy comeback or a personal insult from Republican Senator Scott Brown aimed at potential Democratic challenger, Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren? It all goes back to this, in 1982 Brown bared it all for Cosmopolitan magazine. He said he needed the money for tuition.
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: You were a Cosmo guy.
BROWN: Is that on your screen saver?
GUTHRIE: I'll never confess.
O'DONNELL: A photo that won't ever go away. This week, in a Democrat's debate, that nude centerfold was mentioned in a question to Warren.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN [DEBATE MODERATOR]: To help pay for his law school education, Scott Brown posed for Cosmo. How did you pay for your college education?
ELIZABETH WARREN: I kept my clothes on.
[LAUGHTER]
O'DONNELL: Brown's campaign says Warren's answer was offensive and an insult. On a Boston radio show Wednesday, the Senator jabbed back.
KEVIN KARLSON [BOSTON RADIO HOST]: Have you officially responded to Elizabeth Warren's comment about how she didn't take her clothes off?
BROWN [LAUGHING]: Thank God.
O'DONNELL: Some Democrats and women's groups angrily said Brown's comment was more suited to a quote, "frat house," and a dig at Warren's appearance. A race getting personal.
GLEN JOHNSON [THE BOSTON GLOBE]: I'm not sure that Elizabeth Warren's remark was entirely innocent but there's been a real sort of towel-snapping quality to Scott Brown's campaign so far.
O'DONNELL: Brown's upset victory last year to succeed Ted Kennedy stunned Democrats, who want desperately to knock him out in 2012. Warren, who worked for the Obama administration as a consumer watch dog, has never run for office before.
WARREN: I'm going to do this. I'm going to run for the United States Senate.
O'DONNELL: Brown's campaign has labeled Warren "elitist." He defended his '80s centerfold in that radio interview.
BROWN: Let them throw stones. I did what I had to do. But not for having that opportunity, I never would have been able to pay for school, and never would have gone to school.
O'DONNELL: Thursday, Warren brushed it off.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN B [BOSTON REPORTER]: You don't care to dive into those waters?
WARREN: I'll survive.
O'DONNELL: She says, "I'll survive." Well, there are six Democrats who are trying to win the nomination to challenge Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren's just one of those. Now there were a couple of women in the Senate, Republicans, who did back up Scott Brown. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Susan Collins of Maine said that no one should make fun of how he had to pay for school because he had a humble background. Matt.
LAUER: Alright, Kelly O'Donnell following this story. Kelly, thank you very much.
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Comments
"women's groups are giving
Submitted by forest on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:17pm.
"women's groups are giving him a big dressing down today."
Thank God they aren't dressing down Warren.
I'm betting
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:36pm.
they're doing that daily.
I am trying to be outraged
Submitted by kata on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:19pm.
Really. But gosh those pecs... o.O
Tells a lot about Matt
Submitted by wingnut55 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:27pm.
I guess Matt Lauer wants to see her naked.
The left has predictably gone
Submitted by rbosque on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:29pm.
The left has predictably gone main-stream with character assassinations, violent threats by unions, unhinged MSM rants, threats against capitalism, and attacks on the Constitution...
...but these ass-wipes are worried over the feelings of a bunch of feminazis?
My, but the feminist double standard is really showing.
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:30pm.
For the feminists, it's okay for Scott Brown to do the Cosmo thing so they have something to turn into a campaign issue and it is okay to denigrate female conservatives because they are conservative. But mention one of them doing something similar and suddenly it is attack time with all of the rhetorical cannons blazing.
For the record, nobody would want to see Elizabeth Warren doing anything but keeping her mouth shut.
Typical...
Submitted by ThePickle on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:33pm.
So the Liberal female candidate basically accuses the Conservative male candidate of being a "whore" for making money by posing "nude" to pay for his education ......and they are angry with him for what most would consider a fairly innocuous response.
I suppose its par for the course when debating with todays crop of "liberals" ....
And how they reacted about Clinton & Monica.
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:39pm.
Those "women's groups" sat silent and did not do a damned thing to condemn the very behavior they say is intolerable to them. They gave no reasoning and of course the lapdog, submissive media did not push them on their blatant hypocrisy on that issue.
why is this even an issue?
Submitted by katiejane on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:41pm.
What is wrong with people - Warren is the one who sunk into personal insults and she's the one who deserves an appropriate response.
appropriate response
Submitted by Agnostic on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:45pm.
Warren received an appropriate response - that is why the media and fem groups are so upset. In their view - he is just supposed to take it and shut up.
That is unless
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:30pm.
the woman under attack is a conservative, then it's their freedom of speech at stake and they should be applauded as patriots.
Warren played dirty
Submitted by hbnolikeee on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 12:56pm.
and was outplayed and is weeping. You gotta love this baloney!
So Brown was supposed to say
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:09pm.
So Brown was supposed to say he wished she'd taken off her clothes?
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
Whining and sniveling from an
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:11pm.
Whining and sniveling from an ugly moron. She deserves every smart ass comment that comes along. More bogus outrage, nary a word about sharia from the nags and hags.
Where were the women's groups
Submitted by wingnut55 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:11pm.
When liberal comedians made comments calling Scott Brown's daughter prostitutes, where were these women's groups? The daughters were not even running for office, but they were fair game to these women's groups, since they didn't say a thing.
Exactly the same place
Submitted by Ozconservative on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 8:28pm.
Exactly the same place they were when Bill Maher and David Letterman insulted Sarah Palin and her daughters.........on the couch watching, laughing and agreeing with them.
SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:14pm.
Republican responds in kind! What is civility in this country coming to? Every liberal daycare provider knows you punish the retaliator.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
Twisted Spin
Submitted by giatn on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:23pm.
This astounding misinterpretation of events falls right in line with most reports from
this network. Warren with an unmistakable air of superiority responded to the question
"I kept my clothes on". Clearly, she was disparaging Brown's means of paying for
law school. She was the one who threw an intended insult. I heard Brown's interview
and his response of "Thank God" was clearly a spontaneous humorous retort. It was very, very funny. He was laughing as he said it without any malice. Warren thinks
government's job is to "help" families and the middle class; Brown thinks the government's
job is to create an environment of freedom, safety and equal opportunity for all. She
wants government to engineer results and he wants government to protect freedom
and self determination. That is the choice. Socialism or capitalism. All the rest is
merely a distraction.
And yet..
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:29pm.
Ed Shultz of NBC (MSNBC) called Laura Ingram a "slut" on air and these same "women's groups" said nothing and NBC news didn't even mention it. Neither did ABC, CBS or CNN.
The left's hypocrisy is getting more and more blatant as they think they are getting away with it.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Wow.
Submitted by Dave the mailman on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:41pm.
Come on, its not like her called her fat....but then again, she's not a conservative male governor....
As I recall ...
Submitted by Bodini on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:50pm.
Helen Gurley Brown ... the celebrated FEMINIST is the "lady" who began denigrating men when she started the whole male centerfolds deal at Cosmo. So ... feminists of the world ... shut up ... accept the fact that Brown just B*tch slapped Warren ... and get over it!
So he got a job to pay his way through school and she borrowed
Submitted by Lipton on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 1:58pm.
money. That is what I am getting from this, and considering that I think they have both chosen the correct party to align themselves with.
How Dare He?!?!?!?!
Submitted by rammingspeed on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 2:01pm.
Women's groups have no credibility. All the hypocrisy - insane, laughable - they've put up over the decades has defined them forever. The fact that no one cracked on Warren for her remark insulting Brown just underscores the bullsh*t. Matt Lauer is a splat of vomit.
You don't get it!
Submitted by WestHoustonGeo on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 2:33pm.
They aren't mad because he implied whatshername is body-ugly. They were offended by his reference to "God";-)
It's a great retort! Awesome.
Submitted by PJRyan on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 4:20pm.
Who are these women's groups that are so offended, but ignored the ignorant shots at Brown's daughters and the utterly repulsive Mike Tyson's ignorant psycho-babble regarding Sarah Palin?
It sounds to me like..
Submitted by SamC on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 5:12pm.
Ms. Warren is the one who got personal.
She's just jealous 'cause she really wants to pin up his photo in her office, but since he's a Republican she can't. She'll have to stick with that old beach pic of Teddy.
Nah,
Submitted by djwolf12 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 8:59pm.
She will have to raid Barney Frank's personal stash of Cosmo Mags from 1982 to get that pic.
She got nasty. He got nasty back
Submitted by krendler on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 7:57pm.
...and of course, we get the usual, automatic faux-outrage from the lib-dip$hits.
How dare he one up her.
Let them screech all they want, till they're blue in the face.
(BTW, GREAT comeback, Scott!)
How soon we forget that the
Submitted by Immortal Fish on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 8:01pm.
How soon we forget that the man who previously occupied the seat of Scott Brown ACTUALLY KILLED A WOMAN!!! "Senator Sandwich," hello? And that person also took the seat from a black man.
Look, I'm a MA plebeian. I invested over 30-volunteer hours for Scott Brown. I haven't been a fan for a while. He was the 41st inconsequential vote against ObeymeCare and the 60th vote for everything else. He was on a local talk show saying the same thing Dick Turban said about BoA. Granted, he didn't do it on the floor, be he still did it all the same. Why? Cause Scott Brown also voted for the Dodo-Fwank finance bill. He's a full on DIABLO (Dem In All But Label Only) that is contaminating the brand and deserves to lose. I cannot and will not vote for him.
I hope all those centrist, bipartisan votes were worth it, you one-truncated-term tool.
If it was a Liberal who had came up with that "comeback"...
Submitted by jawebster1 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 8:08pm.
there would be no end to the praise that it would have garnered from the state-run media.
The truth is, it was a brilliant comeback and they are jealous.
All is fair in the War on Socialism:
Submitted by djwolf12 on Fri, 10/07/2011 - 8:39pm.
She started it, so he finished it. She should learn to keep her blubbermouth shut!