In their 2012 race for the US Senate seat in Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown agreed to a “People’s Pledge” that essentially said this: if any independent group spent money on TV, radio or online ads in support of a candidate (or attacking the other), then the candidate being benefitted agreed to pay half the cost of airing the ad to a charity chosen by the other candidate. This format was designed by Brown and Warren to keep third party influence limited in the Massachusetts race, and apparently it worked.
Today Senator Shaheen expressed her admiration for the People's Pledge and asked Scott Brown to join her in just such an agreement, now that he has decided to run for our New Hampshire Senate seat. Once again our senior Senator has shown that she has New Hampshire’s interests at heart. If the Koch brothers, who intend to spend $600,000 on an ad buy against Shaheen next week, wish to proceed with their intrusion into our Senate campaign, they may do so, but under the terms of the Pledge Scott will have to pay half the cost to a charity chosen by Jeanne.
Perhaps the money could fund a new kindergarten for one of our New Hampshire towns? Or a contribution to David’s House in Lebanon? Or the new Fund for Claremont? So many good things could come out of this Pledge. The Koch brothers might even butt out of our election. Thank you Senator Shaheen.
