Reid Accuses Brown, GOP Of Stalling Vote In Order To Miss Debate
BOSTON (CBS) - Sen. Scott Brown and challenger Elizabeth Warren met for the first time on Thursday, in a debate that was nearly postponed.
Earlier in the day, with the Senate in session, Brown told WBZ-TV debate moderator Jon Keller he would remain in Washington until voting had ended for the day.
Brown told Keller that voting is his first priority. From February 2010 to September 2012, Brown missed just 1 of 708 recorded or roll call votes, according to GovTrack.us.
Brown needed to make a 4:30 p.m. flight in order to arrive at the WBZ studios on time, meaning he'd have to leave the Senate chambers by about 3:45 p.m.
He participated in a procedural vote around 2 p.m.
It wasn't until just after 3 p.m., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who controls the Senate calendar and ultimately decides when to schedule votes, interrupted fellow Democrat Sen. Al Franken, and without naming Brown, launched into a tirade accusing Brown and the Republicans of stalling in order to get out of the debate.
"We have no more votes today. No more votes today. It's obvious to me what's going on," Reid announced. "I've been to a few of these rodeos. It is obvious there is a big stall taking place. One of the senators who had a debate tonight doesn't want to debate. Well, he can't use the Senate as an excuse. There will be no more votes today."
The Brown campaign told WBZ-TV that they are furious about what they call a deliberate effort by the democratic leadership to embarrass their man, a charge the Democrats deny.