Dear Professor Warren,

As you have witnessed, outside third party groups have already begun spending millions of dollars on attack ads designed to influence the 2012 Senate election here in Massachusetts. Attack ads from unaccountable outside groups that spend millions of dollars from anonymous donors portraying their opposition unfairly and misleading voters are wrong. That is why I believe candidates have a responsibility to speak out against these groups regardless of whether those groups are seeking to help them or harm them. It has been disappointing that you have repeatedly refused to join my call for an end to this spending.

Although you defended attempts by out-of-state special interests to influence the Massachusetts election, you did claim to oppose unfair attack ads. However, in November, when questioned about a nearly $2 million attack campaign against me by the League of Conservation Voters, you defended the attacks and told WCVB they were "merely calling him out on his voting record." The truth, as the non-partisan FactCheck.org pointed out, is that the ads ignore parts of my record that undermine their premise. You were silent when FactCheck.org called an earlier round of attacks against me "misleading."

It seems the only third-party ads you think are unfair are those that criticize you. In recent days, you have even complained to the media that I am somehow responsible for these ads, despite all evidence to the contrary. You seem to see no irony in attacking me even though you have turned down numerous opportunities to join me in denouncing these ads. Your refusal to do so gives you zero credibility on this issue.

The voters of Massachusetts deserve an honest campaign where candidates themselves are allowed to contest their ideas and are held accountable for the conduct of their campaign. Rather than adopt an elitist attitude with one set of rules for yourself and another for everyone else, I urge you once again to join me in calling for an end to all spending by third party groups.

Sincerely,

Scott Brown

