The front page of the Jan. 20, 2010, Boston Herald newspaper features Scott Brown, Massachusetts’ new senator.
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, spoke to MSNBC this morning about President Barack Obama’s first year in office.
He also addressed last night’s election in Massachusetts of Scott Brown, a Republican, to fill the U.S. senate seat formerly held by Democrat Ted Kennedy, a key proponent of President Obama’s health care reforms. Brown opposes the Obama effort.
“It’s definitely a black eye towards Barack Obama,” Brinkley said. “There’s no question that part of that vote was disgruntled people with the health care plan.”
Brinkley said that Obama needs to move forward quickly and decisively on health care, or risk losing momentum for the rest of his domestic agenda – including the efforts to improve the economy.
Click here to view the entire Jan. 20, 2010, MSNBC interview with the Baker Institute’s Douglas Brinkley.