ELECTION, REJECTION, DEJECTION
2009 Election Results Show Americans Are Rejecting Obama’s Failed Policy Experiments
REP. JASON ALTMIRE (D-PA): “I do think that if the results show Republicans have a pretty good night, that probably is going to lead some Democrats to think that, going into next year, we need to take a second look at the way that we’ve done a lot of bills we’ve addressed up to this point …” (Michael O’Brien, “Blue Dog Says Dem Losses Would Strengthen Centrists’ Position,” Politico, 11/3/09)
EVEN THOUGH OBAMA PUT STAR POWER, RESOURCES INTO VIRGINIA, NEW JERSEY …
Obama Campaigned For Creigh Deeds To Salvage Win In Virginia, “Because A Loss Could Be Blamed On The Administration.” “But the White House is doing what it can to help him win, because a loss could be blamed on the administration. The Oval Office has appealed to the nation’s first elected black governor, Virginia’s L. Douglas Wilder, to back Deeds.” (”Obama Heads To Va. For Rally, Fundraiser,” The Associated Press, 8/6/09)
- And Deeds Put “All His Eggs In Obama’s Basket.” “Creigh Deeds … puts all his eggs in Obama’s basket … We’ve posted the Virginia gubernatorial candidate’s final mail and door-knocking material, and it looks like Obama’s reelect … Here’s the Democratic Party of Virginia’s final message: — ‘Stand With President Obama’ … — ‘President Obama is fighting for change, but he needs us to elect leaders like Creigh Deeds to help him’ … — ‘Stand with President Obama to elect Creigh Deeds governor’ … ‘We have more to do! President Obama needs our help to elect Creigh Deeds as governor.’” (Mike Allen, Politico’s “Playbook,” 11/02/09)
Obama “Put His Prestige On The Line” For Corzine. “The president has put his prestige on the line, trying to regenerate the old magic from 2008. Speaking at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Hackensack, N.J., last week, Obama said, ‘I know folks are hurting.’ But he argued that Corzine is supporting his policies and that he works hard, is honest, and puts the success of working families over ’special interests.’ “ (Kenneth T. Walsh, “Obama Puts Himself On The Line In Virginia, New Jersey,” US News, 10/30/09)
- “Obama Says NJ Governor Is Key To His Own Agenda” (Philip Elliott, The Associated Press, 11/2/09)
- Obama’s White House Team “Fully Engaged” In Corzine’s Re-Election. “While President Obama’s political team seeks to nudge David A. Paterson out of the New York governorship, they are fully engaged in trying to get Gov. Jon S. Corzine re-elected here.” (David M. Halbfinger & David Kocieniewski, “Meanwhile, Next Door, It’s Team Obama For Corzine Sign In To Recommend,” The New York Times, 9/24/09)
DEEDS, CORZINE LOSE RACES THAT DEMS, PUNDITS AGREE ARE REFLECTIONS ON OBAMA
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Says Virginia “The Perfect Bellwether State.” “‘Chuck Todd [chief political analyst for NBC News] has said Virginia is the perfect bellwether state, and I really believe that,’ Kaine said.” (Ray Reed, “Kaine Sees Tougher Fight, More Negative Tone In Governor’s Race,” The News & Advance, 9/30/09)
- Former DNC Chairman Howard Dean Called Virginia A Bellwether. “I think the [race] in Virginia is somewhat of a bellwether. In general, Democrats have done well in Virginia. The President won Virginia, we’ve had two great governors in Virginia in a row. … I think you could make some argument that’s a national race.” (MSNBC, 8/13/09)
- Virginia Was “Laboratory” For Obama Campaign Strategy, “Test Of This President And His Policies.” “Governor’s races tend to be determined by the quality of the candidates and local issues rather than national politics; overcrowded highways are the biggest topic this year in Virginia. Nevertheless, Virginia has been a laboratory for many of the ways Mr. Obama tried to change the ideological appeal and tactics of his party, and it is looming as an early if imprecise test of this president and his policies.” (Adam Nagourney, “2 State Races May Put Lens On President,” The New York Times, 10/11/09)
- Virginia Outcome Could Be Sign “The President’s Star Is Fading.” “Democrats have claimed the past two governorships, both Senate seats and the first presidential win since 1964, but Republicans are close to turning the tide. For Obama critics, it is a chance to make the case — in one of only two states holding governor races this year — that the president’s star is fading.” (Faye Fiore, “GOP Seeing Va. Governor’s Race As Chance To Nick Obama,” The Los Angeles Times, 11/1/09)
- According To University Of Richmond’s Dan Palazzolo, A Republican Victory In Virginia Sends The Message That “Government Is Getting Too Big” And Higher Taxes Is Not The Right Solution. “Dan Palazzolo, political scientist at the University of Richmond. If the Republicans sweep Virginia’s three statewide races, a year after the state voted for Obama, ‘it will send a message that maybe government is getting too big, that maybe more taxes, more government and more debt is not the way to revive the economy.’” (Tyler Whitley, “Deeds In Hampton Roads, McDonnell Holds Airport Rallies,” Times Dispatch, 11/1/09)
Obama’s Aides Said Corzine Loss Would Be Seen “As A Rebuke Of Mr. Obama.” “The state is one of only two nationwide holding governor’s contests this year. And Mr. Obama’s aides acknowledge that a loss in this deep-blue state would be interpreted as a rebuke of Mr. Obama, affecting his ability to pass major legislation and the public’s perceptions of hi s party’s power.” (David M. Halbfinger & David Kocieniewski, “Meanwhile, Next Door, It’s Team Obama For Corzine Sign In To Recommend,” The New York Times, 9/24/09)
- Larry Sabato: “If Corzine Loses, Then It Will Hurt President Obama And The Democrats Heading Toward The Midterm Elections Of 2010.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 10/9/09)
- Gov. Corzine Loss Would Be “Embarrassment” For White House. “A Democratic loss there would be an embarrassment for this White House and provide a jolt of energy to a Republican Party at a crucial time as it recruits candidates and raises money for the elections next year. Republicans won the governors’ races in New Jersey and Virginia in 1993 and went on to capture Congress in 1994.” (Adam Nagourney, “2 State Races May Put Lens On President,” The New York Times, 10/11/09)
DEEDS SAID OBAMA “MADE IT VERY TOUGH” FOR HIM: HERE’S WHY
Deeds Complained Obama, Washington Democrats “Made It Very Tough” For Him In Race. “Frankly, a lot of what’s going on in Washington has made it very tough … We had a very tough August because people were just uncomfortable with the spending; they were uncomfortable with a lot of what was going on, a lot of the noise that was coming out of Washington, D.C.” (Jonathan Martin, “Deeds Points Finger At Washington,” Politico, 10/6/09)
Since Obama’s $787 Stimulus Bill Passed In February, Over 2.6 Million Americans Have Lost Jobs. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 10/23/09)
- 49 Of 50 States Have Lost Jobs Since Stimulus Passed In February. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, Accessed 10/21/09)
Obama-Pelosi Version Of Government-Run Health Care Will Be Paid For By Hitting Americans, Small Businesses With $734 Billion In Tax Increases On Income, Payroll, Medical Devices, And Over-The-Counter Drugs. (”Estimated Revenue Effects Of Possible Modifications To The Revenue Provisions Of H.R. 3962, The ‘Affordable Health Care For America Act’,” Joint Committee On Taxation Publication, 10/29/09)
- And Obama-Reid Version Of Government-Run Health Care Will Be Paid For By Hitting Americans, Small Businesses With $506 Billion In Tax Increases On Health Insurance, Medical Innovation. “[T]he health reform bill being proposed by the Senate Finance Committee as introduced … includes[s]: An excise tax on employer-sponsored high value health plans (or ‘Cadillac plans’) that in a few years could also raise premiums for some moderate value plans … New taxes on health sector entities that are likely to be passed through to consumers.” (Congressional Budget Office, “Letter to Chairman Max Baucus,” 10/7/09; PricewaterhouseCoopers, “Potential Impact Of Health Reform On The Cost Of Private Health Insurance Coverage,” 10/11/09)
Obama Pushing National Energy Tax Could Mean Nearly 1 Million Jobs Lost Per Year. “Overall, a cap-and-trade system that reduces annual GDP by 0.34 percent per year can be expected to reduce U.S. employment by ro ughly 964,900 jobs per year, reduce household earnings by $37.8 billion, and reduce total U.S. economic output by $136.1 billion.” (Andrew Chamberlain, “Who Pays For Climate Policy?,” Tax Foundation, 3/09)
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