Before we all get too carried away thinking the elections yesterday are a referendum on Obama or the Democratic party, can we take a look at the big picture? When you step back a bit, the picture you get is a little different. You begin to wonder if the body politic is simply schizophrenic.
So the Republicans took the governor’s seats in New Jersey and Virginia. But, 56% in New Jersey and 60% in Virginia said that Obama had nothing to do with their choice of candidate. Obama has approval ratings of 57% in Jersey and 51% in Virginia. So, does it mean gloom for the Democrats? Of course the GOP thinks so. Yet, they had their own loss yesterday in New York’s 23rd district. The far right made a play for the seat bringing in the fringe. The third party conservative running against the moderate Republican said Glenn Beck was his hero and was endorsed by Sarah Palin. He lost when the Republican withdrew and lent her support to the Democrat. So, is that a referendum on Sarah Palin? Glenn Beck?
We will continue to hear how this election means something for national politics. It doesn’t. Corzine was unpopular with his constituents. His loss is not a big surprise. Virginia? I don’t get how the thesis that McDonnell wrote while at Regent University didn’t seal the deal for Deeds, but if they want to vote for a guy who thinks legalized birth control for unmarried couples is illogical and that women should stay at home… Well, I can’t make much sense out of that.
There were other points of interest from the elections. Maine voters voted against same-sex marriage. On the other hand, Kalamazoo, Michigan voted to add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in an anti-discrimination law and Chapel Hill voted in an openly gay mayor. And while Maine voters seem illiberal on the gay-rights issue, they voted to license medical marijuana shops. Breckenridge, Colorado toped that, though by voting to just legalize pot (of course it is only symbolic as it is still illegal in state law).
It is not all doom and gloom for the Democrats. The GOP had some victories, but the far right demographic had a setback. That is the most hopeful thing that I think came out of the election, that the crazies didn’t win that one. As a whole, the electorate may be a little schizophrenic, but overall the middle of the road will win out. We’re not that crazy!
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