tangent4ronpaul
01-20-2010, 02:52 AM
http://www.freep.com/article/20100120/NEWS07/1200455/1001/news/In-Massachusetts-GOP-win-blow-to-Obama
In Massachusetts, GOP win blow to Obama
Senate upset challenges president's agenda
WASHINGTON -- The stunning Republican victory in Tuesday's Massachusetts Senate race will force Democrats to fundamentally rethink the meaning of Barack Obama's election, especially the notion that Americans want government help in matters such as getting health insurance.
State Sen. Scott Brown's win in a liberal state will do more than complicate Obama's bid to overhaul the U.S. health care system and pass climate-change legislation.
It will prompt politicians of every stripe to redouble their efforts to understand voters' anger and desires ahead of the November elections for Congress, governorships and legislatures.
Brown's victory over Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley, 56, suggests that many voters still harbor suspicions or outright resentment of the federal government, no matter who's in charge.
More immediately, Brown, 50, will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member Senate, which could allow the GOP to block the president's health care legislation and the rest of Obama's agenda. Democrats needed Coakley to win for a 60th vote to thwart Republican filibusters.
Democratic finger-pointing began more than a week ago as polls started showing a tight race. The White House accused Coakley of a poor campaign. The Coakley camp laid some of the blame on the administration. Obama flew to Boston for last-ditch personal campaigning Sunday.
But with nearly all precincts reporting, Brown led Coakley, 52%-47%.
Conservatives have accused Obama of big-brotherism, and even socialism, as he pushes his health plan and pours billions of dollars into economic stimulus programs.
The president rightly notes that he campaigned precisely on those issues.
Obama may be as puzzled as anyone by his party's inability to keep the Senate seat long held by the late liberal icon Edward Kennedy.
Obama "was both surprised and frustrated" by developments in the Coakley-Brown contest, spokesman Robert Gibbs said while voting continued Tuesday.
Democrats now must ask: Did Massachusetts voters register their discontent based on a decent understanding of the complex health care legislation? Or did conservatives do a better job of framing the debate, starting with raucous public meetings in August that caught Democrats flat-footed?
In Massachusetts, GOP win blow to Obama
Senate upset challenges president's agenda
WASHINGTON -- The stunning Republican victory in Tuesday's Massachusetts Senate race will force Democrats to fundamentally rethink the meaning of Barack Obama's election, especially the notion that Americans want government help in matters such as getting health insurance.
State Sen. Scott Brown's win in a liberal state will do more than complicate Obama's bid to overhaul the U.S. health care system and pass climate-change legislation.
It will prompt politicians of every stripe to redouble their efforts to understand voters' anger and desires ahead of the November elections for Congress, governorships and legislatures.
Brown's victory over Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley, 56, suggests that many voters still harbor suspicions or outright resentment of the federal government, no matter who's in charge.
More immediately, Brown, 50, will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member Senate, which could allow the GOP to block the president's health care legislation and the rest of Obama's agenda. Democrats needed Coakley to win for a 60th vote to thwart Republican filibusters.
Democratic finger-pointing began more than a week ago as polls started showing a tight race. The White House accused Coakley of a poor campaign. The Coakley camp laid some of the blame on the administration. Obama flew to Boston for last-ditch personal campaigning Sunday.
But with nearly all precincts reporting, Brown led Coakley, 52%-47%.
Conservatives have accused Obama of big-brotherism, and even socialism, as he pushes his health plan and pours billions of dollars into economic stimulus programs.
The president rightly notes that he campaigned precisely on those issues.
Obama may be as puzzled as anyone by his party's inability to keep the Senate seat long held by the late liberal icon Edward Kennedy.
Obama "was both surprised and frustrated" by developments in the Coakley-Brown contest, spokesman Robert Gibbs said while voting continued Tuesday.
Democrats now must ask: Did Massachusetts voters register their discontent based on a decent understanding of the complex health care legislation? Or did conservatives do a better job of framing the debate, starting with raucous public meetings in August that caught Democrats flat-footed?