One Spin You Won't Hear From Republicans About Tuesday's Election

Democrats lost two key elections Tuesday: the gubernatorial races in New Jersey, where Republican Chris Christie defeated incumbent Jon Corzine, and in Virginia, where Bob McDonnell defeated Creigh Deeds in a special election to fill the vacating Tim Kaine's seat.

As expected, the Republican spin-machine is in euphoric overdrive, maniacally labeling these victories a broad repudiation of President Obama's "liberal agenda" and an ominous foreshadowing of things to come for Democrats in next year's midterms. Granted, a strong night for theGOP -- winning is always better than losing -- but hardly a sign of any tidal waves of conservatism sweeping the nation, as right-wing pundits are boasting.

But what you won't hear the spinners crowing about is the shocking punch to the gut the GOP took in upstate New York's 23rd Congressional District, where a Democrat won for the first time in over 100 years. That's right, 100 years. Despite massive support from right-wing heavyweight (pun intended) Rush Limbaugh and GOP oracle Sarah Palin, Republican Doug Hoffman was defeated by Democrat Bill Owens, for whom Obama campaigned aggressively. Let me be the first to say that Owens' win is a resounding affirmation of Obama's performance.

It's important to note that, unlike NY's 23rd, the NJ and Virginia elections were won on statewide and local issues. Christie's victory can be attributed to two central themes: corruption and property taxes. Hardly a referendum on Obama or Democrats nationally. And Virginia? Well, that solidly red state hadn't voted for a Democratic president since 1964. It's a bit of a stretch to say McDonnell's win is a reshaping of the broader national political landscape. Remember that former Governor Kaine was a conservative Democrat and Obama's victory last year was a huge upset. Let's keep things in perspective: it's not like McDonnell turned Massachusetts red.

Speaking of his victory and what it all means, Christie said, "Tomorrow we're going to take back New Jersey for the least fortunate, who don't want government to fix every problem." Yeah, if we can be certain about one thing, it's that poor folks hate all that government assistance. Medicaid? Public education? Food stamps? Cash-for-clunkers? Home-buying tax credits? Mortgage relief? Yes, I'm sure the "least fortunate" would much rather see those most fortunate rich folk get huge tax cuts instead. So now Christie's "least fortunate" got what they wanted: Chris Christie to the rescue to save them from all that big-government, problem-fixing aid to the little guy. Jeez, will the little guy ever learn?

On the overall significance of Tuesday's victories for conservatives, GOP Chairman Michael Steele said, "America, through the voices of those folks in New Jersey and Virginia, had something to say." Really? And what exactly did they have to say up in NY's 23rd, where a Democrat hasn't won in over a century? Does the good chairman heed that voice, and what it says about how voters on a national level view his party and its candidates? Apparently, voters still want change, and man, did the GOP get change in NY's 23rd. Let that be a foreshadowing of things to come for the myopic, narrow-minded, small-tented, shrinking fringe-right base of the Republican Party next year.

By the way, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was re-elected after spending a reported $100-million+ to defeat Comptroller Bill Thompson by just 5%. A very painful reminder of how and why the rich often dominate politics. Interesting to think who'd be sitting in City Hall right now had Thompson's war-chest been fatter, or Bloomberg's smaller...

 

Comments

[Rory Ryan]

The Republicans got caught with their pants down in NY-23. The chances of Owen's winning again in 2010 are very slim. He has about as much of a chance of winning reelection as Congressman Cao, the (republican who defeated Rep. William Jefferson in Louisiana during in a heavily Democratic district, to become the first Republican to hold that seat since 1890). Cao became the first Republican to win that seat in over one hundred years. Should everyone look at this as a sign that Democrats are at war with themselves? The most amusing thing to come out of this is the spin from the right, claiming that they actually won!

Christie won in spite of being outspent 2-1 in a state where Democrats have a 700,000 voter registration advantage and a third party candidate drawing votes from Christie. Obama campaigned heavily there (as did Bill Clinton and Joe Biden) and yet, Christie won there by the largest margin by a Republican since Tom Kean won reelection in 1985! Likewise, in Virginia, not only did Creigh Deeds lose in a landslide, but EVERY Republican on the ticket for statewide office won and the GOP increased their presence in the legislature.

The REAL spin from this week is that somehow, Chris Christie beating Jon Corzine by 4%-5% in NJ, and a Republican blow out in Virginia have NO national implications, but a little district in upstate New York where only 126,000-130,000 people even voted, does.

[LeeCalif]

I hope Owens reaches out to Scozzafava insome fashion.

He wouldn't have won without her courage and integrity.

[VikingQuest]

I sure hope those that think this special election for the 23rd is a huge deal . . .

Will remember to see if it stays Democrat in 2010.

[DUSAA-1775]

the 23 congressional district...which has not gone democratic for over 100 years....unless you count the times democrats won the 23rd district.

[nbanflfan]

So it the GOP thinks it is OK to lose NY-23 because Dems have won there before? That's the spin for losing a deeply conservative district? Nice plan on taking back the house! As an Obama Independent, I approve this message.

[maximumsense]

No, it's the truth. It matters. If it didn't matter, why did Mr Ostroy run with glee to post it?

[gs-425]

An accountant from out of nowhere shows up with no money just weeks before the election, has zero p0litical experience, runs against the two party system who turned out to be col.uding against him with their millions, lives out of the district, is about as charismatic as a statue, runs in a district which went blue in the last election and ONLY looses by 3 points and you consider that a "punch in the gut"....ya, OK.

[nbanflfan]

I think the point is that the GOP managed to lose a seat that should have been safe for the NEXT 100 years. 'Punch in the gut" indeed...

[gs-425]

100 years....hm, that not what this says:

http://www.cdobs.com/archive/featured/ny-23rd-republican-since-1870s-except-for-that-34-year-gap-from-1958-to-1992,86689

[billhodges]

You simply refuse to look at the big picture so you will never understand the implications of this election. I agree lets see what happens in 2010 when there is another election.

[XYZ]

I have to agree with this story, the republicans are hiding the fact that reliably republican districts are being lost, when they put the face of Palin, on display. If they are backing the likes of Hoffmen et al. The GOP are in real trouble. Yes we lost two governor, and equally important Obama was there so the republicans are within their spin zone saying that they are repudiating Obama. I say let them have there wins and gloat about it because they will just become complacent and not work so hard next time around. Let them play the Palin card and the noisy faction of their party. This will surely make for an interesting mid term elections in 2010.

[hoopesaz]

"spin" is when you try to portray a loss as a win. Like it or not, the republicans won the other day and the democrats lost. I'm my assessment, your article is spin.

[SPacific]

Hoop....I agree....Its like the republicans saying they "won" the 23rd Congressional District race, right?.....LOL!!!!

[Niet]

These 3 elections are pretty insignificant regardless. Wait till 2010.

[SPacific]

The mainstream media has published nothing but republican sound bites about the GOP "SWEEP" of two Governorship races. NONE of them talk about the Democratic "SWEEP" in the two Congressional races: the 23rd Congressional District in NY, and the 10th District in CA......NY's 23rd District, which had voted republican since the CIVIL WAR took a noted turn to the left, while California's 10th District, vacated because of Ellen Tauchner's federal appointment, was a republican District until about 10 years ago......It also voted heavily Democratic this November.....My point is that not even Andy Ostroy brought this up in his column above. These two new representatives have committed to vote for health care reform WITH a public option, while the Governors will have no vote in this, or any other federal matter......So who "really" won last Tuesday...........

[gconners]

That's what I have been trying to get people to understand. The MSM and The GOP are spinning like crazy about 2 state races, while 2 local but federal races were won by Democrats! They KEPT 1 House seat and WON 1 House seat. Following the MSM news (?), most people wouldn't even KNOW there was a House race in CA, just the one in heavily Republican upstate NY, both of which the Democrats won!

[DIdaho]

It's hard to imagine how supposedly bright people can be so stupid. This is very easy. Republicans won two state elections, based on state issues. Democrats won the two national elections, including one in the most solidly Republican district in the northeast, because the republicans have decided it's more important to purge themselves than to win anything.

There's one lesson here, and one only - that the republicans are going to eat themselves alive.

[Jonny38103]

The GOP screwed Dee Dee, but she screwed them right back. By insisting on a conservative rather than a well-known Republican, the GOP hard core right (say hey to Rush, Beck, Palin et al) caused a Democratic win. And Michael Steele says there's no philosophical divide in the GOP - well, there surely won't be once you run off all of the thinking people.

[gs-425]

"The GOP screwed Dee Dee, but she screwed them right back"

Yea, that's they type of person you want in congress.

[nbanflfan]

So the GOP should be able to scru people, even their own, with no response? Typical neocon thinking: act first, then cry when someone reacts. Bunch of cowards...

[rich3324]

Mr. Ostroy,
One point of fact. In Virginia it was not a special election. Tim Kaine's term is ending and he can not run again.

[hchriste]

did CNN or MSN report this either, the news is on only he negative.

[gulopartisan]

What's sad in all this is NPR was doing the Republican spin on the elections until late Wednesday afternoon. On the morning election report, they were so busy spinning the "repudiation of Obama" slogan that they didn't even mention the NY results.

[Rogan]

You can't really trust NPR, any more... if you want real, accurate American politics news, you have to get it from a foreign country's media, not American media...

[den1953]

I want to see how the two Republican Gov are going to create jobs in there state when the funds are on hold blocked by the Republican law makers i read a story about a woman in Virgina that lost her job , home and has nothing to look forward to. Well under that story was a story about how the GOP is blocking the extension to unemployment so enjoy your short elated feeling New Jersey & Virginia reality is about to settle in!

[GiovanniJones]

"But what you won't hear the spinners crowing about is the shocking punch to the gut the GOP took in upstate New York's 23rd Congressional District, where a Democrat won for the first time in over 100 years."

Except for Sam Stratton, a Democrat who held the seat from 1983-1989. And Michael McNulty, a Democrat who held the seat from 1989-1993.