Tuesday's two House elections filling vacant seats with Republicans may be signs of a nationwide voter shift. In New York, where Republican businessman Bob Turner captured Anthony Weiner's old district, Democrats just lost a seat that they have held since 1923. In Nevada, the Republican Mark Amodei walked away with victory in a state President Obama needs to win reelection.
Democrats shouldn't -- and aren't -- taking either loss lightly, but perhaps they should consider what put the Republican candidates over the edge: Americans want politicians willing to confront the big problems rather than those who promise silver-bullet solutions.
In a sea change of politics, Republicans may be breaking away from the bipartisan strategy of promising easy solutions to tough problems. Historically, Republicans promise savings by eliminating "waste, fraud and abuse," while Democrats just want higher taxes on businesses and "the wealthy." Both are red-herrings, intended to avoid making the tough choices.
But while Democrats are sticking to the old script, Republicans seem to have grown up a little. On a nationwide scale, Republicans are spurning feel-good solutions and vague promises. Instead, the GOP is offering tough decisions and priority setting. And -- surprise, surprise -- it seems to be working.
Today's Republicans are even talking about cuts in defense spending, as they continue to hammer on the third rail of politics -- entitlement reform. Despite Americans' desire for honesty, Democrats are still responding to the Republicans by hyperbolically scaring voters, especially seniors, that Republicans will take away their hard-earned benefits. But seniors are not stupid; they know we have financial problems and they want to be part of the solution for a better life for their grandchildren.
All Americans can now see vivid differences between Democrats and Republicans. Republican governors in New Jersey, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Virginia have addressed unfunded state pension liabilities and balanced budgets without raising taxes. As a result, their states have risen in several rankings including credit worthiness and business friendliness. This has led to more job creation and healthier local economies.
By comparison, states like California and Illinois, led by Democratic governors, have failed to confront bloated state workforces, ignored growing pension problems and even raised taxes. As a result, businesses and jobs are leaving these states in droves.
President Obama is also forcing the contrast between the two parties on how they deal with tough issues. First, he pushed a budget-busting health care reform bill through Congress by claiming it would cut the deficit. (It won't.) Then he ignored the recommendations from the Simpson-Bowles bipartisan deficit commission, which he created in the first place. Obama also passed on the opportunity to address major entitlement reform by working with House Republicans. Instead, he attacked Rep. Paul Ryan and his fellow Republicans using scare tactics over Medicare cuts.
The President continues to play politics rather than serve as a leader. His $447 billion jobs proposal, which he wants to pay for with a host of new taxes, was more a political stunt than an honest attempt to deal with unemployment. He and his political advisers know that the bill is DOA in the House, where the Republican majority has rejected any tax increases. His political calculation is that come next year he will be able to portray Republicans -- and their nominee -- as obstructionists. That might be good politics, but it won't put a single American back to work.
Regardless of what the media might say, Republicans are now the adults in the room -- willing to lose votes and voters by confronting the tougher issues. Despite their hard-line stance on social issues, Republicans are making a good-faith effort at budget control and have forced a discussion of national priorities.
Republicans can further prove their maturity by recognizing that closing tax loopholes and letting temporary tax cuts expire won't bring about Armageddon. If rural American kids can risk life and limb in Afghanistan and Iraq, then all Americans can make sacrifices to solve our nation's huge financial challenges.
I am not a Republican or a Democrat. The Republicans lose me on social issues. But I embrace their willingness to raise tough, uncomfortable issues. We can only hope the Democrats follow their lead.
Gary Shapiro is president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the U.S. trade association representing more than 2,000 consumer electronics companies, and author of the New York Times bestselling book, "The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the American Dream."
Follow Gary Shapiro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GaryShapiro
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I am also an Independent and I do see what you mean about "adults" in that previously obscured positions are now being brought to the table. I would add that many of these topics were originally pointed out by Congressman Ron Paul when he was running in 2008 and labeled a "kook".
It's time to step aside from political labelling and stereotyping. There is a very real need for all of us to get involved. And the first step is researching the issues. Read those tedious documents such as ACA, TARP, and industry regulations rather than go by media snippets. Take a good luck at various federal agencies, their budgets, their effectiveness. Compare special interest donations to voting records. Call or write your respective representatives in the House and Senate and ask "Why"; if for no other reason than to discover just how responsive your elected official is to his/her constituents.
If we as voters could also be adult and examine ideas based on merit rather than party, we could send a very clear message to Congress that we are done being mucked about. We are no longer the faceless and ignorant masses that supply the money so that a select few could reap the rewards. We could, in a stern voice say "We saw what you did there. You're fired."
Take a good look . . .
I need coffee :)
Whatever this guy is on, it must be freaking amazing!
This President has catered to the Republicans over and over, including relaxing regulations and extending the tax cuts. But where is the dramatic growth in employment from these giveaways that Republicans push for? There is no improvement because the Republican prescription is a loser. You need working people making decent wages to purchase your products. But extreme austerity, dismantling government and deregulation does nothing to decrease unemployment. Quite the opposite.
2. We have never asked the government for money for our industry = even in the DTV transition.
3. The average family owns 25 of our products.
4. Our products get better each year and prices go down.
5. Our products create new industries and millions of jobs (think wireless, computers, etc.)
As to your view that this President has been helpful to jobs, business and the economy- I think very few in business would agree with you.
The President has NOT been helpful to jobs for the very reasons that: A) the Republicans defy every effort he puts forth that may help, and, B) he constantly caves to Republican demands. How you can complain about him when he gives you everything you want is beyond comprehension.
To your Point #2, I don't know if you ask for Gov't money; but you spend millions for lobbying state and federal governments -- such as to defeat bills to control distractions while driving (like texting). WONDERFUL!
Point #3: Average families? The wealthier families maybe; but the millions of people who are unemployed and losing their homes to foreclosure are not in a place to purchase your products. In many cases, they are having to leave many of the products behind as they leave their foreclosed homes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harlan-green/why-allow-a-new-normal-of_b_964932.html?ir=Politics
If you are fair-minded and open to learning, which I'm sure that the members of your Assoc hope you are, there will be much of value for you to consider here.
CEA members, make sure your leader takes note!
Does any commenter on HP understand that these expenditures are unsustainable?
Would you care to describe the emperor's new clothes?
This article is just more of the same. It's outrageous to claim that Republicans offer solutions or eliminate "waste, fraud and abuse" in government, which is a baseless claim. Every single "solution" proposed by the right requires sacrifice by the middle and poor, not the rich, and that appears to be just fine with you.
As I was pretty specific about letting the Bush tax cuts expire (and proposed this in a December NY Post commentary) I disagree that it is fine with me that only the poor and middle class sacrifice. Real leadership will demand that all Americans sacrifice.
The tough decisions are with the voters who have to turn the criminals of both parties out and get yhem in prison where they belong.
Calling politicians criminal is absurd unless they are knowingly violating the law. They may be maligned but are public servants and passionately trying to make us better. I often disagree with them as we have different visions, but from the President on down, they sacrifice a lot including their time and their privacy and get humiliation in return.,
As far as criminal behavior, when was the last time a politician voted present on a bill aiding those who filled his coffers? In any other industry, that would be taking a bribe.
Public servants? Seriously? Our "representatives" make $174,000 annual salary (+ generous benefits and perks). I don't know of too many "servants" that make that kind of money.
I think you have to be either incredibly naive or a corporate tool to believe that our members of Congress are really only there to "serve the public." Anyone with any sense can see that winning a Congressional seat is a ticket to riches (from the public and/or private sector) these days. It's a career, for crying out loud...they're self-employed and their objective is to live the good life and milk as much money and resources from their current careers as they possibly can- for themselves, their "friends" and their families.
How many adults do you know that would make statements like this: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.” The basic idea is to stand in the way of every worthwhile thing that could be done, then when nothing is accomplished, shout out "look! he didn't do anything!"
It's a party of cynicism, not maturity.
ignoring any problems that do not fit your agenda is hardly the actions of an adult (climate, lower oil production, ill citizens who can't afford health care, failing infrastructure)