Today in Washington D. C. - Nov 4, 2009 - Yesterday's Elections Results Show Disapproval of Obama's Policies
Senate will resume consideration of the unemployment insurance extension bill, H.R. 3548 and is expected to vote to invoke cloture on the bill.
In the House, Speaker Pelosi is still pushing for a vote this week on her heath care bill. Various Capitol Hill media are reporting that immigration remains one of the reasons that Pelosi still can't count on 218 votes to pass her health care bill. Many Democratic representatives are balking at supporting the bill until the verification of illegal aliens is stronger to prevent illegals from receiving health care. Sen. Reid appears to not have the needed votes for his Senate heath care bill. With the the pressure from voters across the county (and possibly the election results in Virginia and New Jersey), various news services are reporting that Sen. Reid has indicated that more time was needed for the Senate to consider health care reform.
Yesterday’s big wins by Republicans in gubernatorial races, Bob McDonnell in Virginia and Chris Christie in New Jersey, have national implications, especially for President Barack Obama’s policy agenda. As Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chair of the Republican Governor’s Association, explained, “It’s not about the president personally. The president’s not unpopular. Americans want our presidents to succeed. But the president’s policies are very unpopular, and they are hurting Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey, New York.”
Indeed, as The Washington Post’s Dan Balz writes in a good analysis today, “The most significant change came among independent voters, who solidly backed Democrats in 2006 and 2008 but moved decisively to the Republicans on Tuesday, according to exit polls. . . . For months, polls have shown that independents were increasingly disaffected with some of Obama’s domestic policies. They have expressed reservations about the president’s health-care efforts and have shown concerns about the growth in government spending and the federal deficit under his leadership.”
In fact, several national issues came up in the races in Virginia and New Jersey. During a debate at the beginning of October, Chris Christie said, “New Jersey is in a crisis … We’re in a crisis because we tax too much, because we spend too much and because we borrow too much. What we need to do is reduce spending in this state.” As the Senate was debating President Obama’s more than $3 trillion budget, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, “The first thing people should know is the one thing many already do know: the administration’s budget simply taxes too much, spends too much, and borrows too much at a moment when we can least afford it.”
In May, when Republicans were explaining the problems with Obama’s hasty decision to close Guantanamo Bay and the Senate voted 90-6 to prohibit funding for Guantanamo detainees to be transferred to the U.S., Bob McDonnell said, “I oppose transferring any Guantanamo Bay detainees to Virginia.” McDonnell also said, “I strongly oppose the trials of any Guantanamo Bay detainees being conducted in Alexandria, or anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
Just last month when Senate Democrats renewed their push for carbon cap-and-trade legislation that would raise energy prices for Americans, Politico’s Ben Smith reported, “Here’s a clear sign of how heavy a lift carbon regulation is proving to be: [Democrat gubernatorial candidate] Creigh Deeds is running an ad in Southwest Virginia . . . reassuring voters he opposes it.”
And perhaps most importantly, ABC News reported last month, “One week before Barack Obama reinjects himself into the Virginia governor’s race, Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate, said that he would ‘certainly’ consider taking his state out of a government insurance option if given the chance.” Deeds said, “I don’t think the public option is necessary in any plan and I think Virginia--certainly, I would certainly consider, opting out if that were available to Virginia.”
Therefore, it’s hard to believe the White House spin that Virginia and New Jersey had little to do with President Obama’s policies. Republicans won independent voters who polls show increasingly disapproved of Obama policies such as deficit spending, closing Guantanamo, raising energy taxes, and an expensive government takeover of health care. Meanwhile, Republican candidates ran against those policies as Democrat candidates ran from them. Americans made their preferences pretty clear yesterday.
Tags: 2009, elections, gubernatorial races, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, nationalized health care, New Jersey, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Virginia, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
In the House, Speaker Pelosi is still pushing for a vote this week on her heath care bill. Various Capitol Hill media are reporting that immigration remains one of the reasons that Pelosi still can't count on 218 votes to pass her health care bill. Many Democratic representatives are balking at supporting the bill until the verification of illegal aliens is stronger to prevent illegals from receiving health care. Sen. Reid appears to not have the needed votes for his Senate heath care bill. With the the pressure from voters across the county (and possibly the election results in Virginia and New Jersey), various news services are reporting that Sen. Reid has indicated that more time was needed for the Senate to consider health care reform.
Yesterday’s big wins by Republicans in gubernatorial races, Bob McDonnell in Virginia and Chris Christie in New Jersey, have national implications, especially for President Barack Obama’s policy agenda. As Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, chair of the Republican Governor’s Association, explained, “It’s not about the president personally. The president’s not unpopular. Americans want our presidents to succeed. But the president’s policies are very unpopular, and they are hurting Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey, New York.”
Indeed, as The Washington Post’s Dan Balz writes in a good analysis today, “The most significant change came among independent voters, who solidly backed Democrats in 2006 and 2008 but moved decisively to the Republicans on Tuesday, according to exit polls. . . . For months, polls have shown that independents were increasingly disaffected with some of Obama’s domestic policies. They have expressed reservations about the president’s health-care efforts and have shown concerns about the growth in government spending and the federal deficit under his leadership.”
In fact, several national issues came up in the races in Virginia and New Jersey. During a debate at the beginning of October, Chris Christie said, “New Jersey is in a crisis … We’re in a crisis because we tax too much, because we spend too much and because we borrow too much. What we need to do is reduce spending in this state.” As the Senate was debating President Obama’s more than $3 trillion budget, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, “The first thing people should know is the one thing many already do know: the administration’s budget simply taxes too much, spends too much, and borrows too much at a moment when we can least afford it.”
In May, when Republicans were explaining the problems with Obama’s hasty decision to close Guantanamo Bay and the Senate voted 90-6 to prohibit funding for Guantanamo detainees to be transferred to the U.S., Bob McDonnell said, “I oppose transferring any Guantanamo Bay detainees to Virginia.” McDonnell also said, “I strongly oppose the trials of any Guantanamo Bay detainees being conducted in Alexandria, or anywhere in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
Just last month when Senate Democrats renewed their push for carbon cap-and-trade legislation that would raise energy prices for Americans, Politico’s Ben Smith reported, “Here’s a clear sign of how heavy a lift carbon regulation is proving to be: [Democrat gubernatorial candidate] Creigh Deeds is running an ad in Southwest Virginia . . . reassuring voters he opposes it.”
And perhaps most importantly, ABC News reported last month, “One week before Barack Obama reinjects himself into the Virginia governor’s race, Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate, said that he would ‘certainly’ consider taking his state out of a government insurance option if given the chance.” Deeds said, “I don’t think the public option is necessary in any plan and I think Virginia--certainly, I would certainly consider, opting out if that were available to Virginia.”
Therefore, it’s hard to believe the White House spin that Virginia and New Jersey had little to do with President Obama’s policies. Republicans won independent voters who polls show increasingly disapproved of Obama policies such as deficit spending, closing Guantanamo, raising energy taxes, and an expensive government takeover of health care. Meanwhile, Republican candidates ran against those policies as Democrat candidates ran from them. Americans made their preferences pretty clear yesterday.
Tags: 2009, elections, gubernatorial races, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, nationalized health care, New Jersey, US Congress, US House, US Senate, Virginia, Washington D.C. To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
Posted by Bill Smith at 12:06 PM - Post Link
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