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Reports

Joe Conason: Spinning Election Day in Advance

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Posted on Nov 2, 2006

By Joe Conason

Stricken with anxiety as the polls continue to indicate a Democratic resurgence, certain Republicans have already started spouting justifications and explanations. No matter what happens on Election Day, they say, the results must not be taken at face value—because liberal Democrats can prevail only by pretending to be right-wing Republicans.

Among the first to test this excuse in recent days was Laura Ingraham, the hard-line radio and TV talker who insisted that the defeat of Republican candidates would somehow represent a triumph of her ideology. What she told CNN’s Larry King on Oct. 30 is worth examining, if only because we will surely hear more of the same in the days to come—and because those same claims are already surfacing in The New York Times.

In other words, the reactionary spin is once more set up to turn into the conventional wisdom.

To prove her point, Ingraham cited three highly competitive Senate races: Pennsylvania, where Democratic nominee Bob Casey Jr. is expected to defeat Republican incumbent Rick Santorum; Tennessee, where Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. was in a dead heat with Republican Bob Corker, the former mayor of Chattanooga, until the Republicans aired a racially polarizing TV commercial; and Virginia, where Democratic challenger James Webb is bidding to upset Republican incumbent George Allen.

According to Ingraham, “Whether it’s [Bob] Casey in Pennsylvania or Harold Ford Jr. in Tennessee, or even James Webb in Virginia, all these Democrats are running fairly conservative campaigns.” That’s because Mr. Ford says he loves Jesus, Mr. Casey says he opposes abortion, and Mr. Webb worked for President Reagan two decades ago.

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Such simplistic notions are perfect for cable TV, but why would the Times political desk propagate them? In a feature blazoned across the front page that same day, the newspaper of record offered a similar analysis, based chiefly on a few relatively conservative Democrats running in what the headline described as “Key House Races.”

Heath Shuler, a former football player, is the Democratic challenger in a North Carolina district where he surprised nobody by confiding that he likes hunting and dislikes abortion. Brad Ellsworth, the Democratic nominee in an Indiana Republican district, likewise disdains abortion and boasts about his “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. And Democrat Mike Weaver presents himself the same way in rural Kentucky, of all places.

Supposedly, these candidates prove that the Democratic Party has repented its liberalism and recognized conservatism as the only route to restored influence. This argument would allow conservatives to claim a specious victory even when their party loses. Its only defect is that it evaporates instantly upon closer inspection.

In Pennsylvania, Casey’s conservatism on abortion is offset by his strong liberalism on economic issues, and by the evident public revulsion against his far more conservative opponent. In Virginia, Webb’s switch to the Democratic Party has been emphasized by his social and economic populism, and by his courageous refusal to endorse a state ballot initiative banning gay marriage. He’s a libertarian progressive, not a conservative. As for Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina and Indiana, what is new about conservative Democrats seeking office in those deep-red states?

Choosing other states as bellwethers provides even more evidence of conservative decline and progressive revival. In Montana, long a bastion of political conservatism in the West, veteran Republican Sen. Conrad Burns may well lose his seat to an organic farmer named Jon Tester. Nobody should be misled by Tester’s flattop hairstyle: He’s a tough progressive who defeated a more centrist, establishment Democrat in the primary.

In Missouri, another solid red state, Democrat Claire McCaskill is running a progressive campaign emphasizing her commitment to stem cell research. In Ohio, where Republicans won the last two presidential elections, the outspoken progressive Democrat Rep. Sherrod Brown is considered likely to oust the incumbent Republican senator, Mike DeWine. In Kansas, Republican officeholders are deserting their party to run as Democrats because they’re appalled by the right-wing radicalism dominating the GOP.

Who wins and who loses, where and why, may tell us whether voters are moving leftward and away from the rightist hegemony of the past six years. What a Democratic midterm victory in either house will surely mean, however, is that Americans are appalled by the manifest failures of President Bush and his one-party conservative government, both at home and abroad.

Only a torrent of popular anger can overcome the inherent advantages of incumbency, money, organization and gerrymandering. But if such a tide engulfs the Republicans, their rickety ideology will sink with them.

Joe Conason writes for the New York Observer (www.observer.com). To find out more about Joe Conason, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2006 Creators Syndicate Inc.


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By John Konop, November 5, 2006 at 6:28 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

This is a letter from Michael Cutter, Former INS Special Agent, Registered Democrat

Notwithstanding the fact that I am a life-long Democrat, as were my parents, I was happy to travel to Indiana to appear at the rallies because although John Hostettler is a Republican; he is a true leader who possesses true Integrity. He refuses to accept PAC contributions and represents the people of his district and, indeed, the people of the United States.

In his capacity as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on immigration, Border Security and Claims, he has called upon me to testify at quite a few hearings concerning various immigration-related issues, most often where the focus was on the nexus between immigration law enforcement and national security and criminal justice. He did so, knowing full well that I would be highly critical of the administration and the President, where the issue of the security of our nation’s borders and the integrity of the immigration system were concerned.

It is time for all Americans to vote as “independents.” Neither political party represents the average guy anymore. The parties are all about power and getting more of it!

Republican Congressman John Hostettler has put his district first and stood up to his own Party as well as the lobbyist money changers in Washington. Congressman Hostettler did not crumple to pressure from Lobbyist and Washington to sell out the middle class with trade deals like CAFTA. He once again sent a letter to the President demanding we enforce our current immigration laws.

We need more men and women like Michael Cutter who will speak up for Congressman like John Hostettler who have not sold out to lobbyist. We need to think like Americans not Democrats or Republicans. It’s time we demand that Congress act in ways that benefit our Country.

Report this

By Montie Shields USAF RET., November 5, 2006 at 1:44 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I saw this article :
Lois Murphy a Democrat has said the Democratic
Party will tackle the problem of Iraq head on.
Her republican opponent Jim Gerlach accused
her of being inconsistant. Would you like to
hear inconsistant. Here it is:
I saw an article titled: Who Supports The
Troops better?  By Hunter Tue. oct. 24,2006
@12:13:37PM A Non Partisan Group Graded each
Senator.  The grades ranged from an A- to F.
No Democrat got worse than a “B”. and No Rep-
ublican got better than a “C” and as bad as
an “F”.
P.S. I also heard this discussed on the Caff-
ertyfile. Jack was interviewing a Serviceman.
I hand copied every Democrat,and the one Ind.
I also copied eighteen Republicans before my
hand started hurting. I’m still trying to
uphold the Oath I first took on June 7,1956.
and walked out of the front gate with an
Honorable Retirement on June 30,1976.

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By John F. Butterfield, November 4, 2006 at 2:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Every candidate I vote for will be a Democrat because there are no viable Socialist candidates. There are no viable Socialist candidates because we don’t have instant runoff elections and people are afraid of “throwing away” their votes. Instant runoff elections could change the political landscape. At the very least, they would do more to reveal the ideologies of voters. Maybe more people would vote.

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By John Konop, November 4, 2006 at 10:08 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Why Conservatives Are So Angry

Debt Matters

We elect congressmen and congresswomen to represent our interests. We vote for self-described fiscal hawks who favor less government. But all we get is:

• A Congress that represents the lobbyist-money-changers in Washington
• A near $9 trillion debt
• An explosion in government spending that puts Liberal tax-and-spenders like Lyndon Johnson to shame

Integrity Matters

The moral lapses of the Clinton administration were, of course, distressing. We voted for self-described conservative representatives who claimed they would do better. But all we got was a never-ending chain of scandals ranging from sex crimes to bribe-taking to gambling promotion.

Each is driven by a combination of greed, power-lust, and arrogance. Of course, mistakes do happen. But even when individuals are caught red-handed, they refuse to take responsibility. All that results is finger pointing and excuses from congressmen hiding in rehabilitation centers. Misbehaving congressmen should be removed—period. Are we supposed to look up the definition of is again?

Immigration Matters

We are a country of laws. If you don’t like a law, change it. But a government that intentionally refuses to enforce select laws is weakening the whole “rule of law” and breaking its most sacred pledge to the governed.

Some employers are using illegal immigration to drive down wages and eliminate hard-working Americans from their payrolls. And of illegal immigrants gangs run roughshod over our communities, bringing with them:

• Violence (and the threat of violence)
• Crystal meth and other illegal drugs
• Prostitution
• And perhaps terrorists

Yet Congress and the White House repeatedly turn a blind eye in exchange for big business campaign donations and lobbying loot. The best they’ve done is pass a lame fence bill that covers no more than 10% of the problem (and they aren’t even obligated to follow through on that much). Yet many existing laws remain un-enforced.

What Should We Conservatives Do?

The Democratic Party is not the answer. It is at best beset by the same corruption as the Republican Party, and at worst completely at odds with our values. The only practical solution is to challenge Republican incumbents who fail to:

• Vote against bloated spending bills
• Demand immigration reform
• Hold their fellow members to the highest level of ethical conduct

We must stop giving money to any candidate who represents special interests over our interests.

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By Margaret Currey, November 3, 2006 at 4:07 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

The party itself is changing, no longer do the unions domoniate, the person in particular is Joe Liberman, although he is running as an independent he is still a democrat, but since he is running against a democrat, he is a zebra being both GOP and DEM.

Marge from Vancouver Washingon

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By Margaret Currey, November 2, 2006 at 7:18 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Anyone that grew up in Penna. of N.J. even though they moved to the more liberal west will still hold on to some concertative ideas, but being a concertative means that life just stands still, that is what the Bush administration is about go to the base.  Go to the money people that control government someone said a long time ago that if you let money rule, we will have the best government that money can buy.  This administration you have is what we get for not watching the theves and knaves.  I really get a kick out of the Bushies who talk about being a patriot as long as they are not the ones who carry the gun, after all someone has to be the leaders and someone has to be the followers, the cannon folder, for the rich, this administration wants government to go back to how the English treated the Irish.  The takeover of land for the benefit of the rich.  After they have raped this country blind then they will set up their government somewhere where all the people can be bought for a few trinkets.

Marge of Vancouver Washington

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By Dan Weintraub, November 2, 2006 at 3:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Interesting. I’m not sure I’ve digested it all. It makes sense to me that the Democratic Party would move toward the right vis particularly polarizing issues: abortion, gay marriage, 2nd amendment issues, etc. We are, after all, a pretty conservative, puritanical people. I DO think that democratic control of the Congress will NOT mean much vis the Bush agenda of war abroad—-those signing statements sure are pesky. Interesting.

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