By Alexis Stodghill on Nov 3rd 2010 2:01PM
Filed under: News, The Economy
From The Grio:
So the proverbial "fat lady" sang and on balance I don't think the president did too badly. The Democrats in the Congress, well they didn't have a great night, but the president still has two years to right the ship of state and win a second term.
[...]
Historical data shows us very clearly, that losing seats in the mid-terms is pretty common. Combine that with a terrible economy, high-unemployment, record home foreclosures, a near Wall Street crash and an angry American electorate, and you get a midterm result that has the House now in GOP hands and the Senate barely in Democratic hands by a slim margin.
Neither Bill Clinton, George Bush, nor Ronald Reagan faced such a "perfect storm" of daunting economic circumstances during their first terms in office (or at their first midterms). President Clinton in 1994 saw the Democratic House majority slip away (in a huge wipe-out) for the first time in 40 years, and Bush saw the GOP Congress change hands in 2006. Now comes Barack Obama and he too has now lost control of the House of Representatives during his first mid-terms.
Which leads me to ask the question: what was this election all about anyway?
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Recent Obama Photos
US President Barack Obama arrives to attend a "Moving America Forward" rally at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 31, 2010. Obama is on a campaign trail for the November 2 midterm elections.
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
FR48174 AP
BlackVoices.com
Recent Obama Photos
A woman gives President Barack Obama a hug as he makes a final get-out-the-vote push for Democratic candidates during a rally at Cleveland State University, in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010.
Recent Obama Photos
First lady Michelle Obama and U.S. President Barack Obama greet trick or treaters and their parents at the White House October 31, 2010 in Washington, DC. The Obama's greeted children and military families at the North Portico to celebrate Halloween and to trick or treat across the North Lawn.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama (L) and First Lady Michelle Obama (R) hand out treats to local children and military families for Halloween on October 31, 2010 at the White House in Washington, DC.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hand out Halloween treats as they welcome children from Washington area and military members and their families to trick-or-treat at the White House, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010 in Washington.
Recent Obama Photos
Rapper Common performs at President Barack Obama's 'Moving America Forward' Rally October 31, 2010 at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. President Obama has been traveling the country campaigning for Democratic candidates leading up to Tuesday's crutial midterm election.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama arrives to attend a "Moving America Forward" rally at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 31, 2010. Obama is on a campaign trail for the November 2 midterm elections.
Recent Obama Photos
U.S. President Barack Obama walks from Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House November 2, 2010 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama returned to the White House after campaigning for Democrats before this week's midterm elections.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama greets people at Cleveland Hopkins airport before a rally at Cleveland State University, in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010.
Recent Obama Photos
US President Barack Obama arrives to attend a "Moving America Forward" rally at Cleveland State University in Cleveland, Ohio, on October 31, 2010. Obama is on a campaign trail for the November 2 midterm elections.
Recent Obama Photos
President Barack Obama makes a final get-out-the-vote push for Democratic candidates during a rally at Cleveland State University, in Cleveland, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010. Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland and Democratic Senate candidate, Lee Fisher are in combative races in Ohio.
Recent Obama Photos
Some say it was the revenge of the disenfranchised angry out of work blue collar and middle class. Others say it was fueled by "code language" and the rise of the Tea Party as a push back to America electing a black president. Others still said it was simply the American people having had enough of the political shenanigans in Washington, and they wanted to throw the bums out. But, many said this election was a clear referendum on President Obama. I disagree. I just don't think it is that simple my fellow Americans.
[...]
Mr. President, this election was not about you personally, regardless of what some may say. This election was about a fearful electorate, that worry they will not be able to leave their own children better off then themselves. America is in decline and we all feel it. It is scary. You now have two years to make some economic progress, bring this country together, and bring to bear the hope and change that many voted for in 2008.
Please read the entire story on The Grio.
BV -- Talk Back!
-Do you think
President Obama has not been focused enough on jobs?
-Is two years enough time for P
resident Obama to turn the economy around and
ensure his re-election?
-Did
racism targeted against Obama play a part in Democrats losing the House, despite this author's beliefs to the contrary?
Leave your opinions below!
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Comments: (9)
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By: Marie J. on 11/03/2010 2:26PM
Unfortunately, for those who voted against the Dems. in their states, the Republicans will not focus on jobs either. The Feds don't "make jobs" for the citizens, private industry does. It's also unfortunate that the Rep. takeover of the House could mean even more government gridlock! Only time will tell.
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By: nissa on 11/03/2010 3:31PM
Don't care how you try to spin this, the election was totally about American voter dissatisfaction with Obama, his administration and his policies. And I think (hope) that sentiment will carry over into the 2012 elections as well.
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By: bestausweh on 11/03/2010 11:05PM
The government does not prevent the private sector from creating jobs. The private sector who or whatever they say they are corporations and all they want are tax cuts. They are the ones who get the tax cuts and in turn to create more profit for themselves hand down slaves wages for their workers. "Private sector" and other for profit entities, corporations are one in the same using employment as a bait to get the government, Congress to provide them with the tax cuts while the "employees" continue work two of their jobs to stay alive.
And now I have read about some millionaire who made some light bulb we will all be forced to buy but went over in China where the labor is cheap. He returns asking our government to provide him with million more dollars if he is to start up a factory here. I hope he goes back to China and take his stupid light bulbs that are just as dim as he is with him.
Bill Gates started his business here and is still here.
Why are millionaires always asking for tax cuts?
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By: Salome on 11/03/2010 3:46PM
This debacle was about Obama. And I am totally offended that, after two years of ignoring the particular needs of black Americans, Obama had the audacity to say, "Don't let ME down". Did none of the expensive, empty suits that surround him advise him that the Mid-term election was coming, and that it might be a good idea to stay engaged with his base? Don't let him down? Why not, he's let us down.
Age old story: black man alienates and abuses those who love him while ardently chasing those who don't.
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By: Lauren on 11/03/2010 8:58PM
Not satisfied with being White, got to pretend to be black. It's okay, but your audition failed. NEXT!
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By: ElisaR11 on 11/04/2010 10:30PM
I have to agree with you, Salome...and Lauren, I am most definitely Black!
Obama, in his arrogance, was led astray by his elite Wall Street and Harvard cronies. He fell for the hype, believing they were the smartest guys in the room, and that they could dictate the agenda. He has no allegience to his base, and although I voted for him, I knew this would happen.
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By: Brady on 11/03/2010 11:38PM
-Do you think President Obama has not been focused enough on jobs?
No I dont, in my opinion far to much time (9 mons) was spent on health care. sure its important but not more important than the economy and jobs.
-Is two years enough time for President Obama to turn the economy around and ensure his re-election?
In fairness no. But here is the problem for me, in Jan 09 he said the stimulis would "halt" or stabilize by the end of 09, it didnt. It continued to raise according to the BLS reports. And Im not going to even talk about black unemployment. There was over a trillion dollars spent, with little results.
Plus ur 2 year premise is misleading, he may not have been in charge, but the truth is since 2006 democrats have been incharge of every financial commitee in congress. This is a fact that you and other BV commentators fail to point out to folks.
-Did racism targeted against Obama play a part in Democrats losing the House, despite this author's beliefs to the contrary?
Not nearly to the extent others make it out to be. I agree with you, there were other factors driving this beating. You cant cry racism when so many other demographics put him in office.
No people just dont like what he is doing.
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By: creekaboo on 11/04/2010 10:19AM
WORSTS THIMGIIS THE BLACK VOTERS CANT GET TOO THE POOLS BECAUSE THE WHITE PEOPLES CUT BACK ON THE BUS DRIVERS AND TAXI DRIVER AND THATS HOW THE BLACK COMUNNITY GET AROND !!NO WONDERS THEY DIDNT PUTS CONES ON THE SIDEWALKS.
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By: OncealwaysaMarine on 11/04/2010 11:35AM
What we have been telling our friends and neighbors here at home in trying to get them to understand that what [on the national level, at least] they had been accustomed to, and conditioned to believe were the values of the Democrat Party is no longer the case. This isn’t the Democrat Party of JFK, Lyndon Johnson, or even Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. This is something altogether different and alien to the very foundation of America and our constitutional republic that has shifted the base of the Democrat Party towards a socialist, communist bent, based purely in Marxist conflict theory.
What those old-style Democrats saw displayed for the consumption of the entire world, in this One Nation Working Together get-out-the-vote for the further advancement of the Obama/Pelosi/Reid agenda was a rallying around Barack Hussein Obama by such pillars of America’s core values as:
The Communist Party USA (CPUSA); International Socialist Organization; Chicago Democratic Socialists of America; Detroit Democratic Socialists of America; New York City Democratic Socialists of America; Queers for Economic Justice; Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago; and Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), an organization supported by Obama’s appointed White House “Safe Schools czar” Kevin Jennings, who is one of the masterminds behind the White House’s “Queering of Elementary Education” agenda—part and parcel of unrepentant domestic terrorist, Weather Underground co-founder and now public elementary & secondary curriculum writer Bill Ayers’ initiative. Ayers is not just a terrorist who attacked government buildings. He's an advocate of revolution in America by indoctrinating and sexually corrupting the next generation. Ayers' idea is that America is an oppressive regime with way too much heterosexuality having become a core tenet of your child's value system. But I digress...
All these groups were seen to be standing side-by-side, and hand-in-hand in solidarity with the National Education Association (NEA); National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); and pro-illegal immigrant group, the National Council of LaRaza (translated, “the race”), as well as a consortium of other massive, in-your-face taxpayer-supported social advocacy unions.
I thank Ed Schulz of MSNBC and Arianna Huffington (Huffington Post) and the others who funded and supported this demonstration for the American public. It painted a stark portrait of the Astroturf “progressive” base of the Democrat Party, led by Barack Obama—firmly based in the principles of Saul Alinsky, Marxist collectivist class-warfare/class-conflict, and liberation theology—and those values held by the grassroots T.E.A. Party patriots—rooted firmly in the restoration and protection of America’s founding principles enshrined in its Declaration of Independence, its Constitution (and their limits on collectivist tyranny), and the stubborn adherence to the idea of a right to self-determination based in the belief that our Creator is the grantor and guarantor of the individual rights of any man to not be corralled by any other individual or group of individuals (whatever their title—whether president, senator, or king) by any forced intrusion into which would limit our individual advancement of our personal self-interest.
A couple of weeks ago, the American people got their long overdue introduction to the makings of the new progressive base of the Democrat Party—Democrat Socialists. It couldn’t have come at a better and more critical time. All-in-all, it was a very good day…
…for conservatives and the T.E.A. Party movement.
We told you so…
"A disavowal of the pursuit of Middle-classness." - Barack Obama's Trinity United "Black Liberation Theology" tenet no. 8. This "theology" was created by James H. Cone and based on Marxist teaching that a strong middle-class hinders the establishment of Socialism.
Now look at what he has "accomplished" for the middle-class in 2 years of his presidency along with 4 years of the Pelosi/Reid Congress...
$250,000 p/year used to be upper middle-class. Now, according to the "Black Liberation Theologist" in the White House - that's "rich." What will he consider "rich" next year? $100,000? $75,000? $50,000?...anyone still in possession of a piggy-bank?
Obama doesn't want the private sector employers to be able to compete with government. The only way to control the people is to make them poor enough to fight each other for scraps from elected government politicians and their promises of public aid. Marxism 101. What did you expect?
This is America. The mid-term elections were definitely about Obama, not because he's "black", but because of his agenda, and the recognition of the American public that the Democrat Party is now the Marxist Progressive Socialist Democrat Party....the Party of Communism.
And we'll never succumb to that, no matter whose face the Democrats try to put on it.
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