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Virginia, New Jersey ... and Maine?

I guess when you're at the top, everyone shoots at you.

Not only were Republican victories yesterday in Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races portrayed as a referendum on President Obama's liberal agenda, but now it's supposedly his fault that voters in Maine repudiated same-sex marriage.

AP reports:

"Stunned and angry, national gay rights leaders Wednesday blamed scare-mongering ads — and President Barack Obama's lack of engagement — for a bitter election setback in Maine that could alter the dynamics for both sides in the gay-marriage debate."

So Obama was supposed to campaign in Maine on this issue? Would that have made a difference? Would he take that kind of political risk?

More likely, it would have let his critics hang another big loss around the president's neck.

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Posted by Doug Clark on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 7:35 pm

What do you think?

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brian444

November 5, 2009 - 1:19 am EST

Would he take what kind of risk? Of publicly supporting gay marriage, something he explicitly opposed during his campaign? Well, I'd have to say that since he opposed it then, he'll probably continue to do so, at least until he's elected to a second term.

The irony here, of course, is that gay rights leaders simply assume that Obama was misrepresenting his actual beliefs on the matter in order to pander to certain groups. Although that's probably true, there's at least a chance that he means what he says and says what he means. A small chance.

Doug

November 5, 2009 - 8:47 am EST

Yes, these national gay-rights leaders clearly expected him to campaign for same-sex marriage even though he explicitly said before his election that he opposes it. They must believe he's telling them the truth when he tells them he supports their agenda.

It will be interesting to see how much Obama shifts his positions publicly if he's elected to a second them.

brian444

November 5, 2009 - 1:26 pm EST

Obama is finding that being all things to all people is more difficult in office than on the campaign trail.

Doug Johnson

November 5, 2009 - 5:31 am EST

I am as conservative as it gets. Used to be a liberal.
I worked hard for folks like Brad Miller, and some others.
I honestly think, I am capable, of spending my own money on things, I want are need want, better than the government.
I think , I am responsible for myself and my family.
However, I could care less who marries who. its none of my concern.
Same way with abortion, that's not my business, as long as tax dollars to not pay for it.
I feel and have told conservative groups, if we are ever to regain control of the country, we need to focus less on the issues.
We have some real issues!
Needless to say, they are not paying attention..

tonymo

November 5, 2009 - 10:01 am EST

This is just the beginning. On Tuesday night Dick Morris had some numbers from the exact same races in 1993, and the numbers were exactly the same for the winners, and losers then. This year in Va. the Repubs swept the top 3 spots (Gov. Lt. Gov, and AG) and reclaimed control the legislative bodies.

More telling was the massive swing of Independents where Christie and McDonnell won them by a 2-1 margin! Also, the Repubs swept Westchester County, the liberal enclave just north of Moscow (NYC for the newcomers).
In lieu of an economic miracle, which seems unlikely with this administration's war on the private sector, and the lies that AP, and CBS have uncovered in the jobs created, or "saved" claims made by this anti-Capitalist administration.

And the final nail will be the new ABC series "V" based on the life story of the Messiah!

Andrew Clark

November 5, 2009 - 10:44 am EST

Also the numbers were shockingly similar to Democratic state and local wins in 2001. Obviously that paid immediate dividends in 2002 and 2004. Another interesting thing is that when NY-23, a conservative district that hadn't voted for a Democrat since 1872, had a choice between a Democrat and a tonymo-style conservative, they went for the Democrat. Republicans will indeed come back into power at some point, but thankfully not until the Limbaugh/Beck crowd has been shoved aside.

Don't confuse local with national politics. In my lifetime NC has only had one Republican governor. Also in my lifetime NC has only voted once for a Democrat for president and more often elected Republicans than Democrats to the Senate.

tonymo

November 5, 2009 - 11:21 am EST

This is the usual inane, distorted post that I've come to expect from Andrew, the classic example of the brainwashed Obamarobot!

First of all, the original LIBERAL, not moderate Republicrat was chosen by party insiders, not a primary process. This woman was to the left of the Demo-Rat candidate Owens. She was endorsed by ACORN, supports homosexual marriage, card check, the stimulus, and never saw a tax she couldn't support. Then when she was gettinbg killed by Hoffman, she, like a true Republicrat in the Colin Powell mode, supported the Demo-Rat!

Because of a quirk in the NY ballots, she was listed on the ballot twice, as a Republican, and an Independent. Owens was also listed twice, as a Demo-Rat, and an Independent. Hoffman, who been in the race for 6-8 weeks was listed once, under the Conservative party. And of course Hoffman, an accountant, small business owner, and a Reagan Republican was deemed a "right wing etremist" by the dishonest, deranged left, including the less than knowledgable
Andrew Clark, a "useful idiot" for the anti-Capitalist crowd now running the country!

Andrew Clark

November 5, 2009 - 11:55 am EST

I think it would be pretty hard to call the Republicn nominee a liberal. What was inane and distorted from what I said? All I see is two paragraphs of inane excuses from you. The Republican candidate who dropped out doesn't explain why conservatives chose a Democrat over Hoffman. The fact remains that when most voters hear the nutjob Glenn Beck types they are repelled. Your idiotic and hateful rhetoric is a good example. When Republicans moderate their message, like Christie and McDonnell, they can indeed win.

By the way, as far as fiscal policy goes, Reagan's ideas were proven to be idiotic and extreme. Remember how tax cuts would shrink the deficit? It's one thing to buy into the theory before, it's quite another to believe it after decades of definitive proof that it's not true. That is when ideology becomes stupidity.

Why do you capitalize capitalism, Tony? Is it our of respect for your god?

Connie Mack Jr

November 5, 2009 - 12:25 pm EST

Virginia, New Jersey ... and Maine?* Doug's Headlines

Is there any reason why you left out the Republican master game plan in New York 23 rd Congressional District election with your headline attention shocker?

Doug

November 5, 2009 - 12:32 pm EST

A statewide vote is more significant than an election in a single congressional election.

Furthermore, the New York race, with three or four parties listed on the ballot and the Republican dropping out just a few days before the election, was too confusing to draw any conclusions from.

tonymo

November 5, 2009 - 3:03 pm EST

Doug, you should know by now that expaling simple concepts to liberals is like like trying to teach algebra to first graders! How many millions voted in NJ and Va, while a few hundred thousand voted in NY23! The fact that Obama got 53% in NY 23 in '08 would also be lost of the liberal mind (is that an oxymoron!).

Obama made at least three trips to NJ to campaign for Corzine, and at least one to campaign for Deeds. Why would expect Connie Hack to grasp the differences between this major confrontation and two "minor" gubernatorial races! And as I said, they should have sent Biden to tout Corzine, and Deeds, and the Community organizer to "help" Owens in NY!