In what may be a harbinger of things to come, Scott Brown has won the special election for the “Kennedy seat” in Massachusetts. The lackluster campaign performance of Martha Coakley coupled with deep seated dissatisfaction with
the ever more unpopular policies of the leftist government in Washington gave a special opening to a man with a truck who was willing to do the hard work of earning “the people’s seat.” Surprisingly, the Democratic GOTV efforts were not enough to raise the dead for voting in this election and many of those dead, reasonable liberals who died when the Democratic Party had not yet become entirely socialist and authoritarian in its leanings, would likely have voted for Brown as well, if they could have stopped spinning in their graves long enough over what is being done to our country and constitution.
The truth is no one is happy with what is happening in Washington. Rasmussen breaks down the numbers to give us the scoop on what motivated these voters:
Fifty-six percent (56%) of voters in the state say health care was the most important factor in their voting decision. Brown made it clear in the closing days of the campaign that he intended to go to Washington to vote against the health care plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats.
Twenty-five percent (25%) of Massachusetts voters say the economy was most important.
Forty-seven percent (47%) favor the health care legislation before Congress while 51% oppose it. However, the intensity was clearly with those who are opposed. Just 25% of voters in Massachusetts Strongly Favor the plan while 41% Strongly Oppose it.
Fifty percent (50%) say it would be better to pass no health care legislation at all rather than passing the bill before Congress.
So the state that brought us the original tea party is once again setting the tone for a nation and bringing us a little hope and change of their own. These voters are not convinced that Pelosi, Reid, et al., (and Obama) are acting in the best interest of our country. And that includes some 23% of Democrats who voted for Brown!
Brown’s words in accepting his win are definitely words that resonate deep in the heart of Americans and which should remind us that it is indeed the people’s seat.
Now that’s change I can believe in.
Hey, welcome back! You were missed. Glad you’ve arrived just in time for the Brown win.
I have to disagree with you here: “The lackluster campaign performance of Martha Coakley…”
I’m no fan of Karl Rove, but he really nailed it:
“They’re trying to say this is all the result of a bad candidate, but look, she was the attorney general of the state. … She’s won statewide, she’s been a political fixture in Massachusetts,” Rove said. “Simply being a bad candidate has not kept Democrats from winning Massachusetts. Michael Dukakis was governor twice, for God’s sake.”
Certainly you’re right about that one. Thanks for the correction. There are plenty of bad campaigns and candidates who’ve won elections.
I’m glad you’re blogging again! The first paragraph you quoted from Brown’s victory speech really resonated with me too. When he said, “They thought they owned your vote,” it captured my thoughts about the Democrats perfectly.
yttik, thanks for posting that Rove quote. He’s absolutely right. It’s also worth mentioning that Brown ran a nearly flawless campaign. I hope that doesn’t get lost in the excitement (and dread) about the election outcome.
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My son is now living in Massachusetts and he was telling me yesterday that all television ads focusing on the election were all from the Coakley camp and all were spiteful, demeaning, patently untrue misrepresentations of Scott Brown and his policies, goals, and personal behavior. Brown’s group spent no money on TV ads, but instead focused on personally connecting with voters.
Senator-elect Brown’s campaign in some ways mirrored the successful campaigns for governor waged in both Virginia and New Jersey and these three victories should be carefully studied prior to the 2010 fall elections. Someone is doing something right in their efforts to connect with voters and it sure as hell isn’t the current crop of Democrats.
Great to have you back online.
We are all blogging about this, and rightfully so. This special election is likely the biggest single game changer in recent political history. It was “shock and awe” at its finest. As Maine correctly notes, voters are tired of the same old negative drivel. It really is time for change and if the current crop of DC bobble heads cannot hear the voters, then they should be given their pink slips this November.
They may deny this in public, but it is easy to see that they are in a cold panic. Just follow their tracks as they head for the political hills. As I have noted on other sites though, what happens next is up to us. Massachusetts has unfurled the banner, it is now up to the rest of us to carry it.
Great to have you blogging again. Please stop by Head Muscle on occasion. We appreciate your comment and insight.
Great article … Now that he has abandoned Health Care Deformity, The Big O will now turn his sites on the Banking industry, while returning to his comfort zone — buying votes with talk.
He will talk about jobs while he attacks the private sector and waste the next year like he did the last.
http://wp.me/pywxb-Vu