I don’t think this was all about the Ryan budget.
If it was the dems would have done much better. They basically did a good job of getting their 2010 voters back out but they didn’t add to the total.
You’d expect they’d add a bunch of voters.
Instead, a bunch of GOP voters stayed home, but there’s no evidence they switched to the dems.
Would really help if there was an exit poll here.
And who knows how much the scandal hurt things here?
But, to lose a district that went GOP 75-25 6 months ago and has been historically GOP for a long time, is not a good sign. Fortunately it’s early enough that there’s plenty of time before Nov 12. We can learn from this and adapt.
...it WAS all about the Ryan budget..."killing seniors...and "the children".
The Republican candidate could have beat the dem turd into the ground, but took the "high ground"(sigh)
It really is amazing how stupid people in this country are becoming...entitlements created a society of "the entitled".
Buh bye Ameri-can't, buh bye!
At a press conference yesterday, House GOP freshmen, led by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), called on President Obama to stop the “MediSCARE” tactics that Washington Democrats have used to demagogue the new House majority’s plan to protect Medicare for current retirees, and preserve the program for future generations.
House GOP Freshmen Call on President Obama to Stop the MediSCARE Tactics (Speaker GOP website on May 12, 2011)
Republicans have lately intensified their health-care message toward the elderly. The Republican National Committee's “bill of rights” includes calls to “protect Medicare,” “prohibit efforts to ration health care based on age” and “ensure seniors can keep their current coverage. ”
GOP Pushes Health ‘Bill of Rights’(FR post of Washington Post ^ | 8/25/09 | Ben Pershing )
I hope this blows over by the election, but I was NOT surprised to see Republicans get in trouble over this.
If it was me I would have proposed a plan with a consumer choice between the privatized Ryan plans and a scaled back traditional medicare option, for EVERYONE, not protecting special voters.
For one thing you cant protect all those over 55 with everyone else footing the bill later getting thrown of the ship. How is a future 67 year old going to get private insurance when those a few years older are part of a massive medicare pool to demand low prices? It's like those under 55 are thrown off the cruise ship into the ocean(after they retire) told to swim on their own, to protect important voters OVER 55 on the cruise ship.
You also need a public option (tradional medicare and medicaid) for those in nursing homes with no assets. There is no private option for them. Their private option is you-know-what, 'Soylent Green Going Home'. Republicans are making believe they dont exist and it is backfiring. That is a bigger problem than you may know.
Something huge like this would have to be phased in to allow market (and political) forces to work, no way around it. And it would have to be sold to voters.
Lastly I will judge Republicans on what they accomplish, if they lose in 2012 without getting anything significant into law that doesnt work for me.
Yeah. But it's not like the seat is really THAT Republican. McCain won it with only 52%. Lee won with 55% in 2008.
In 2006 that "Tea Party" guy Davis was the Democrat nominee and he got 48%. Also he was the Democrat in 2004 and he lost by 11 points, similar margin in the Presidential race.